How can I catch a lunar wrasse. If it sees a net or a collection cup it hides. It uses a rock all the way one the bottom for its den at night. So I cant get it while it sleeps. I knew when I got it that shrimp and crab population would go down. But I get the one that prefers clams. :doh:
Lunar wrasse.
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Coke bottle fish trap, hold it to your glass with a mag cleaner down near the wrasse's hiding spot.
There's a pic in this thread:
There's a pic in this thread:
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Well, I'll respectfully disagree. While certainly a danger to motile inverts, they are no risk to corals (save maybe turning over rubble etc and irritating corals while foraging) and an unusual risk to clams. I know of several reefs with Thallasoma sp. wrasses in them, including lunars.
My recommendation was based on google searches of sites like Liveaquaria, etc., and they say Lunars are not reef safe. Other sites say they can harass and hurt less aggressive tankmates, not only inverts, but other fish, a category which many reef fish would fall into. Sounds like the Lunar is more a threat to other fish than corals, outside of inverts.
This could be untrue, or there may be exceptions, I guess.
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Fair enough. Although I would say they are less a risk to other fish than any tang, which are constantly referred to as reef safe. I merely meant to address the claim that they're in no way whatsoever reef safe. I think that's incorrect.
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"Reef Safe" is the most idiotic term we aquarists use nowadays. It should get filed with "inches per gallon" in the dumpster.
The way I interpret "reef safe" is something that does not pose a threat to corals OR motile or sessile invertebrates that are typically kept in a reef aquarium.
In my experience, Thalassoma species are a threat to small fishes, snails, hermits, and ornamental shrimp. That makes it 'not reef safe' in my book.
Just my opinion.
Jenn
In my experience, Thalassoma species are a threat to small fishes, snails, hermits, and ornamental shrimp. That makes it 'not reef safe' in my book.
Just my opinion.
Jenn
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Would you consider a tesselata moray reef safe then?
what constitutes a "small fish"? Aren't amphipods and Copepods small motile inverts? I think you see my point. There is no way to classify fish as "reef safe" or not. Furthermore, does it only take one to deem the species as reef unsafe? I have heard stories of tangs eating corals, clowns killing corals, and even once heard of an Anthias that did the same!! Does that make these fish, as a whole, reef unsafe?
I stand by my claim. The term "reef safe" is futile.
Splitting hairs again...
Let me be more specific. Yes, pods are inverts too but what I meant were invertebrates that someone purchased with the intention of keeping/displaying, not incidental inverts that occur in the rock.
What term would you prefer for fish that can be kept in a reef that won't damage other fish or ornamental shrimp and etc.?
Jenn
Let me be more specific. Yes, pods are inverts too but what I meant were invertebrates that someone purchased with the intention of keeping/displaying, not incidental inverts that occur in the rock.
What term would you prefer for fish that can be kept in a reef that won't damage other fish or ornamental shrimp and etc.?
Jenn
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There is no universal term. THAT'S my point. We need to ask, will it eat corals? Certain types of corals? Fish? Crabs? Snails? Etc etc etc.
For example- is a harlequin shrimp reef safe? Only if you have no starfish. Is a oranges potted filefish reef safe? Only of you have no SPS. Is a tessellated eel reef safe? Only if you haven't other fish.
The term "reef safe" is garbage. It need to be qualified every time.
For example- is a harlequin shrimp reef safe? Only if you have no starfish. Is a oranges potted filefish reef safe? Only of you have no SPS. Is a tessellated eel reef safe? Only if you haven't other fish.
The term "reef safe" is garbage. It need to be qualified every time.
Well if you don't have sea stars, the Harlequins will die. (Point of information.)
I do get your point, it's not a term that necessarily applies every time. Still, it's the phrase that's widely recognized by hobbyists so I see no harm in using it.
Jenn
I do get your point, it's not a term that necessarily applies every time. Still, it's the phrase that's widely recognized by hobbyists so I see no harm in using it.
Jenn
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Actually.....I kept a pair alive for a long time on frozen stars. So one could keep them in a reef no problem. I did.
We will agree to disagree. I see tremendous harm in it. EXACTLY because it's is subjective. What it means to you, may mean exactly the opposite to someone else. that is what creates misinformation. To me, that is immensely harmful. As I mentioned, very much like the "inches per gallon" rule that was also widely used and widely accepted, but has bend discarded due to its shortcomings.
Well, speaking only for myself, during a customer interaction when I tell somebody something isn't reef safe, it's qualified with, "It will likely eat your :::insert creature at risk here::: - such as, "It will probably eat your peppermint shrimp.", "It will most likely eat your snails." Etc. I don't consider that misinformation.
We do agree on the "inches per gallon" being complete malarkey though. When presented with that question, "How many inches of fish in my 65 gallon tank?" I'll simply point out that a 12" Panther grouper makes for a lot more bio-load than 6, 2" gobies, as an example.
Jenn
We do agree on the "inches per gallon" being complete malarkey though. When presented with that question, "How many inches of fish in my 65 gallon tank?" I'll simply point out that a 12" Panther grouper makes for a lot more bio-load than 6, 2" gobies, as an example.
Jenn
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But......you're proving my point. If someones asks you if something is "reef safe", and you answer, but have to qualify and define it every time, then the answering the "reef safe" part is pointless. Completely. Just give the qualifier.
And........inches per gallon is the same thing. How many inches in a 65 gallon? You can just say 12". But you have to qualify it after. Otherwise, its a pointless, misinformative answer. Just like "is a lunar wrasse reef safe?" To many, yes. To many, no. It depends on the qualifier.
