Mystery Wrasse Behavior and Eating

[jonboyb]

Had one about a week now and I have to say this is the coolest fish I've had so far. Certainly a juvenile, maybe 1.5" or so. Just want to see if this is "normal" behavior. Anytime I'm around, he tracks me around the tank. When I put my hand in, he's immediately there to see what I'm doing. I can literally scoop him up. My clown was aggressive to him at first so I transferred him to QT while I used pictures to "train" my clown and then put him back in. That's 3 transfers in a week and he's still super calm. Any of my other fish would have hid for a month.

Then there's feeding time....by the time my other fish are fed, the mystery looks like he's about to pop. It's rediculous how much he eats. He picks the water column clean of food before my other guys have a chance (including 2 other wrasses, a tang, and a mature clown pair). I've actually cut feedings short a couple times for fear of killing him

I've had many wrasses now including 6-line, yellow coris, and various flashers and fairies....but this guy just has a completely different attitude. Is this normal? I expected him to stay hidden 99% of the time as my past experience is the more it costs, the less you see it:lol2:

 

[skriz]

That's exactly how my mystery was. They're aggressive eaters & will become more aggressive overall as they grow.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Yes, something to consider is that this "boldness" will work against you when you try to add new fish. Mystery's are notoriously aggressive, and it sounds like your isnt shy, to say the least.

 

[jonboyb]

I only have 2 more fish planned for my tank, a Mandarin (once the pod population is in full force) and one more wrasse (to be announced). I got this Mystery for an unbelievable deal and had to take it. Hopefully he won't become a problem. He doesn't show any aggression now, even during feeding, but he's so fast and has pinpoint accuracy he can clear any food in the WC quick.

 

[purplegorilla]

Mine was shy around people. However even with its shyness, it has killed all my other wrasses (lubbock, scott fairy, clown fairy) after 1 year in the tank. The lubbock was twice its size but it didn't deter it from the aggressiveness.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

jonboyb;446626 wrote: I only have 2 more fish planned for my tank, a Mandarin (once the pod population is in full force) and one more wrasse (to be announced). I got this Mystery for an unbelievable deal and had to take it. Hopefully he won't become a problem. He doesn't show any aggression now, even during feeding, but he's so fast and has pinpoint accuracy he can clear any food in the WC quick.

You are taking a serious risk, IMO.

 

[jonboyb]

Wow.....this is not what I'm wanting to hear with the pricetag attached to my last planned wrasse He's bedding under the same rock with my yellow coris and I guess his demeanor was giving me a false sense of good-nature.

Wish I had checked here first(although at the price I paid I would have still ogtten it). Seems most online retailers list it as peaceful.

 

[budsreef]

I feel your pain. I got one 5 weeks ago after reading in the book I have that it would be ok with fairy wrasses but after talking to others here I'm not going to chance putting it in the 120G. It has made it fine through QT and I always planned to get another six-line wrasse for my anemone tank but now this guy will go in there instead.

 

[jonboyb]

Yep....I pulled my 6-line and put him in another tank to avoid possible issues with this mytery (even though my 6-line and yellow coris were fine together) and now the mystery looks to be a potential problem. Frustrating populating tanks sometimes:doh:

At least the mystery is easy to catch.