red coris wrasse

[sh4n]

Hello. I purchased a Red Coris Wrasse 3 days ago, the store keeper told me it was reef-safe and when i asked he said its ok to have crushed coral (he burys himself). ive been reading about him today and a lot of people say its bad he can hurt himself, and he eats coral. does anyone actually have one that can clarify? or know about them? thanks

 

[rcreations]

I have one. They don't eat coral at least none that I have in my tank but are NOT invertebrate safe. They'll eat your hermit crabs and smaller snails.
Yes, they sleep buried in the sand and crushed coral can scratch their body, that's why it's not recommended.

 

[deejeff442]

i would love to have one of those but i have a reef and they are deffinitly not reef safe.typical fish store

 

[sh4n]

ok thanks for the info, just turned my lights on to see a head in the middle of my tank, thought he died and was headless, then he pulled his body out and swam around. scaryiest thing ever! seems ok with burying in crushed coral, he hasnt picked at my corals or live rock yet but he has picked at my hermit crabs shell once.

 

[deejeff442]

they like to play dead so just be aware.once he gets comfortable he will go at the hermits for sure.

 

[splenda21]

I just got a red coris wrasse today, and he swam around for about 5 minutes before burying himself in the sand. I have a dogface puffer with him in a 125 gallon. Out of curiosity, how long did it take your red coris wrasses to feel comfortable swimming around in your tanks?

 

[sh4n]

I hadn't seen him for the first 3 days, then he came out and stays out all day. deffinetly not shy. So far he hasnt picked at my corals and hermits

 

[deejeff442]

they are a fish like triggers.they might hide for two weeks then are all over the place.the red coris is a sweet looking fish

 

[splenda21]

You are so right SH4N. I turned on the lights this mourning and he came out soon after. He has been swimming around ever since. I want to get two more fish for this tank. What other fish do you guys suggest I get? I'm skeptical about getting another trigger, because every trigger that I put in my tank, besides a clown and niger trigger, was overly aggressive towards my dogface puffer. Even docile triggers, like the pink tail trigger caused a problem. Any suggestions???

 

[sh4n]

@ Splenda ~ sorry im still really new at this hobby so I dont really have any suggestions. but awesome your red coris came out they are cute. do you have inverts and coral in your tank?

 

[aquaknight]

How big is the tank and the dogface is the only other tankmate? Puffers and triggers (and filefish, and box/cowfish for that matter) are related, so triggers being aggressive to puffers, or vice versa, isn't terribly uncommon.
The crushed coral bed is of concern unfortunately. It only takes one accident, slaming a tank lid, canopy door, etc, to spooking the red coris into trying to bury himself too quickly in the sand and injuring himself (most likely his eyes or mouth). I would really recommend to slowly begin changing out the CC to sand. A wrasse that can't eat, is a goner.

 

[splenda21]

The dogface is the only tankmate in a 125 gallon tank. I do have a few left over hermit crabs, but no corals (its a fish only). I dont have to worry about my wrasse injuring himself, I have sand.

 

[aquaknight]

My apologies, should have separated my post better.
In very similar predicament. I have a 125gal that's going to be upset shortly. The only sure fish at the moment is the 10"+ Burrfish I currently have (owned 4 years, caught her myself at the beach, the size of a pea). My stocklist changes every day I think. I tried a Lei trigger, that unfortunately harassed, and even bit her a few times. The problem is the Burrfish is quite passive, similar to the dogface. I think at this very moment, I would do a 'puffer oddball' tank. The Burrfish, and maybe something like a Longhorn Cowfish, and a Hawaiian Boxfish, with some smaller fish for activity.
For your tank, what about a Lamarck angelfish and a Harlequin Tuskfish? The angelfish is a planktivore and does not feed on sponge like other angelfish, so it can eat similar foods to the wrasses. The Tusk should get along fine with the red coris. I had my Harlequin Tusk with a Cuban Hogfish in my 125gal, without issue.