What makes a Lunare Wrasse not reef safe?

[Dan Thrash]

the local fish store got one of these fish in and it is beautiful. its the first time i've seen one in person. anyway, it says on some sites that it isnt reef safe....but says it does not touch corals. so what makes it not reef safe? just the fact that they get aggressive?

i'm also wondering if they can be kept in an aggressive reef with a maroon clown pair, dwarf lion (or two) and a snowflake eel?

thanks,
Dan

[deedo]

I've never kept one but I bet they're described as not reef safe because they'll eat shrimps and crabs.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Large Lunare Wrasses will eat smaller fishes as well as shrimp, crabs etc. I've seen them attack clams, too.

[Steven Pro]

Plus, a lot of these will flip over rocks (which maybe attached to or land on your corals) looking for worms, shrimp, and other things to eat.

[d4a2n0k]

Ive seen them nip at corals as well. They are generally trouble makers always looking for something to move/eat/annoy.

I love the way they swim though. They sort of bounce around the tank.

[wahshk]

I have one that is dominated by a hawk fish. He act norml, but he ate all my fireshrimps. Once I removed the Hawk, he dominated all the tank. And yes, he ate some small fish as well. Otherwise, he can be kept in aggressive tank.

[84scrambler]

One of the first fish I bought. That guy was the terror of my tank. I originally started out with a fish only tank and had a lion fish and the wrasse. Those guys had no problems being together. After I lost the lion I got a true perc and man that guy got thrashed by the wrasse. Not to mention the other damsels that I originally had. Besides that it is a great personable fish. Very colorful and very active. It will take food from your hand and mine liked to sleep in its rock at night.

[Dan Thrash]

ok....i'm getting the feeling they really are better suited for a FO tank with other aggressive fish. thanks for the input.

[Kahuna Tuna]

I have a red coris that has decimated my cleanup crew and although he hasn't gone after any fish it may just be a matter of time as he gives my little male true perc the evil eye every time he swims by.

[ledford1]

Yes, the Lunar Wrasse is best in a FO tank. They are very curious/mischiveous fish. I too tried a Lunar when I was first getting started. He ate my shrimp. He would also eat feeder fish that I intended for my Volitan. The Lunar found his way back to the lfs when he broke several fins off my Volitan.

The Lunar is a great looking fish. They are active swimmers and have lots of personality, but they do have some negative concerns.

[Dan Thrash]

yeah, they seem like really cool fish. they are pretty and i love the way they swim. now i'm wondering if you can put one in a tank with a Banana Wrasse...?? i get the feeling that is trouble though...and you'd need a big tank. what do you think?

[graphixx22]

I made the mistake of getting a lunar, he was fine with all of my fish but he used to eat my small blue leg hermits and he killed a cleaner and a peppermint shrimp. I traded him to my LFS for some frags.