mystery wrasse warning

[StrategicReef]

I just acclimed a skunk cleaner shrimp and put in the tank, it is NOT during light hours.. after a few minutes the wrasse took the shrimp into his mouth, swim back to his usual spot and swallowed it like a snake does.

He also is hostile towards newly added fish for about half a day even if they are not a wrasse, fortunately that has stopped.

Beautiful fish tho but I think that means I cannot keep any shrimp..??

I have a goby and pistol shrimp pair in the sump that I want to add after I fix the aquascaping, any tips?

[The Fish Finder]

Yes eating shrimp and aggression are the two big down side's to this great fish. I though ppl who get this wrasse are already aware of that risk. Thats why i always stress researching about any fish first before buying them. In case you are wondering i do have a mystery wrasse. I also have a giant cleaner shrimp and giant banded shrimp in the same tank. He never bothers them but the shrimp are twice the size of him. Here's a pic of mine.

[StrategicReef]

If I get a giant size cleaner shrimp do you think it will work?, granted the cleaner shrimp that got killed today was kind of small, I must say I didn't think about it before hand (I thought they might harass and kill small snails only) and I underestimated the size of his mouth. Mine is about 3".

[gsoaxionsk8]

good question, i had two cleaner shrimp in my tank before i added my mystery...they lived in harmony for about 9 months. I then upgraded tanks and traded in both my cleaners. After about a month of having the new tank set up i put in two fire shrimp and my wrasse destroyed both of them within 24 hours. Since then i havent tried any other shrimp. Im not sure that size of the shrimp has so much to do as when they are added. Just my 2 cents.

[The Fish Finder]

mine is around the same size as yours just a bit bigger maybe. He was already in the tank for 1 year before i added the two shrimp. I can't guarantee that it will work for you but what i would recommend if you truly want the shrimp is get a BIG one. When you put him in your tank get a tube that the shrimp can fit comfortable into and run it down to the rocks. Once he's on the rock's he should be fine. That's the way i did both of mine. It's been 7 month's so far and no probs. If you just throw them into the tank he will think its food and attack it but if it's on the rock's and huge hey might leave it alone.

[StrategicReef]

Look at this guy he's worth it though Just doing his thing I suppose

Looks like some have the vertical streaks like yours and mine is not as prominent any idea why this is?

[LukFox]

They lose the stripes completely with age. Yours is just growing out of them . Really nice wrasse.

[The Fish Finder]

yes it's with age. Mine has been in my system for 2 years and grew from 2" to around 4" now maybe a little less.

[StrategicReef]

Question about the prawn goby and pistol shrimp.. do you think the pistol might be dinner as well. I don't want to do anymore sacrafice. But I guess I already know there are risks.. The goby only benefit from having some cave dug for him but really he's fine on his own.. For the record I searched and some say they have ate pistol shrimps but they are in general can dart fast into their cave.

I am going to fence off or remove the mystery before I aquascape completely so it will be relatively new to him when it's done, I plan to have the goby shrimp pair added before he is released.

[The Fish Finder]

It's very risky to do of course even with the aqua scape changed. It's going to have to be your call.

[ezcompany]

pistols are much tougher than cleaner shrimps, i wouldn't worry about it. i know my pistol is super tough...
i just got a mystery today, my hawaiian flame hates him. hopefully this will stop soon. anyone with experience with a jordani and a mystery? the mystery is slightly smaller.

[bradleyj]

Originally posted by ezcompany

i just got a mystery today, my hawaiian flame hates him. hopefully this will stop soon. anyone with experience with a jordani and a mystery? the mystery is slightly smaller.

I have both and there doesn't seem to be any tension between the 2.
My mystery was the first wrasse I added to my 225g over 15 months ago. I now have 21 wrasses total. My mystery has never bothered any of them.