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Little Shop of Coral

Filamentfin Wrasse (Paracheilinus filamentosus)

Filamentfin Wrasse (Paracheilinus filamentosus)

$80.00 CAD
$80.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

The Melanurus Wrasse is one of the best “utility wrasses” you can add to a reef. It is colourful, active, and known for hunting common pests like flatworms, small bristleworms, and nuisance snails, while still being a great-looking display fish. It is hardy in established systems, but it does require a sandbed for sleeping and stress relief, and it is a known jumper, so a tight lid is a must.

Why we love it

  • Great pest-hunting behaviour in reef tanks

  • Active, colourful fish with constant movement

  • Generally hardy and a strong addition to established systems

Suggested parameters

  • Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)

  • Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG

  • pH: 8.1–8.4

  • Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH

  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0

  • Nitrate: Under 20 ppm (stable is best)

Care and temperament

  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate

  • Temperament: Peaceful to semi-aggressive

  • Reef safe: Yes (with caution around very small shrimp)

  • Minimum tank size: 55 gallons recommended

Sandbed requirement

Melanurus wrasses bury in sand to sleep and to feel secure.

  • Provide a soft sandbed at least 5–8 cm (2–3 in.) deep

  • Avoid sharp crushed coral that can injure the fish

Diet

Melanurus wrasses are eager eaters and do best with variety.

  • Frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp

  • Chopped seafood blends

  • High-quality pellets (many will accept quickly)

  • Feed small amounts 1 to 2 times per day

Compatibility and tankmates

  • Generally compatible with most reef fish

  • Can be pushy with very timid fish in smaller tanks

  • May eat tiny ornamental shrimp, especially very small individuals

  • A tight-fitting lid is strongly recommended, wrasses are known jumpers

  • Provide rockwork and caves, plus open swimming space

What you are buying

  • You will receive: 1 Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

  • Colour and size can vary slightly between individuals

As with all fish, slow acclimation is recommended, and quarantine is encouraged when possible.

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LIGHT

LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.

MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height. 

HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.

FLOW

LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.

MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.

HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.

SKILL

ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.

While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.

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