Potters Wrasse Questions

[AUFishGuy]

So I have been thinking of getting a Potters Wrasse and the LFS just got one in today. It is pretty big, 3.5-4', they siad it is the largest one they have gotten in. So i have a few concerns that i will list below.

 

1.) what makes these fish so difficult to keep? Since it is larger than most do you think it will help with the chances of success?

 

 

2.) I just realized these eat pods. Will they decimate a pod population like a madarin would. I am on the waiting list for a mandarin pair with @monkiboy and do not want to add something that will completely wipe out their food source.

 

 

 

Any other tips or experiences are welcome.

 

Thanks

[matt]

I haven't kept one, so take this for what it is...info from someone like you whose looked into it a little.

 

Yes, they'll eat pods...but will also eat other food once they learn to.

 

They are difficult to keep as they ship poorly, being stressed with few places to dig into the sand and hide...and probably from lack of a food source they'll eat from.

 

Can the LFS show you it's eating? If it's eating and you have a sand bed and a large tank that can accommodate multiple pod hunters then I have to assume you'd be ok???

[AUFishGuy]

I haven't kept one, so take this for what it is...info from someone like you whose looked into it a little.

 

Yes, they'll eat pods...but will also eat other food once they learn to.

 

They are difficult to keep as they ship poorly, being stressed with few places to dig into the sand and hide...and probably from lack of a food source they'll eat from.

 

Can the LFS show you it's eating? If it's eating and you have a sand bed and a large tank that can accommodate multiple pod hunters then I have to assume you'd be ok???

I have a 90 gallon, it is packed with pods but im already worried about the mandarin pair so much that i have begun cultivating pods, actually thinking about expanding it to a bigger operation and selling them. But even with that i dont feel safe adding a 3rd pod hunter.

[YHSublime]

I have a 90 gallon, it is packed with pods but im already worried about the mandarin pair so much that i have begun cultivating pods, actually thinking about expanding it to a bigger operation and selling them. But even with that i dont feel safe adding a 3rd pod hunter.

 

Then don't. Most fish will eat pods, but it's the mandarins that tend to only eat pods. I've not had success with Mandarins, let alone with Mandarins in a tank that is under a year old. Even if your Mandarin is eating frozen, it will constantly peck for pods all day long.

[AUFishGuy]

Then don't. Most fish will eat pods, but it's the mandarins that tend to only eat pods. I've not had success with Mandarins, let alone with Mandarins in a tank that is under a year old. Even if your Mandarin is eating frozen, it will constantly peck for pods all day long.

 

Yea this is what im thinking, thanks for the reply. Might just go with a McCoskers wrasse or something

[epleeds]

I have a Melanarus wraase that decimated my pod population. If your planning on a mandarin pair I would not add any other wrasses since they will compete for food.

 

Pick one or the other but in my opinion I wouldn't do both.

 

My Melanarus ate my mandarins food source and unfortunatley I couldn't get the mandarins out and they didn't survive

[AUFishGuy]

I have a Melanarus wraase that decimated my pod population. If your planning on a mandarin pair I would not add any other wrasses since they will compete for food.

 

Pick one or the other but in my opinion I wouldn't do both.

 

My Melanarus ate my mandarins food source and unfortunatley I couldn't get the mandarins out and they didn't survive

 

 

So what are some other types of fish that i can consider that wont eat pods. i currently have 2 clowns and a sunburst anthias. I plan to add the 2 mandarins and a Squaretail Bristletooth Tang when i can find one. So what else could i add, I am assuming Dottybacks will also decimate the pods?