Halichoeres ornatissimus sel., comp.  4/9/08
Hi Bob,
<Peggy>
Researching the Halichoeres ornatissimus regarding its reef compatibility. I'm finding conflicting information amongst my sources. Some say it will feed on feather dusters, small clams, etc., while others claim it is reef-safe and will not bother inverts, etc., other than the usual unwanted fare of excessive bristleworms, flatworms, Pyramidellids, etc. I have a beauty (pics attached) that I house in a 75-gallon fish only with a nice deep sandbed, and he does great, but I want to be certain of his potential before risking him to an unsuspecting reefer who has lots to lose if he decides he has a hankerin for a clam, etc.! Would you care to opine?
Many thanks.
Peggy
<I would... I give this my (bark bark!) seal of approval as being way to the right side of being "reef safe" as far as marine fishes, particularly wrasses goes... H. ornatissimus stays small.... Oh, a bit re here: http://wetwebmedia.com/halichoeresbestart.htm
Cheers! BobF>

Re: Halichoeres rubricephalus
Wrasse Tragedy- Unethical Collection Practices Take a Toll...   12/5/07
Hello Scott,
<Hello again, my friend!>
Sorry for the late reply, it is because the internet connection here was down for weeks.
<Ughhh! I can't imagine how frustrating that must have been!>
The Redheaded Wrasse was a magnificent fish, beautiful in every way.
<Oh, no! "Was" sounds like past tense!>
I had it for a week but mostly the fish was hiding. He was a shy one, and he only came out when I feed him.
<Not surprising, many Halichoeres do live a rather cryptic lifestyle, and this species is apparently no exception!>
He ate well, I gave him chopped squid and shrimps. This fish did not nip on any of my corals and wasn't aggressive toward other fishes. He looked healthy and I was very exciting to have him.
<I can imagine! What a great fish to have!>
Unfortunately, he died unexpectedly.
<I'm really sorry to hear that.>
I suspected it was because cyanide. Sad to say, but I found out that in Indonesia most fishes were captured this way.
<Unfortunately, the practice is still common in some parts of the world. Fishes like this Wrasse, which do tend to live a cryptic lifestyle, are sometimes flushed from their hiding places with chemicals, often with tragic results, as you experienced. And there is also the added "collateral damage" to the reefs as a result of chemical use during collection. Fishes damaged by cyanide will often eat and then die shortly after their first feedings, so yours may indeed have been exposed to cyanide or other chemicals. It is important to let your dealer know that you felt that the fish died because of chemical exposure during collection. If enough consumers communicate these types of experiences to retailers, and the retailers relay this to the wholesalers, there will eventually be no market support for collectors who employ these practices. Of course, don't forget to quarantine all new arrivals for other possible problems, such as parasitic and bacterial infections. It's an important practice which everyone should employ. Sometimes, you can catch and treat potential maladies before they take down the fish or its tankmates.>
I hope I will be able to find this beautiful healthy creature in in the near future. Anyways, thank you for helping me to identify this fish. I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Ferdinand.
<Glad to be of assistance, Ferdinand. Here's to hoping that you are able to obtain a healthy, net-caught specimen in the near future! Regards, Scott F.>

Any Wrasses Less Likely To Jump? – 07/19/07
Hello.
<<Hi Pam!>>
Are any wrasses less likely to jump than others?
<<Most all the small ornamental species offered/used in the trade have varying tendencies re.. in my experience>>
I have an open tank, and I know most wrasses are jumpers, but I thought if they were put in with all peaceful fish, that they may not jump.
<<This does help, but it is not just the other fishes that can/will cause a wrasse (any “jumper” species) to head for the open air. At one time I had a couple small groups of Flasher Wrasse species that would go “nuts” if the lights on the tank were to suddenly “black out” as from a power surge/outage...sounded like pinballs pinging around in the light hood!>>
I have an Elos tank, and don't want to cover it with Eggcrate or screen.
<<Neat!...and understood>>
The beauty of the tank, is that it's rimless and open.
<<Yes...very nice>>
My fish are all very peaceful. Right now I have a Pygmy Possum Wrasse, a Purple Firefish and a Tailspot Blenny. I really wanted to add a Laboutei, but don't want to be irresponsible if it's definitely going to leap out of the tank and die.
<<VERY likely with this species...and is the same pretty much with all the Flasher and Fairy Wrasse species. I have experienced, as well as very often hear of these fishes demise from leaping out an “uncovered” system>>
I know Firefish can be jumpers, but my Firefish never goes beyond the bottom half of the tank, and if he gets spooked, he dives into the rock...never up. I have two good size caves in my rock and lots of crevices and swim-throughs.
<<All good, though many of the wrasses tend to be more active in the upper-third of the water column>>
So..... should I definitely nix the idea of the Laboutei?
<<Logic would seem to dictate this...>>
Are any other bright wrasses less likely to jump?
<<Still no guarantee it won’t end up on the floor, but the smaller Halichoeres species are quite colorful and would be “less likely” than the Laboutei to sail out of your tank...in my opinion. H. Chrysus is a premier aquarium species...and if you want something a bit less monochromatic, take a look at H. ornatissimus>>
Thank you! Pam
<<Regards, EricR>>

Re: Any Wrasses Less Likely To Jump? - 07/20/07
Thanks Eric.
<<Quite welcome, Pam>>
Ok, I'll take your advice and keep away from the Mystery Wrasses.
<<I think you mean Flasher/Fairy Wrasses?...Probably for the best>>
I took a look at the two wrasses you mentioned.
<<Okay?>>
I really like the ornatissimus.
<<A gorgeous fish indeed>>
I also was looking at the Five-barred Mystery Wrasse.
<<Another beauty...love that “expression”>>
That's one of the only wrasses that LiveAquaria doesn't mention as a jumper.
<<Am in disagreement>>
Do you know if they are jumpers or not?
<<I have known them to jump, yes...though “possibly” less prone than the previous mentioned species due to their tendency to stay/hide lower in the water column. And please do understand, I have seen Halichoeres spp jump as well...I just think these are the better “gamble” re >>
Thanks, Pam
<<Happy to assist. Eric Russell>>