Tomini Tang or Melanurus Wrasse?

[MrHermit85]

Hi guys! I was wondering which of these fish I should get? I have not added anything to my tank in a while and this will be the second last fish I add to the tank, the next will be a cardinal. My current inhabitants are as follows: Foxface, Mccosker Flasher wrasse, yellow chromis, yellow watchmen gobie and two small clowns. My tank is 75 gallons which will be upgraded within the next 2 years to a 180. It is also 11 months old with plenty of rock and lps and easy corals and a refugium.

I guess I just want to know which will be the more interesting of the two from your experiences? I want a fish that is personable and fun to watch and not a pain in the ass like say my foxface who chomps all my zoanthids!!!

 

[billyboy61]

Tried  the Tomini twice. Both croaked within a week. I have a Melanurus now for at least a year . It has doubled in size and the flatworms have pretty much vanished.  It seems to leave the corals alone but I suspect him of taking out a few Hermits and snails . You need a sand bed for it hide in. When I first put him in the tank he buried in the bed for 3 days.  All good after that.

 

[reeffreak]

Both can be aggressive, since you have a smaller type wrasse like flasher the Melarurus could bug the crap out of it, happened in my tank, had to get rid of the mccosker, same size tank as yours

 

[jeffopentax]

My tomini gets in tussles with my diamond watchman once in awhile.  Nothing serious though.

 

[chuckm]

Both! 

Have both in my system, model citizens olice:

 

[DerekL]

I have a melanarus wrasse and love him. His colours just add to my tank. I too believe he has eaten a few snails and hermit crabs but I can handle that. I have had him probably 6 months now and have yet have him be a problem with any new additions or other tank mates. Just added a flame hawk and the only problem I had was my Picasso clown who is now taking a time out in my sump.