Can I House Two Pygmy Wrasses in a 70g?

[nickkohrn]

I saw a couple of Pygmy Wrasses at a local shop, and I’ve been set on wrasses for my 70g, but I was never sure about what kind. I like that these stay small, and that shop is running a 50%-off sale. I could get both, but I want to make sure that I have an appropriate environment for them.

My system is currently fishless, so their timid personalities should be okay if they are the first to go in.

My display is bare-bottom, I have a bonsai structure for corals, and I have a couple of dens for fish. I’ll be having a couple more made for future additions since I don’t have many hiding places until corals start filling in.

Would it be okay to pick up two Possum Wrasses?

 

[malacoda]

You may want to wait and see if resident wrasse experts @evolved or @eatbreakfast chime in, but I'm fairly certain pygmy wrasse pairs (e.g. two males or two females) are far more tolerant of each other than most other wrasses. May chase each other a bit to establish a hierarchy, but no real aggression.

Especially in 70g tank. Should be plenty of room for a duo.

I'm actually in the process of setting up a 48"x18"x18" 65g myself and was considering a pair of Tanakas or white-banded wrasses as well.

 

[evolved]

2 different species would be fine. 2 of the same could be tricky, as they're not sexuality dichromaric, meaning you can't visually determine their sex. If you started with 2 small juvies of the same species you should be okay, but I would be pretty hesitant to do 2 adults of the same species. YMMV there.

 

[nickkohrn]

Thanks, everyone! I picked up a single Pygmy Wrasse and a Cardinalfish instead of two wrasses.