Fairy & Flasher wrasses? do you prefer?

[MarvinsReef]

do you prefer having single males or pairs/harems? if you go with just males, you can fit more in the tank but with pair/harems, you're more limited with how many species you can have. I'm gonna see how everything works with the tank this summer with the combo of fairies, flashers, and anthias. so far, it's been working out for almost 4 months. I'm thinking of picking up a partner for the Laboutei (smallest female available), hopefully before summer time. I'm just a little hesitant since it seems like most fairy wrasses will turn male over time. I've seen this happen already with my HI Flames and it seems like I'm in the beginning stages of it with the Rhomboids. for the HI Flames I started with 2 females in Oct 2009 and for the Rhomboids, I started with 2 females this time last year. the main reason I started out with females is so I can watch the progression from female to male and to get the best chance of having a pair. I guess that's not working out good. LoL. anyway, watcha guys prefer?


HI Flames now

Rhomboids

 

[salt newbie01]

I personally like pairs/harems. I think it is more natural and I like the contrasting colors of the males with the females. Like you said with running harems you are limited on how many you can have. It's interesting your having females turn with another male present. I didn't realize that would happen. Good to know. I'm glad your wrasses are working out with anthias. I want to add some wrasses to my 120 that has a lyretail harem 1m/3f already. I was worried if it would work or not. I will probably go with single males so as not to over crowd the tank.

Btw beautiful fish!

 

[MarvinsReef]

I personally like pairs/harems. I think it is more natural and I like the contrasting colors of the males with the females. Like you said with running harems you are limited on how many you can have. It's interesting your having females turn with another male present. I didn't realize that would happen. Good to know. I'm glad your wrasses are working out with anthias. I want to add some wrasses to my 120 that has a lyretail harem 1m/3f already. I was worried if it would work or not. I will probably go with single males so as not to over crowd the tank.

Btw beautiful fish!

I didn't have an issue with adding more wrasses with the Lyretails. I actually added the Lyretails before the Bartlett's also. they get along well for the most part besides some territorial bickering. ;)

 

[Brad Syphus]

I'm with you Marvin. I'm leaning to just males because females just turn to males and the bickering begins.
When I bought my labouti pair, they were very small. Now I'm thinking that both are young males and last night it was nonstop chasing.
With only males, you get much more variety.
Females just want to be BOSS. LOL

 

[96gts]

I like having pairs or harems if space is available in the tank, but I'm also having the same problem with female fairy wrasses turning male over time.

 

[MarvinsReef]

I'm with you Marvin. I'm leaning to just males because females just turn to males and the bickering begins.
When I bought my labouti pair, they were very small. Now I'm thinking that both are young males and last night it was nonstop chasing.
With only males, you get much more variety.
Females just want to be BOSS. LOL

I wonder if there's anyone that has been successful at keeping a "true" harem in captivity?

so far, all the male fairies have come into an agreement, although every so often there's some flashing going on. I think flashers are much tolerant of each other (meaning males) than fairies. it might also just because they have to since they will get quickly be put in their place by the bigger fairies. hmmm... so much to learn about these guys. I wonder if flashers would be going through the same if females are more available and I wonder if male flashers would be more aggressive if they were on their own without bigger fairies to keep them in check?

I hope my male fairies continue to get along or else, I'll be inclined to go to the all male fairies with more variety of species. I just hope that there will more fairies that will be discovered in the near future. :)

 

[MarvinsReef]

I like having pairs or harems if space is available in the tank, but I'm also having the same problem with female fairy wrasses turning male over time.

how long have you been keeping F&F wrasses? I'm really wondering if your experience is just the same as mine and Brad's. Peter (SDGuy) just told me that he's seeing one of his female HI flames turn to male. so that'll make 3 males : 1 female ratio. and he started with 1 supermale and 3 females a few years back. I hope he sees this thread and chime in.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Its an interesting question; I've not got the diversity, numbers or experience of all of you. When I had my yellowfins, they stayed in their ratio two males to one female (was supposed to be a harem of two females and a male), but then they were also supposed to be McCoskers. One of the hazards of internet ordering. In contrast both time I've had the McCosker's, they always changed from female to male (once a trio and once a duality). My fairie is currrently female, but I'm expecting she will turn male, since it is the only fairy in the tank.

 

[SaraB]

Females just want to be BOSS. LOL

Of course!!!


I also always tried to keep pairs of the fairy's myself so that they keep their beautiful coloration and have not been overly successful. I've also changed some of them out when they get too aggressive (rhomboid & rosefascia), so I can't speak on long term success with pairs. That and a couple have been chased to their death in the tank, launched out through or around the mesh or me crushing a female under a rock on accident.

Do you think the males would keep their coloration if just keeping other male fairys in the tank?

I do have a trio of Attenuatus flashers and I started with 1 male and 2 females and over the course of a year I now have 1 female, 1 submale and my large original male.


Edit - forgot to mention I prefer the Fairy Wrasses ;)

 

[MarvinsReef]

Its an interesting question; I've not got the diversity, numbers or experience of all of you. When I had my yellowfins, they stayed in their ratio two males to one female (was supposed to be a harem of two females and a male), but then they were also supposed to be McCoskers. One of the hazards of internet ordering. In contrast both time I've had the McCosker's, they always changed from female to male (once a trio and once a duality). My fairie is currrently female, but I'm expecting she will turn male, since it is the only fairy in the tank.

that's what I'm saying.. for fairies, seems like 1 male is enough since females turn into male anyway. and for flashers, doesn't really matter how many males you get since they will somehow co exist (but I cannot say the same for a smaller tank as I don't have experience with them in a smaller tank, say 50g or less).

 

[MarvinsReef]

Of course!!!


I also always tried to keep pairs of the fairy's myself so that they keep their beautiful coloration and have not been overly successful. I've also changed some of them out when they get too aggressive (rhomboid & rosefascia), so I can't speak on long term success with pairs. That and a couple have been chased to their death in the tank, launched out through or around the mesh or me crushing a female under a rock on accident.

Do you think the males would keep their coloration if just keeping other male fairys in the tank?

I do have a trio of Attenuatus flashers and I started with 1 male and 2 females and over the course of a year I now have 1 female, 1 submale and my large original male.

hmmm... interesting about the Attenuatus. although I don't mind having 3 nice males of Attenuatus. :hammer:

for now though in my tank, I've had no war having 2 males of the same species. currently, I have 2 Lineatus: 1 terminal male & 1 big male (together since March 2010, started out with a trio of males but one had to go); 2 HI flames: both about the same age in manhood (turned male roughly more than a year ago); Rhomboids: 1 young male & 1 turning male

maybe we can have this discussion again yearly to see some progress.

 

[96gts]

how long have you been keeping F&F wrasses? I'm really wondering if your experience is just the same as mine and Brad's. Peter (SDGuy) just told me that he's seeing one of his female HI flames turn to male. so that'll make 3 males : 1 female ratio. and he started with 1 supermale and 3 females a few years back. I hope he sees this thread and chime in.

I have been collecting Wrasses for over 2 yrs. I have a pair of Flame Wrasse, but the female turned into male within 3-4months, now I have 2 male and 2 female Flame. My Girdled Fairy Male died and the female is turning into male within 1 month. So far the only Fairy that I have not had any success keeping is the Rhomboid, been though too many and almost all started having Swim Bladder problems after about 2-4 weeks.

My collection of Wrasse is not even close to what you and Brad have, but here's what I have so far.
2 Male Flame & 2 Female Flame Wrasses
2 Lineatus (one is still in QT that started having swim bladder problem this past weekend after I have it for about 3-4 weeks)
1 Labouti
1 Girdled
1 Potters
1 Meleagris Leopard
1 Ornate Leopard
1 Yellow Coris
1 Melanurus

No space in my tanks at the moment until I upgrade to a bigger tank. They are in 3-4 different tanks right now between my house and my office.

 

[MarvinsReef]

I have been collecting Wrasses for over 2 yrs. I have a pair of Flame Wrasse, but the female turned into male within 3-4months, now I have 2 male and 2 female Flame. My Girdled Fairy Male died and the female is turning into male within 1 month. So far the only Fairy that I have not had any success keeping is the Rhomboid, been though too many and almost all started having Swim Bladder problems after about 2-4 weeks.

My collection of Wrasse is not even close to what you and Brad have, but here's what I have so far.
2 Male Flame & 2 Female Flame Wrasses
2 Lineatus (one is still in QT that started having swim bladder problem this past weekend after I have it for about 3-4 weeks)
1 Labouti
1 Girdled
1 Potters
1 Meleagris Leopard
1 Ornate Leopard
1 Yellow Coris
1 Melanurus

No space in my tanks at the moment until I upgrade to a bigger tank. They are in 3-4 different tanks right now between my house and my office.

awesome. Thanks for sharing. :)

did you decide to get more female HI Flames since both of your original both turned male? did you add the female HI Flames where the Male HI Flames are? I'm just curious how that was adding new female HI Flames with 2 established males.

 

[96gts]

All the Flame Wrasses are in the same tank, I was going to sell the smaller male to my friend, so I got 2 females, but he's getting out of the hobby. After adding the 2 females, the males will flash more often and once in a while the bigger male will chase the smaller one around. I will probably need to remove the smaller male when I have a chance.

 

[MarvinsReef]

All the Flame Wrasses are in the same tank, I was going to sell the smaller male to my friend, so I got 2 females, but he's getting out of the hobby. After adding the 2 females, the males will flash more often and once in a while the bigger male will chase the smaller one around. I will probably need to remove the smaller male when I have a chance.

how long has it been since you added the females? I was thinking of doing the same with my male HI Flames but am hesitant that it will throw off the balance between the two males.

 

[96gts]

It has been about 2 months. I have a feeling that those 2 females will eventually turn into males too.

 

[MarvinsReef]

It has been about 2 months. I have a feeling that those 2 females will eventually turn into males too.

ah. I see. Thanks.

hopefully, we'll hear more experiences from others.

 

[MarvinsReef]

B U M P

for the afternoon and night crowd. :)

 

[Brad Syphus]

Here is my big male and his females. uhuh yea right.

 

[Aquaph8]

just like humans.:snicker: