Mccosker's Flasher Wrasse Question

[GeoHawk]

Skip to post 13 for the real question, this is from the original post

I got a beautiful male Mccosker's flasher wrasse today for $20 from my LFS (which I thought was a screaming good deal, but I don't know much about wrasses.) Anyways my question is if I want to add a female or 2 later is this possible? Reading on the internet I have heard it is best to add them together or add the females first, but I have not read that it is impossible to add a female later.

My second question is can I add other types of wrasses to the same tank? If so what wrasses would be suggested so that they get along ok.

My aquarium is a 60 gallon cube with only a true perc, and the new wrasse. I am just getting some ideas of what else I might add. Sorry for the several questions, and thanks for all of you who contribute to this forum, I have learned a lot already.

 

[Brad Syphus]

I see no problem with adding the females after. You need a cover over the top of your tank first off . Flasher wrasses, any wrasses jump and will if they can.
Once you have a good cover than you will be able to get most any wrasse you want.

 

[MarvinsReef]

I see no problem with adding the females after. You need a cover over the top of your tank first off . Flasher wrasses, any wrasses jump and will if they can.
Once you have a good cover than you will be able to get most any wrasse you want.

+1 to this. you can search the forum for the covers people have made for their tanks.

good luck. :)

 

[GeoHawk]

Great! Thanks for the advice I will check for covers and make one asap. Do you think I need to get the females soon, if that is what I decide to do, or does it really matter? I live along ways from any LFS right now, and I wont likely be near one or a while. I will also need to save up some cash to get a couple females.

 

[MarvinsReef]

Great! Thanks for the advice I will check for covers and make one asap. Do you think I need to get the females soon, if that is what I decide to do, or does it really matter? I live along ways from any LFS right now, and I wont likely be near one or a while. I will also need to save up some cash to get a couple females.

you should be fine to add them later on. it's a little tough to find females but you can ask LFS or look online if there's any available when you're ready to buy. also, you might wanna look into adding one or two smaller fairy wrasse to compliment the McCosker's if you can't find females. :)

 

[GeoHawk]

I see no problem with adding the females after. You need a cover over the top of your tank first off . Flasher wrasses, any wrasses jump and will if they can.
Once you have a good cover than you will be able to get most any wrasse you want.

Do you think I could add mesh to the backside of the canopy,since the rest of the sides are covered by the canopy walls?

 

[Brad Syphus]

A member here on this forum sells the 1/4 inch clear mesh that you will need to keep flasher wrasses. Acroholic is his name if you want to pm him your size and he will gladly ship a peice to you.
Or Bulk Reef Supply now carries it also .
Clear 1/4" Screen Netting 6.5' x 2.5' - English
I can't tell you how important it is to have a good cover first, before you buy more of these fish. They love to jump and without a cover they see a certain death.

Here are a couple of pics of mine.

Also, If you click on the link I provided with BRS, there are instructions on how to build one and what other materials you need.

 

[GeoHawk]

Brad, I just realized you are from Utah. How is Utahreefs anyways? I just moved to Missouri from Utah 5 months ago for school. Utahreefs was fantastic, without it I probably would have never kept with this hobby, because I would have quit do to frustration. So you don't think the mesh on the back of the canopy will work huh? Also on your set up, does the cover open for feeding, or how accessible is the tank? Thanks for your help and concern I really appreciate it!

 

[Brad Syphus]

Brad, I just realized you are from Utah. How is Utahreefs anyways? I just moved to Missouri from Utah 5 months ago for school. Utahreefs was fantastic, without it I probably would have never kept with this hobby, because I would have quit do to frustration. So you don't think the mesh on the back of the canopy will work huh? Also on your set up, does the cover open for feeding, or how accessible is the tank? Thanks for your help and concern I really appreciate it!

Utahreefs is doing great. I haven't been to a meeting for quite awhile but I'm on the forum everyday. Go by the name Tileman. Been a member since 2003
My cover just lifts off and is only held on by one of my algea magnets.
I'm sure if you put the mesh on any openings on your canopy, you would be fine. Just make sure to catch every hole.

 

[GeoHawk]

I recognize your screen name, but I don't think I ever met you. I kind of lurked around a lot on there and used it for buying and selling coral. I don't usually say to much on forums, just ask alot of questions, because I have only been in the hobby for a few years and with most subjects I am a newbie. I bought my stand and canopy from Dion before I moved. It was expensive, but great quality and I plan on keeping my same set up for several years so very much worth it.

I have a ton of bridal veil do you think I could use that for the backing to the canopy?

 

[Brad Syphus]

Yea, that will work. Dion builds great stands and canopies. Best of luck. Post some pictures when your done.

 

[GeoHawk]

Will do Thanks!

 

[GeoHawk]

I picked up a female yesterday, at least the store states that it is a female. After acclimation I released it into the tank and the male bullied it alot so I turned all the lights off. This morning I have only seen the female for about 3 seconds as it swam very fast out of one area of rock to another. Is this normal? Maybe they sold me a male as a female on accident. It is much smaller than my male and has a smaller dorsal finn. It has less color, but still has some red on its ventral finn. What should I do?

 

[Brad Syphus]

This is normal for the first few days. They will eventually be fine with each other.

 

[Wy Renegade]

FYI, a little tidbit that I wasn't aware of myself initially, is that the wrasse are born female and become male - at least that was what someone else on here told me. I haven't read that anywhere in any of the books. Brad do you know if that is correct?

 

[GeoHawk]

FYI, a little tidbit that I wasn't aware of myself initially, is that the wrasse are born female and become male - at least that was what someone else on here told me. I haven't read that anywhere in any of the books. Brad do you know if that is correct?

I have also read this. I am hoping that the new wrasse hasn't turned male already. My male wrasse has taken several chunks out of the "females" tail fin. I just hope it doesn't kill her. I would rather give her away to someone, than have it die in my care. She does eat though, when I place food in the tank, so I guess that is a good thing.

 

[GeoHawk]

For anyone interested in the future. Just thought I would post, that they seem to be getting along better(the male is chasing the "female" a lot less, and she is out swimming around the tank about 70% of the time). I am still not sure that it is a female as I have seen other pictures of females that have no color on their fins, but I have seen some that do have color on their fins. It seems as Brad said, that after a few days they will get along.

 

[Brad Syphus]

1smile1

 

[btkrausen]

Awesome, great to hear. I'm about to go through the same thing with my flame wrasse. Got a male in on Friday, and supposed to be getting a female this week. Can't wait to see if they get along :)

 

[btkrausen]

By the way, Divers Den put up some nice wrasses tonight. Almost pulled the trigger on the Filamented Flasher Wrasse, but I"m going to be patient :)