Multiple Halichoeres?

[ileas12:]

I currently have a melanarus, yellow coris, and a carpenters flasher wrasse. Placing an order on LA and was wondering if i can add a lubbocks, a bluehead, and a red lined wrasse (really looks like the melanarus)? Thanks for all the useful advice :)

 

[pcon]

well you already have multiple halichoeres. Red lined is the common name of about a dozen different wrasses so you will need to get more specific with your ID, specifically there are several red lined halichoeres called christmas wrasses and they range from murderous to peaceful. There are no hard and fast rules for mixing halichoeres as far as I know,largely a exercise in judging temperaments and a degree of luck. I would be more worried about the Blue head from the ones listed.

 

[Barrett]

Red Lined Wrasse Halichoeres Biocellatus

 

[pcon]

I have also seen it used to refer to
Halichoeres claudia
H. ornatissimus
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
As well as juvinile Pseudojuloides, and other pencil wrasse

H. Biocellatus is the most optimistic as it is the nicesist, and likely would be fine with the other wrasses. Any of the others not as nice if memory serves.

 

[nereefpat]

Tank size?

 

[mattzang]

i have h. biocellatus with h. chrysus and they're good together, although they were both tiny females and added at the same time. i'd worry about tank size and how established the melanarus is, seems people have aggression issues with them from time to time

 

[ileas12:]

Tank size?

125 gallons

 

[foxt]

i have h. biocellatus with h. chrysus and they're good together, although they were both tiny females and added at the same time. i'd worry about tank size and how established the melanarus is, seems people have aggression issues with them from time to time

I have this combination with also a male bipartitus and a male melanurus. They were all added as females, well not sure about the Chrysus. They have a pecking order, the melanurus is top dog. He won’t tolerate any additional wrasses now.

 

[mattzang]

125 is pretty big, but idk if the melanarus is aggressive it might go poorly since biocellatus is usually super peaceful. you could try and use an acclimation box and see how the melanarus reacts

 

[mort]

Blue head is the one that I would avoid as thalasoma can be very assertive wrasse. I don't think the melanurus would have been a problem with a biocellatus if it went in after but because you already have it you might be in for a harder time. If it is still female I think your chances are good, if it's a male then definitely use an acclimation box and observe before making the call.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good advice above.

 

[ileas12:]

thanks all! sounds like im skipping out on the blue head and taking some precaution with the red line