New Tank Build - Community Curation (Wrasses)

[Curelessjr]

Im currently waiting on delivery of my new Waterbox Infinia 150.4 (105 display); upgrading from a Waterbox peninsula 25.

Im working to curate my tank community and wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on the following wrasse combo.

x2 Clownfish
x1 Royal Gramma
x2 Watanabei Angelfish
x1 Springeri Damsel
x1 Purple Tang (maybe)
x1 Bristletooth Tang (maybe)

Now the Wrasses

x1Black Leopard or Yellowtail
x1 Blue Star or Leopard or Ornate Leopard
x1 Vroliks

1. Thoughts on the fish load?
2. Too many Wrasses?
3. Any preferred combo of Wrasse?
4. Any of those you would just straight cross off?

 

[Slocke]

Im currently waiting on delivery of my new Waterbox Infinia 150.4 (105 display); upgrading from a Waterbox peninsula 25.

Im working to curate my tank community and wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on the following wrasse combo.

x2 Clownfish
x1 Royal Gramma
x2 Watanabei Angelfish
x1 Springeri Damsel
x1 Purple Tang (maybe)
x1 Bristletooth Tang (maybe)

Now the Wrasses

x1Black Leopard or Yellowtail

Yellowtail tamarin? Sorry there are multiple wrasse with yellowtail in there name.

x1 Blue Star or Leopard or Ornate Leopard
x1 Vroliks

1. Thoughts on the fish load?
2. Too many Wrasses?
3. Any preferred combo of Wrasse?
4. Any of those you would just straight cross off?

So the issue is leopards and tamarins can be shy. So I wouldn’t suggest them with tangs. I’d swap for a Foxface. Also the damsel is a fish I would maybe reconsider. Other then that it looks good though you should always be aware that leopards and tamarins are difficult. Make sure they are eating before purchase and be patient. They may hide for a while and there is a good chance they won't eat or will fade away.

Personally though I would consider some fairy or flasher wrasse too. They make great, energetic additions.


@i cant think and @JoJosReef will also have great suggestions

 

[Curelessjr]

Yellowtail tamarin? Sorry there are multiple wrasse with yellowtail in there name.

So the issue is leopards and tamarins can be shy. So I wouldn’t suggest them with tangs. I’d swap for a Foxface. Also the damsel is a fish I would maybe reconsider. Other then that it looks good though you should always be aware that leopards and tamarins are difficult. Make sure they are eating before purchase and be patient. They may hide for a while and there is a good chance they won't eat or will fade away.

Personally though I would consider some fairy or flasher wrasse too. They make great, energetic additions.


@i cant think and @JoJosReef will also have great suggestions

Thank you!

Yes, the yellow-tail tamarin, or spotted wrasse. Found it on liveaquaria.

Any particular reason for removing the damsel? I had one in my 25 until it died. Super friendly and chill, I believe it's the only damsel that is not aggressive.

Maybe I'll make a wrasse my centerpiece fish in place if the tangs.

 

[Slocke]

Thank you!

Yes, the yellow-tail tamarin, or spotted wrasse. Found it on liveaquaria.

Any particular reason for removing the damsel? I had one in my 25 until it died. Super friendly and chill, I believe it's the only damsel that is not aggressive.

I honestly just don’t keep any damsel due to reputation but im a wrasse guy so you may know better.

Maybe I'll make a wrasse my centerpiece fish in place if the tangs.

That's what I'd do but I'm bias.

 

[i cant think]

Im currently waiting on delivery of my new Waterbox Infinia 150.4 (105 display); upgrading from a Waterbox peninsula 25.

Im working to curate my tank community and wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on the following wrasse combo.

x2 Clownfish
x1 Royal Gramma
x2 Watanabei Angelfish
x1 Springeri Damsel
x1 Purple Tang (maybe)
x1 Bristletooth Tang (maybe)

Now the Wrasses

x1Black Leopard or Yellowtail
x1 Blue Star or Leopard or Ornate Leopard
x1 Vroliks

1. Thoughts on the fish load?
2. Too many Wrasses?
3. Any preferred combo of Wrasse?
4. Any of those you would just straight cross off?

Drop the tangs, in a 4 foot tank they will be way too aggressive for the wrasses - I agree with Slocke, swap them for a Foxface. They do a much better job and have half of the aggression.

Too many wrasse? More like not enough!
I’d drop the Vrolik’s as it may be too aggressive for the Tamarin and Leopards. Go for the Black Leopard, Yellow Tail Tamarin, Blue Star Leopard and a few others! I’d look at these genera;
Pseudojuloides
Cirrhilabrus
Paracheilinus
Halichoeres
Anampses (there’s some true stunners in this genus, I personally love A. twistii and A. neoguinaicus)

Make a list of all the species you love, for example this is my stock list (yes, this is all in my 5 foot display, plus 7 other fish).

Make it as long as you want - every species you love. Me, Slocke, Jojo and the other wrasse lovers will help to narrow it down to about 7-10 species for you :)

 

[Curelessjr]

Drop the tangs, in a 4 foot tank they will be way too aggressive for the wrasses - I agree with Slocke, swap them for a Foxface. They do a much better job and have half of the aggression.

Too many wrasse? More like not enough!
I’d drop the Vrolik’s as it may be too aggressive for the Tamarin and Leopards. Go for the Black Leopard, Yellow Tail Tamarin, Blue Star Leopard and a few others! I’d look at these genera;
Pseudojuloides
Cirrhilabrus
Paracheilinus
Halichoeres
Anampses (there’s some true stunners in this genus, I personally love A. twistii and A. neoguinaicus)

Make a list of all the species you love, for example this is my stock list (yes, this is all in my 5 foot display, plus 7 other fish).

Make it as long as you want - every species you love. Me, Slocke, Jojo and the other wrasse lovers will help to narrow it down to about 7-10 species for you :)

I dont want to say im easily swayed, but i was fairly easily swayed. Went into my LFS this afternoon and told him I may ditch the tangs for more wrasse and his response was basically "hey, I won't argue with you, im a wrasse guy."

He actually got in a dozen black leopard wrasse this past week. I picked up a stary blenny and a royal gramma today, but I may go back and grab a black leopard wrasse this next week. I'll update my curation list over the next couple days and let you all know where I land!

 

[JoJosReef]

I dont want to say im easily swayed, but i was fairly easily swayed. Went into my LFS this afternoon and told him I may ditch the tangs for more wrasse and his response was basically "hey, I won't argue with you, im a wrasse guy."

He actually got in a dozen black leopard wrasse this past week. I picked up a stary blenny and a royal gramma today, but I may go back and grab a black leopard wrasse this next week. I'll update my curation list over the next couple days and let you all know where I land!

Small female black leopards are pinnacle cuteness level. Right up there with a pair of pink streaks.

 

[JoJosReef]

I would swap the vroliks for an Anampses. A. neoguinaicus is stunning. I also want a twistii. Any Pseudojuloides (pencil) wrasse would be great for that tank. I personally love severnsi and kaleidos but have a splendens (mis'ID by distributor) and he is fine and very colorful.

 

[i cant think]

Small female black leopards are pinnacle cuteness level. Right up there with a pair of pink streaks.

Stop it, I don’t need any more wrasses

 

[JoJosReef]

Stop it, I don’t need any more wrasses

I've seen a 1.5" negrosensis and it was adorbbbbs

 

[i cant think]

I would swap the vroliks for an Anampses. A. neoguinaicus is stunning. I also want a twistii. Any Pseudojuloides (pencil) wrasse would be great for that tank. I personally love severnsi and kaleidos but have a splendens (mis'ID by distributor) and he is fine and very colorful.

Kaleidos is one I can never not recommend! I have a pair of them and the male is drop dead gorgeous. The female is just as stunning.

 

[Curelessjr]

Kaleidos is one I can never not recommend! I have a pair of them and the male is drop dead gorgeous. The female is just as stunning.

Ok, that is actually a great segway to a new wrasse question. I found myself on 'The Wrasse Guy' website and found the following paragraph:

In aquaria, it is rather difficult to successfully duplicate nature, in that all females tend to eventually transition to male, regardless of the presence of a more dominant male. Often, when this occurs in the presence of a dominant male, the new male may end up with best coloration. However, the survival of the old male is always questionable, and sometimes removal of one male becomes necessary for obvious aggression. For these reasons, I no longer bother with more than one specimen of a single species except in certain (rare) circumstances. I have attempted to keep a male/female pair/trio from the Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres, and Paracheilinus genera, only to always result in all females turning to male with time.

In updating my list, I've basically just been planning for males, no females. Any insight on the statement above? Agree or disagree?

 

[i cant think]

Ok, that is actually a great segway to a new wrasse question. I found myself on 'The Wrasse Guy' website and found the following paragraph:



In updating my list, I've basically just been planning for males, no females. Any insight on the statement above? Agree or disagree?

Ive had male/females of the same species and they work out pretty much all the time. As the male ages and becomes weak, that’s when the female will change but it’s rarely ever before then.
Unless you buy a female with no males of the same species, the likelihood is she will remain female until the male dies.

 

[Curelessjr]

Ive had male/females of the same species and they work out pretty much all the time. As the male ages and becomes weak, that’s when the female will change but it’s rarely ever before then.
Unless you buy a female with no males of the same species, the likelihood is she will remain female until the male dies.

Thank you! You all have me going down so many rabbitholes. Haha

 

[Curelessjr]

Alright Leopard Wrasse.

Based on what I've found, it sounds like they play nice with everyone else, except other Leopards. So I need to pick my favorite and only have one.

Is that accurate?

 

[i cant think]

Alright Leopard Wrasse.

Based on what I've found, it sounds like they play nice with everyone else, except other Leopards. So I need to pick my favorite and only have one.

Is that accurate?

In a 4 foot tank? Nope! You can have 3-4 different leopards in there. It’s mainly the male marisrubri/bipartitus that don’t always play nice with others.

 

[Curelessjr]

Alright Leopard Wrasse.

Based on what I've found, it sounds like they play nice with everyone else, except other Leopards. So I need to pick my favorite and only have one.

Is that accurate?

In a 4 foot tank? Nope! You can have 3-4 different leopards in there. It’s mainly the male marisrubri/bipartitus that don’t always play nice with others.

Figured I would come back for an update!

Since our last brief conversation, I've added a blue star and 2 black leopard wrasses (all female) to my QT/Observation tank. All are probably 2 to 3 inches in length.

Just waiting for my large tank to arive.