Tangs and wrasses

Mariette · Apr 24, 2019

any general guidelines for mixing tangs and wrasses? 125g tank that’s 5 feet so none of the larger tangs please :) mixed reef.

Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with

nereefpat · Apr 24, 2019

Mixing tangs with wrasses? They will ignore each other.

Mixing tangs with tangs in a 125? A general guideline would be to avoid mixing two in the same genus. A yellow and kole, for example, would pair well.

Mixing wrasses with wrasses? Here is a thread about fairy wrasses you would find useful: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...feriority-need-not-apply-1st-revision.322326/
You should be able to mix a few fairies, flashers, and Halichoeres genus wrasse or two in a 125.

Mariette · Apr 24, 2019

nereefpat said:
Mixing tangs with wrasses? They will ignore each other.

Mixing tangs with tangs in a 125? A general guideline would be to avoid mixing two in the same genus. A yellow and kole, for example, would pair well.

Mixing wrasses with wrasses? Here is a thread about fairy wrasses you would find useful: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...feriority-need-not-apply-1st-revision.322326/
You should be able to mix a few fairies, flashers, and Halichoeres genus wrasse or two in a 125.

Awesome thx

eatbreakfast · Apr 25, 2019

They should ignore each other, but every once in awhile their will be accounts of a rogue Ctenochaetus tang going balistic on wrasses for no reason. I had one like this and it was a terror to wrasses.

Mariette · Apr 25, 2019

eatbreakfast said:
They should ignore each other, but every once in awhile their will be accounts of a rogue Ctenochaetus tang going balistic on wrasses for no reason. I had one like this and it was a terror to wrasses.

Yikes. I was hoping to get one of the Ctenochaetus top :(

eatbreakfast · Apr 25, 2019

That behavior is the exception, but it can happen.

Mariette · Apr 25, 2019

eatbreakfast said:
That behavior is the exception, but it can happen.

I suppose it could happen with another normally peaceful fish as well. They’re not as well armed as a tang though so that’s concerning.

evolved · Apr 25, 2019

I've kept a tomini alongside my wrasses for years with no issue, fwiw. Just one datapoint, though.

Jesterrace · Apr 25, 2019

My Yellow Tang tried to initially be a jerk to my established Melanurus Wrasse. Boy did he get a surprise when that little juvie wrasse went after it's tail without fear. The Yellow Tang did do some shadow and intimidation behavior on the Wrasse after that but it never dared to try a tail slap after that first encounter. You are correct to be concerned with the Tail Scalpel. As mentioned elsewhere my poor Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel found that out the hard way. If it seems like I am pushing the Foxface a bit much as an alternative that is why. Even though I wouldn't mind trying one of the Bristletooth varieties in my tank at some point in the future, I am perfectly happy not having a tang in my tank and so are the fish.

Mariette · Apr 25, 2019

Jesterrace said:
My Yellow Tang tried to initially be a jerk to my established Melanurus Wrasse. Boy did he get a surprise when that little juvie wrasse went after it's tail without fear. The Yellow Tang did do some shadow and intimidation behavior on the Wrasse after that but it never dared to try a tail slap after that first encounter. You are correct to be concerned with the Tail Scalpel. As mentioned elsewhere my poor Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel found that out the hard way. If it seems like I am pushing the Foxface a bit much as an alternative that is why. Even though I wouldn't mind trying one of the Bristletooth varieties in my tank at some point in the future, I am perfectly happy not having a tang in my tank and so are the fish.

I’ve got this image of a utopia tank where nothing gets picked on or eaten and everyone lives in harmony. Including the corals. So a foxface just doesn’t fit in. Even a Coral beauty is too much of a risk to some corals. I’ve had to cut a lot of fish I really wanted for various reasons (tank size, reef safe rating, aggression...). I was hoping to get a tang or 2. Might just pass on em altogether. No tang. No Foxface :( I’d consider taking a chance w something that could be moved to my fuge if needed but these 2 get waaaaay too big for that.

FoxyFace · Apr 25, 2019

My tank is basically all tangs and wrasses. Sometimes the tangs "flex" over territory. For the most part, they get along.

Kyl · Apr 25, 2019

I look after a tank that has had a tomini with a c. lubbocki and c. cyanopleura for about 18 months and they all play nice in general.

Jesterrace · Apr 26, 2019

Mariette said:
I’ve got this image of a utopia tank where nothing gets picked on or eaten and everyone lives in harmony. Including the corals. So a foxface just doesn’t fit in. Even a Coral beauty is too much of a risk to some corals. I’ve had to cut a lot of fish I really wanted for various reasons (tank size, reef safe rating, aggression...). I was hoping to get a tang or 2. Might just pass on em altogether. No tang. No Foxface :( I’d consider taking a chance w something that could be moved to my fuge if needed but these 2 get waaaaay too big for that.

I hate to say it but what you are dreaming of simply doesn't exist. Every saltwater fish is an individual that can break the generalized norms of their species. My Wrasses are a perfect example. By all accounts they are carnivores. My Melanurus Wrasse never liked Seaweed until he saw my Yellow Tang and Coral Beauty got nuts for it. Ever since then it has torn into it with gusto. My Blue Star Leopard Wrasse adapted to Seaweed first and took a few days before adapting to the meaty buffet that Reef Frenzy offers. According to all the norms though these fish shouldn't touch the green stuff. On the Flipside my Foxface is supposed to be strictly an Herbivore but he goes nuts for Reef Frenzy (meat and all). I have seen both of my Wrasses take the once in a Blue Moon exploratory nip at my corals. Nothing that really hurts the corals as it isn't persistent but both are supposed to leave them completely alone.

With this hobby there are no guarantees, only norms and odds. I can tell you that a Foxface in a Reef system has really high odds of success. Can I guarantee it? No. I can tell you that generally speaking Tangs have really good odds of leaving Corals totally alone. Can I guarantee it? No.

Here is an example of my fish breaking the rules: