The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[JdubC]

Hi All,

Well it's time for me to add wrasses to my family of fun fishies. I was hoping you wonderful folks could provide some thoughts on which combination to choose.

I would like to get 2-3 wrasses and introduce them at the same time. Here are the ones I am thinking about at the moment:

Halichoeres chrysus (Canary Wrasse)
Halichoeres biocellatus (Xmas Red-Lined Wrasse)
Paracheilinus carpenteri (Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse)
Paracheilinus mccoskeri (McCosker's Flasher Wrasse)
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis (Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse)


Current fish family

One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish​

Blue Eyed Kole Tang​

Flame Hawkfish​

Wheeler's Shrimp Goby (paired with both a Tiger Pistol and Red Banded Pistol Shrimp)​

Yellowhead Jawfish​

Benggai Cardinal​

Ocellaris Clownfish mated pair​

Invertebrates

Cleaner shrimp​

Various snails​

Blue and red legged hermits​

Sand sifting star​

Florida Conch (2)​

Emerald Crab (2)​

Setup

DT is 48"x20"x20" 83 gallons​

26 gallon sump. ​

I have been up and running for just under a year ​

LPS/Softie mixed reef ​

3" sand bed​

Stable parameters​

 

[EliMelly]

Finally got all 4 black leopard wrasses in a picture but no orange lens…

 

[Tcook]

Finally got all 4 black leopard wrasses in a picture but no orange lens…

How long have you had them?

 

[i cant think]

I ordered a pair of Johnson’s Fairys and this is one of the fish. Maybe I’m wrong but it’s absolutely a flasher wrasse - maybe a bells?

He is stunning. Most certainly not a Johnsoni, but rather either a Filamentosa or Bellae - I’ve fallen back on my wrasse IDs through photos. Is this the best you have?

 

[i cant think]

Hi All,

Well it's time for me to add wrasses to my family of fun fishies. I was hoping you wonderful folks could provide some thoughts on which combination to choose.

I would like to get 2-3 wrasses and introduce them at the same time. Here are the ones I am thinking about at the moment:

Halichoeres chrysus (Canary Wrasse)
Halichoeres biocellatus (Xmas Red-Lined Wrasse)
Paracheilinus carpenteri (Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse)
Paracheilinus mccoskeri (McCosker's Flasher Wrasse)
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis (Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse)


Current fish family

One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish​

Blue Eyed Kole Tang​

Flame Hawkfish​

Wheeler's Shrimp Goby (paired with both a Tiger Pistol and Red Banded Pistol Shrimp)​

Yellowhead Jawfish​

Benggai Cardinal​

Ocellaris Clownfish mated pair​

Invertebrates

Cleaner shrimp​

Various snails​

Blue and red legged hermits​

Sand sifting star​

Florida Conch (2)​

Emerald Crab (2)​

Setup

DT is 48"x20"x20" 83 gallons​

26 gallon sump. ​

I have been up and running for just under a year ​

LPS/Softie mixed reef ​

3" sand bed​

Stable parameters​

I’d play with a massive caution around the flame hawk. I’ve had a few too many hawkfish of different species nail wrasses.
The Blue Eye Kole may not take nicely to flashers (mine was a pain when it came to getting wrasses into the tank), but the aurantidorsalis and Halichoeres I would say will work nicely due to their more dominant nature.

 

[EliMelly]

How long have you had them?

One week.

 

[Featherweight]

Here's my trio finally in one frame.

Looking to add naoko and or exquisite. Maybe a flasher as well.

 

[JoJosReef]

He is stunning. Most certainly not a Johnsoni, but rather either a Filamentosa or Bellae - I’ve fallen back on my wrasse IDs through photos. Is this the best you have?

I believe he said in a different post that they were from Marshall Islands. Not sure about filamentosa distribution, but bellae comes from Marshall Islands.

 

[i cant think]

I believe he said in a different post that they were from Marshall Islands. Not sure about filamentosa distribution, but bellae comes from Marshall Islands.

Bellae is the species which replaces filamentosa in the Marshall Islands - However I’d never say 100% as I have had species not known from around certain regions show up.

One instance on a Solomon import, I have had a Hybrid Achilles show up instead of a Gold Rim. Which whilst not unheard of for Achilles to appear in Solomon, it’s not common from what I found.

 

[i cant think]

If you’ve been wondering where I have been. I have some more upsetting news, this is one of the last FTSs/photos you’ll see from this 5 foot tank.

Due to moving house in a few months, and a lot needing done with the current house, this system has hit neglect. I’m now down to 4 wrasses, with even fewer fish. So, we decided that this was the best time to start shutting the system down ready for the move. I’ll keep the majority of what I still have (minus maybe 2-3 of them - for instance, the biocellatus will likely get rehomed).
But my nanos will continue to run! And eventually this system will run again, maybe not this year but who knows. I’m already starting a list of what I want to keep/regain and what I will most likely sell off through my shop.

 

[i cant think]

Oh, and as my birthday was this week, I got a new camera so… Obviously the first thing I tried it on was the Pink Streaks!

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Check out how much the false eyespot on this Tamarin Wrasse looks like its actual eye. I had never really noticed until I snapped this photo with its fins extended.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

I’d play with a massive caution around the flame hawk. I’ve had a few too many hawkfish of different species nail wrasses.
The Blue Eye Kole may not take nicely to flashers (mine was a pain when it came to getting wrasses into the tank), but the aurantidorsalis and Halichoeres I would say will work nicely due to their more dominant nature.

Hawkfish can be such jerks and they hit hard!

 

[cba191]

in a 150g (48x24x30) would I be able to do a harem of wrasses? And do they interact with each other?

 

[tbrown]

in a 150g (48x24x30) would I be able to do a harem of wrasses? And do they interact with each other?

Which wrasses are you looking at?

 

[cba191]

Which wrasses are you looking at?

not real specific at this point. I have a 50g now which prevents me from any of the tamarins, so I definitely want at least 1 or or some of those. I love leopards but haven't had luck so far. And everyone needs Halichoeres. I have a radiant, but a few together would be stunning.

 

[i cant think]

in a 150g (48x24x30) would I be able to do a harem of wrasses? And do they interact with each other?

In a 4’x2.5’x2’ you could have a harem but you will need to know the difference between male and female and when the transition begins. It’s rare you get males coexisting longterm (it’s not impossible in larger tanks, but it’s rare). Yes, harems do sometimes interact but it’s mainly during courtship as they mature.

not real specific at this point. I have a 50g now which prevents me from any of the tamarins, so I definitely want at least 1 or or some of those. I love leopards but haven't had luck so far. And everyone needs Halichoeres. I have a radiant, but a few together would be stunning.

If you did radiants, I’ve always had better luck with them in pairs as opposed to harems. Tamarins can harem as well, however it’s rare for some species to transition, the Meleagrides I’ve only ever seen males through wild caught specimens as opposed to captive specimens transitioning. Whilst Neoguinaicus quite frequently is recorded to transition in captivity.
Leopards are one of those which can be sensitive however again, are better for harems as some species don’t transition as frequently.

 

[cba191]

In a 4’x2.5’x2’ you could have a harem but you will need to know the difference between male and female and when the transition begins. It’s rare you get males coexisting longterm (it’s not impossible in larger tanks, but it’s rare). Yes, harems do sometimes interact but it’s mainly during courtship as they mature.

If you did radiants, I’ve always had better luck with them in pairs as opposed to harems. Tamarins can harem as well, however it’s rare for some species to transition, the Meleagrides I’ve only ever seen males through wild caught specimens as opposed to captive specimens transitioning. Whilst Neoguinaicus quite frequently is recorded to transition in captivity.
Leopards are one of those which can be sensitive however again, are better for harems as some species don’t transition as frequently.

would it be a good idea to get the leopards as the first fish in a newly cycled tank so they control the environment?

 

[Tcook]

would it be a good idea to get the leopards as the first fish in a newly cycled tank so they control the environment?

Is this real live rock from the ocean teaming with life?

 

[cba191]

Is this real live rock from the ocean teaming with life?

no, unfortunately