The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[eatbreakfast]

Now that RVS is collecting them, how does P. hemitaeniatus compare on price with other rarer flasher wrasse like P. piscilineatus?

It is quite a bit cheaper. LA has been selling P. piscilineatus for $2000, P. hemitaeniatus are being sold by NY Aquatic for $800.

Would adding a Canary Wrasse and adding two unmated Yellow Banded Possum Wrasses get along in my 54G reef established for a year? Other fish being an established Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown, and some Chromis?

Yes, that should be fine.

My lineatus is on his side swimming on his side. He has been hiding in the rocks for about a day. When I fed the tank, he came out into a low current area in a cave, but he has his side up.

What could be going wrong and what could I do?

Do you have pics? Does his swimming seem labored? Are his pectoral or ventral fins damaged? Is there bullying? Are there any other symptoms?

 

[Husker]

Do you have pics? Does his swimming seem labored? Are his pectoral or ventral fins damaged? Is there bullying? Are there any other symptoms?

Today he is coming out a little more than yesterday. I don't see any fin damage. He is out swimming but every once in a while turns sideways and kind of gets blown by the current. It almost seems like he is only swimming with his pectoral and posterior dorsal fin and the caudal fin isn't doing anything but blowing in the current.

He gets chased every once in a while by my solorensis, but not very often. He hasn't made contact with him since I first introduced them to each other about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Husker]

... the tip of his mandible does seem to have a bit of a white swelling on it that wasn't there before, also.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Today he is coming out a little more than yesterday. I don't see any fin damage. He is out swimming but every once in a while turns sideways and kind of gets blown by the current. It almost seems like he is only swimming with his pectoral and posterior dorsal fin and the caudal fin isn't doing anything but blowing in the current.

He gets chased every once in a while by my solorensis, but not very often. He hasn't made contact with him since I first introduced them to each other about 2 weeks ago.

Most wrasses will seem to swim more with their pectorals rather than using their caudal. As long as the tail isn't dropping and the fish is having trouble keeping it's body level, swimming with the pectorals wouldn't worry me.

The swimming on it's side is concerning, but if it is swimming with purpose rather than getting buffeted around by the flow, then that is a good sign, and would wonder if he is keeping his back pointed toward the solorensis, so as not to draw attention from the solorensis.

Watch the white on the mouth to make sure it doesn't worsen. The mouth is damaged, so can get infected, but in most cases heal on it's own.

 

[evolved]

@evolved, @eatbreakfast did you guys see the P. hemitaeniatus for sale on NYA? I've never seen one offered since I've been in the hobby. How often do these flasher wrasse show up?

They started trickling in about 6 months ago.

They had been very rarely imported, but RVS set up a collection station on Madagascar, so they should be coming in with more regularity.

Yes, and there's another collector down there too with them.

Now that RVS is collecting them, how does P. hemitaeniatus compare on price with other rarer flasher wrasse like P. piscilineatus?

About the same.

Would adding a Canary Wrasse and adding two unmated Yellow Banded Possum Wrasses get along in my 54G reef established for a year? Other fish being an established Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown, and some Chromis?

I should be fine; there's a small chance the two possums will fight.

It is quite a bit cheaper. LA has been selling P. piscilineatus for $2000

??? The DD price has been $900...

 

[evolved]

... the tip of his mandible does seem to have a bit of a white swelling on it that wasn't there before, also.

I'm speculating he darted into the glass while being chased by the solorensis, and damaged his mouth and spine as a result. If so, things may heal back to normal, or they may stay as they are indefinitely.

 

[eatbreakfast]

??? The DD price has been $900...

http://m.liveaquaria.com/divers-den/product/373424/mauritius-flasher-wrasse-terminal-phase-male

$1999 right now.

 

[evolved]

http://m.liveaquaria.com/divers-den/product/373424/mauritius-flasher-wrasse-terminal-phase-male

$1999 right now.

In that case, there's a significant and recent price hike. The last batch several months ago were 899.

 

[townjas]

Do female Pseudojuloides become male like other wrasses?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Do female Pseudojuloides become male like other wrasses?

Yes, but not as easily as Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus or Halichoeres, but more readily than Macropharyngodon.

 

[Husker]

I'm speculating he darted into the glass while being chased by the solorensis, and damaged his mouth and spine as a result. If so, things may heal back to normal, or they may stay as they are indefinitely.

He is out swimming around, but he keeps spinning in circles and swimming upside down. It seems like a swim bladder issue, maybe?

Is there anything I can do? Or is it best just to just not stress him out? He looks like he is struggling to catch food with his poor swimming, but he doesn't look malnourished (I feed a ton).

 

[evolved]

but he keeps spinning in circles and swimming upside down

:( Ugh. Not good.

Is there anything I can do? Or is it best just to just not stress him out? He looks like he is struggling to catch food with his poor swimming

Hate to bear the bad news, but despite lots of different attempts by lots of different people, I've never seen one recover from this condition - only degrade worse.

 

[Husker]

:( Ugh. Not good.

Hate to bear the bad news, but despite lots of different attempts by lots of different people, I've never seen one recover from this condition - only degrade worse.

Man... Was there anything hat could have prevented this? I know some of you drop huge money on fish, but this was by far my most expensive and one of my favorites. I can't believe $300 went to a fish that barely lasted a week... I guess I will stick to coral. I have a lot better luck with that.

 

[Kyl]

A question on mixing cryptic wrasses. I've had a pink streak wrasse for coming up on 18 months in my nano tank and want to pick up a possum wrasse to go along with it with a tank upgrade. Any obvious problems with adding one of the Wetmorella genus, aside from food competition? From everything I've read it should be a non-issue, but they're not usually stocked locally so I want to check before putting an order in.

Thank you!

 

[ascheff]

A question on mixing cryptic wrasses. I've had a pink streak wrasse for coming up on 18 months in my nano tank and want to pick up a possum wrasse to go along with it with a tank upgrade. Any obvious problems with adding one of the Wetmorella genus, aside from food competition? From everything I've read it should be a non-issue, but they're not usually stocked locally so I want to check before putting an order in.

Thank you!

I have both and they hardly even seem to notice each other, so no issues at all with mine.

 

[Rookie J]

Anyone have experience with a dusky wrasse ? Think it would be a good addition for the frag tank but wanted to get some opinions on it.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/3074/dusky-wrasse?pcatid=3074&c=15+1379+3074

 

[eatbreakfast]

Man... Was there anything hat could have prevented this? I know some of you drop huge money on fish, but this was by far my most expensive and one of my favorites. I can't believe $300 went to a fish that barely lasted a week... I guess I will stick to coral. I have a lot better luck with that.

Buying from a place with a good guarantee, a good reputation, and a little bit of luck go a long way.

A question on mixing cryptic wrasses. I've had a pink streak wrasse for coming up on 18 months in my nano tank and want to pick up a possum wrasse to go along with it with a tank upgrade. Any obvious problems with adding one of the Wetmorella genus, aside from food competition? From everything I've read it should be a non-issue, but they're not usually stocked locally so I want to check before putting an order in.

Thank you!

Agreed, they will be fine.

Anyone have experience with a dusky wrasse ? Think it would be a good addition for the frag tank but wanted to get some opinions on it.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/3074/dusky-wrasse?pcatid=3074&c=15+1379+3074

What size is the tank? H. marginatus gets bigger than many of the commonly kept Halichoeres species. Will there be any tankmates? Because dusky wrasses can be a little pushy. They also require a sandbed.

 

[DracoKat]

Last night I put my female flame wrasse into the DT. She took over the tank right away, exploring and staying out in the open. Every wrasse I've ever had immediately went into hiding for days.

This is a good sign that she's out and about without hiding, right? She did go under a cave as soon as she went in, but didn't stay long at all.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Last night I put my female flame wrasse into the DT. She took over the tank right away, exploring and staying out in the open. Every wrasse I've ever had immediately went into hiding for days.

This is a good sign that she's out and about without hiding, right? She did go under a cave as soon as she went in, but didn't stay long at all.

A confident wrasse is always a good sign.

 

[evolved]

Man... Was there anything hat could have prevented this? I know some of you drop huge money on fish, but this was by far my most expensive and one of my favorites. I can't believe $300 went to a fish that barely lasted a week... I guess I will stick to coral. I have a lot better luck with that.

Buying from a place with a good guarantee, a good reputation, and a little bit of luck go a long way.

Agree - I don't have anything else to add I'm afraid. These issues always stem from the collection source, so your retailer may be a source you wish to change.

A question on mixing cryptic wrasses. I've had a pink streak wrasse for coming up on 18 months in my nano tank and want to pick up a possum wrasse to go along with it with a tank upgrade. Any obvious problems with adding one of the Wetmorella genus, aside from food competition? From everything I've read it should be a non-issue, but they're not usually stocked locally so I want to check before putting an order in.

Thank you!

+3 on it being fine.

Anyone have experience with a dusky wrasse ? Think it would be a good addition for the frag tank but wanted to get some opinions on it.

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/3074/dusky-wrasse?pcatid=3074&c=15+1379+3074

Bigger and a bit more aggressive than a melanurus, otherwise quite similar in behavior.

This is a good sign that she's out and about without hiding, right?

Yes - that's the best and desired outcome. :)