The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[OrionN]

I wonder if your tank size is what allows trios/groups to work as every other tank (6’ or 4’ is most common over here for large tanks… our houses aren’t huge) I’ve seen with groups of Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres and Paracheilinus always fail long term.

I keep 420 gal in the past and now a 320 gal.
I keep harem of Leopards long term 5+ years. Diamond Tail and Eightline 3 years+. I think the Leopards would continue indefinitely other than the fact that they meet their demise in a hurricane. The two flasher wrasses, consider how short their life span is, and the fact that the female did not change sex, I consider this a success.
I also keep pair of Anampses neoguinaicus that spawn all the time, and a pair of Halichoeres iridis. I do believe that the male suppresses the female from having sex change in these species. While there are some chasings and showing of dominant, the females of these species were not injured.

 

[Petcrazyson]

@Zero_Cool since your still interested in looking at some wrasse for your tank, to give you some more ideas you and your wife may love, here are some pictures of the wrasse I plan on adding to my tank:

I’m sure @homer1475 and @i cant think will love the wrasse spam even though they‘ve already seen it lol.

 

[homer1475]

Not loving the colorings of the male negrosensis!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

After losing my fairy wrasses in the 75 gallon (48"x18") during the rip clean, we are looking to reset our wrasse selection. I usually stock my tanks at a higher level then most, and can separate them into other tanks if any fighting takes place, but this is what we have left, and what we are considering adding back.

Have:
Cirrhilabrus rubeus
Halichoeres iridis
Halichoeres timorensis

Want:
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki (Indo)
Cirrhilabrus isosceles
Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis
Cirrhilabrus briangreenei
Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa
Halichoeres chrysus
Macropharyngodon meleagris
Macropharyngodon bipartitus/marisrubri
Pseudojuloides severnsi

For my 180 (which will be upgraded to something with an 8'x4' footprint in the next couple years):

Have:
Cheilinus lunulatus
Halichoeres bivittatus
Bodianus rufus

Want:
Halichoeres melanurus
Gomphosus varius
Thalassoma sp. (Trying to decide between lunare, bifasciatum, or quinquevittatum)
Coris gaimardi (just need to find a big enough one, not a tiny 1.5" baby)

Our 47 gallon rimless (40" length, 18" width) has the following:
Cirrhilabrus katherinae
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki (Cebu)

If anyone has any wrasse suggestions for that tank, it would be appreciated! Just no heavy pod feeders for that one, since there is a target mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) in there who I do not want outcompeted.

And a crappy pic of the H. bivittatus, since he swims SO fast.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Not loving the colorings of the male negrosensis!

Awww. Why do so many people not like the male coloration of the poor Macropharyngodons?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Awww. Why do so many people not like the male coloration of the poor Macropharyngodons?

They are stunning to me :) I had a male meleagris years ago that just glowed

 

[homer1475]

Apparently my negrosensis is being a sleepy head today. Odd as it's usually the first sand sleeper awake in the morning.

And yes I have already checked the overflow, and around the tank. It would not be the first time it jumped out. I've saved it 2 times already.

All my wrasses seem to be squabbling today. No idea why, but the moyers is chasing everything this morning.

 

[Slocke]

My LFS is only selling the roseafacia as a pair for 400$. The male is quite special.
Apologize for the blues:

What I am tempted on is a C rubeus and C lunatus. They both look very healthy but nothing like the beauty of online specimens. Is that something they will grow into?

 

[homer1475]

Almost pulled the trigger on a stunning male I saw at a LFS crawl I did a couple years back(pre-covid). Beautiful fish, but my heart is set on a certain leopard.

if you have the room, and the money, I would buy them.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

I was looking at DrReef's site earlier, and I noticed that it says that yellow wrasses (Halichoeres chrysus) are bad shippers. From people's experience, is this the case? I know that this is the case with the rarer Halichoeres and Anampses, but I was under the impression that chrysus are hardy. I don't have an LFS, so I'm dependent on ordering fish online. If they are actually bad shippers, I might need to take it off my stocklist. Thoughts?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I was looking at DrReef's site earlier, and I noticed that it says that yellow wrasses (Halichoeres chrysus) are bad shippers. From people's experience, is this the case? I know that this is the case with the rarer Halichoeres and Anampses, but I was under the impression that chrysus are hardy. I don't have an LFS, so I'm dependent on ordering fish online. If they are actually bad shippers, I might need to take it off my stocklist. Thoughts?

Any Halichoeres can be bad shippers. Honestly, any wrasse that sleeps in the sand (Halichoeres, Macropharyngodon, Pseudojuloides, Anampses...)

I personally would still go for it, or if you can find one locally and quarantine it yourself, go for it. I prefer to buy my fish locally if I can so I can see how healthy they look and support a local business, but I understand some people don't have that option.

 

[Zero_Cool]

@Petcrazyson - thank you. What are the names (common as well please) of those?

 

[Zero_Cool]

I prefer to buy my fish locally if I can so I can see how healthy they look and support a local business, but I understand some people don't have that option.

I would like to support my LFS as well but haven't QT'd a fish yet. I understand the huge value in doing so and as such started looking for pre-qt'd fish from online sources.

I have read through the 2022 QT guideline and watched the BRS 80/20 video series. Both address challenges with wrasses and copper.

What is the general QT practice used by the wrasse lovers crew?

 

[homer1475]

Any sand sleeping wrasse are notoriously a bad shippers.

With that said, a yellow coris is probably one of the hardiest wrasses in the family. I would go for it.

 

[homer1475]

I would like to support my LFS as well but haven't QT'd a fish yet. I understand the huge value in doing so and as such started looking for pre-qt'd fish from online sources.

I have read through the 2022 QT guideline and watched the BRS 80/20 video series. Both address challenges with wrasses and copper.

What is the general QT practice used by the wrasse lovers crew?

Not one to ask to be honest.

I stopped QTing fish years ago. Haven't lost a single one since. But seeing as I'm stocked to the gills(pardon the pun), I haven't bought too many fish in years either.

 

[i cant think]

My LFS is only selling the roseafacia as a pair for 400$. The male is quite special.
Apologize for the blues:

What I am tempted on is a C rubeus and C lunatus. They both look very healthy but nothing like the beauty of online specimens. Is that something they will grow into?

I nearly pulled the trigger on a transitioning male C. roseafascia a few months ago. I really wish I did since they do grow into those stunning colours you see in photos. I also saw a 5 inch mature male in my LFS a couple years ago and they truly are stunning.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Got this little one from NYAquatics several years ago.

What is this one (besides stunning)?

 

[Petcrazyson]

What is this one (besides stunning)?

Diamond tail flasher also knowns as the Paracheilinus attenuatus and it’s the first one on my list.

 

[i cant think]

What is this one (besides stunning)?

It’s a Paracheilinus attenuatus which is on many of our wish lists! Be prepared to drop mid-high triple digits and also a leg and an arm to find a female!

 

[Petcrazyson]

It’s a Paracheilinus attenuatus which is on many of our wish lists! Be prepared to drop mid-high triple digits and also a leg and an arm to find a female!

yep that’s what I got to do lol and am going to do :anguished-face::grinning-squinting-face: