The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[cdw79]

I fell in love with the diamond tail after my Madagascar Wrasse dream fell through haha. This species seems much better suited to my 65 display from what I've read.

I've heard that more flashers around them helps, but my tank is about at capacity so this is realistically my last addition. I have a blue star leopard wrasse but I doubt it would care one way or another about her. But ultimately I probably can't add any more flasher or fairy wrasses, unless I end up removing my lyretail anthias or hawkfish (which I don't plan on for now). So I'm stuck with alternative methods for bringing out color lol. I keep hearing all this talk about mirrors but it feels like a myth (admittedly I have no idea, just a feeling) and one local guy swears by white light actually making them color up more as opposed to them just looking better in it. How that works I don't know, but open to whatever technique is needed!

I do hopefully plan on getting a small female, especially after reading this great thread on here where someone documented the transition. It sounds really rewarding. But ultimately it's gonna depend on what my distributor guy is able to find- he can get practically anything imaginable and this is the first time he's said he might have trouble with finding one in the near term at least. So ultimately it'll depend on what he can get in, but I'm definitely hoping for a female, especially based on what I've heard about the females doing better in shipping, transitioning to tank life, etc.

 

[Crabby48]

I fell in love with the diamond tail after my Madagascar Wrasse dream fell through haha. This species seems much better suited to my 65 display from what I've read.

I've heard that more flashers around them helps, but my tank is about at capacity so this is realistically my last addition. I have a blue star leopard wrasse but I doubt it would care one way or another about her. But ultimately I probably can't add any more flasher or fairy wrasses, unless I end up removing my lyretail anthias or hawkfish (which I don't plan on for now). So I'm stuck with alternative methods for bringing out color lol. I keep hearing all this talk about mirrors but it feels like a myth (admittedly I have no idea, just a feeling) and one local guy swears by white light actually making them color up more as opposed to them just looking better in it. How that works I don't know, but open to whatever technique is needed!

I do hopefully plan on getting a small female, especially after reading this great thread on here where someone documented the transition. It sounds really rewarding. But ultimately it's gonna depend on what my distributor guy is able to find- he can get practically anything imaginable and this is the first time he's said he might have trouble with finding one in the near term at least. So ultimately it'll depend on what he can get in, but I'm definitely hoping for a female, especially based on what I've heard about the females doing better in shipping, transitioning to tank life, etc.

Diamondtail is a better bang for your buck. My Madagascar was a dud for two years in a 4’ 90 gallon. As soon as I moved him in a 220 he finally showing potential. So you made the right move. Female might be had to find so if it is a male get as small as you think is safe for your fish to accept him/her.
The color will come and it will find a fish to flash even your blue star. It may even chase its reflection in the glass. Don’t forget pictures!

 

[cdw79]

Pictures will definitely be coming assuming it all works out! Are you a believer in any of these other approaches to get them to color up? I recently learned that that is part of the reason for the huge variation in flasher coloration, and I figured if I'm going to get an especially nice one, the least I can do is figure out what's needed to get it coloring up well!

 

[Crabby48]

Pictures will definitely be coming assuming it all works out! Are you a believer in any of these other approaches to get them to color up? I recently learned that that is part of the reason for the huge variation in flasher coloration, and I figured if I'm going to get an especially nice one, the least I can do is figure out what's needed to get it coloring up well!

I think you will be ok. I never had a wrasse not color up. Others will probably tell you the same thing. My Madagascar has no one so he uses his reflections. Color isn’t perfect but still great.

He looking at himself

 

[cdw79]

What a beauty! Hopefully one day I'll be able to enjoy one myself. Crossing my fingers the diamond tail comes soon!

 

[Tcook]

Speaking of wrasses has anyone seen Minh lately? OrionN

 

[homer1475]

Had yesterday afternoon off so took a ride to Rochester.

I got a call about half way there from the LFS. Seems they found the Chaoti floating in the morning. :(, and the kuiters was already sold. Just my luck it seems. Glad it died at the LFS and not on me. Refund refunded though so no skin off my back.

Not wanting to waste a 3 hour one way drive( I was already 3/4 of the way there), I picked up some snails, and food. The wife fell in love with a long finned mocha clown(Just had to order one of those abominations), as I was shooting the isht with the owner, she also found an adult male lyretail anthias. Mocha clown, and chaoti on order, and anthias is in an acclimation box.

I've been going to this LFS for a couple years now, but never questioned his QT practices(didn't think he even did anything, as nothing about QT is posted anywhere in the store). As it was a dead afternoon at the LFS, we talked for a couple hours this time around. He QTs every new animal in 30days of copper, followed by 2 rounds of prazi. Only after the copper will he treat internally if need be. I have always wondered why his fish were always super healthy. 99% of my fish have come from this place, and now I know why I have never had an issue as I do not QT anymore.

Not super happy with the trip, but wasn't a bad trip overall. He did have another chaoti on his import list, so we will try again.

OOH FWIW....
He was wrong on the price from the importer. Instead of being $400 fort he chaoti, it was only $250. Apparently he was just reading the wrong line in the list. lol

 

[i cant think]

I fell in love with the diamond tail after my Madagascar Wrasse dream fell through haha. This species seems much better suited to my 65 display from what I've read.

I've heard that more flashers around them helps, but my tank is about at capacity so this is realistically my last addition. I have a blue star leopard wrasse but I doubt it would care one way or another about her. But ultimately I probably can't add any more flasher or fairy wrasses, unless I end up removing my lyretail anthias or hawkfish (which I don't plan on for now). So I'm stuck with alternative methods for bringing out color lol. I keep hearing all this talk about mirrors but it feels like a myth (admittedly I have no idea, just a feeling) and one local guy swears by white light actually making them color up more as opposed to them just looking better in it. How that works I don't know, but open to whatever technique is needed!

I do hopefully plan on getting a small female, especially after reading this great thread on here where someone documented the transition. It sounds really rewarding. But ultimately it's gonna depend on what my distributor guy is able to find- he can get practically anything imaginable and this is the first time he's said he might have trouble with finding one in the near term at least. So ultimately it'll depend on what he can get in, but I'm definitely hoping for a female, especially based on what I've heard about the females doing better in shipping, transitioning to tank life, etc.

You’d be surprised about what your fish do and don’t care about. My lubbocki shows more interest in my clownfish than the other lubbocki. My melanomarginatus couldn’t care less though, nobody in the tank annoys him. In fact he’s a wuss, the jade comes near and he swims away, the clown defends her territory and he just sticks his fins up and swims away.

The Iridis is getting some beautiful colours but again, couldn’t care less about the rest.

My Naoko is rather dull but he always has been. I caught him flashing yesterday but couldn’t get any photos (Every time I tried he stopped).

 

[i cant think]

Had yesterday afternoon off so took a ride to Rochester.

I got a call about half way there from the LFS. Seems they found the Chaoti floating in the morning. :(, and the kuiters was already sold. Just my luck it seems. Glad it died at the LFS and not on me. Refund refunded though so no skin off my back.

Not wanting to waste a 3 hour one way drive( I was already 3/4 of the way there), I picked up some snails, and food. The wife fell in love with a long finned mocha clown(Just had to order one of those abominations), as I was shooting the isht with the owner, she also found an adult male lyretail anthias. Mocha clown, and chaoti on order, and anthias is in an acclimation box.

I've been going to this LFS for a couple years now, but never questioned his QT practices(didn't think he even did anything, as nothing about QT is posted anywhere in the store). As it was a dead afternoon at the LFS, we talked for a couple hours this time around. He QTs every new animal in 30days of copper, followed by 2 rounds of prazi. Only after the copper will he treat internally if need be. I have always wondered why his fish were always super healthy. 99% of my fish have come from this place, and now I know why I have never had an issue as I do not QT anymore.

Not super happy with the trip, but wasn't a bad trip overall. He did have another chaoti on his import list, so we will try again.

OOH FWIW....
He was wrong on the price from the importer. Instead of being $400 fort he chaoti, it was only $250. Apparently he was just reading the wrong line in the list. lol

Hopefully the next one makes it into your tank!

 

[homer1475]

He has 2 of those large low boy frag tanks setup as reefs(guessing around 300G each, have never asked how large they are). They are like 6 foot long, 4 foot wide, but only about 2 feet tall with center overflows. Really nice looking tanks to be quite honest.

Anyways, in each tank he has an adult kuiteri's. Absolutely beautiful fish! Had him order one of those again as well. If the chaoti doesn't make it, I might just bite the bullet and add a kuiteri as my last wrasse as opposed to the chaoti. I will decide when the time comes.

 

[i cant think]

He has 2 of those large low boy frag tanks setup as reefs(guessing around 300G each, have never asked how large they are). They are like 6 foot long, 4 foot wide, but only about 2 feet tall with center overflows. Really nice looking tanks to be quite honest.

Anyways, in each tank he has an adult kuiteri's. Absolutely beautiful fish! Had him order one of those again as well. If the chaoti doesn't make it, I might just bite the bullet and add a kuiteri as my last wrasse as opposed to the chaoti. I will decide when the time comes.

Fingers crossed it all goes to plan! If you go for a Kuiter, would you get it as a female or a male?

 

[homer1475]

I don't believe I have ever seen a male? The males from my digging are more of a yellow color, rather then the nice deep orange of the female?

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Thinking I like the females better if what I posted holds true for coloration?

 

[homer1475]

Getting a ***** snow storm over here right now, Expecting a foot plus!

Power keeps blinking, and internet keeps going up and down. Sorry if I get some double posts.

 

[i cant think]

I don't believe I have ever seen a male? The males from my digging are more of a yellow color, rather then the nice deep orange of the female?

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

Thinking I like the females better if what I posted holds true for coloration?

This is what the female looks like, males are much more similar to the moyers.

 

[homer1475]

Yup kind of what I thought on coloration. Female, and hopefully stay female is my choice.

 

[i cant think]

Yup kind of what I thought on coloration. Female, and hopefully stay female is my choice.

I’d love a Kuiters but they’re almost never available. Mothers on the other hand, they’re much more common.

 

[i cant think]

I was trying to get some photos of the Jade to see how different he is from when I first got photos of him and managed to catch a photo of something I didn’t think I would catch whilst being stood infront of the tank.
Obviously it’s in a blur but I got a decent photo of the iridis “displaying” towards the Jade. I wonder if the roles have flipped and the radiant is the aggressor as the Jade didn’t do anything and swam away.

 

[Crabby48]

Speaking of wrasses has anyone seen Minh lately? OrionN

I haven’t seen him around much and not at all lately.

Had yesterday afternoon off so took a ride to Rochester.

I got a call about half way there from the LFS. Seems they found the Chaoti floating in the morning. :(, and the kuiters was already sold. Just my luck it seems. Glad it died at the LFS and not on me. Refund refunded though so no skin off my back.

Not wanting to waste a 3 hour one way drive( I was already 3/4 of the way there), I picked up some snails, and food. The wife fell in love with a long finned mocha clown(Just had to order one of those abominations), as I was shooting the isht with the owner, she also found an adult male lyretail anthias. Mocha clown, and chaoti on order, and anthias is in an acclimation box.

I've been going to this LFS for a couple years now, but never questioned his QT practices(didn't think he even did anything, as nothing about QT is posted anywhere in the store). As it was a dead afternoon at the LFS, we talked for a couple hours this time around. He QTs every new animal in 30days of copper, followed by 2 rounds of prazi. Only after the copper will he treat internally if need be. I have always wondered why his fish were always super healthy. 99% of my fish have come from this place, and now I know why I have never had an issue as I do not QT anymore.

Not super happy with the trip, but wasn't a bad trip overall. He did have another chaoti on his import list, so we will try again.

OOH FWIW....
He was wrong on the price from the importer. Instead of being $400 fort he chaoti, it was only $250. Apparently he was just reading the wrong line in the list. lol

that is a big bummer but at least you had a good talk about qt’ing. Trip is worth it for that reason. $250 is a good price for choati. Glad he isn’t marking it up like most. I like female Kuiter’s and male colors but would choose female over male most of the time.

 

[i cant think]

Finally caught the Indonesian lubbocki at the right time and got some amazing shots!
You can really see how bright that blue gets and how deep the purple/red is.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

If only I had the cash right now. One of my LFS just got this guy in. Maybe he'll still be there in a few weeks when my tuition refund comes through.