The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[SaltyT]

@i cant think @SaltyT and others
Bump this one went unanswered

Which of these for 3' tank? Can I do (2) from the list? Which one?

Cirrhilabrus isosceles
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalias
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Cirrhilabrus naokoa

Pic of current one

Love the pinkie! Are you upgrading to a 3' tank?

 

[PR_nano]

Are you upgrading to a 3' tank?

Yes, plan is upgrade to a 3’ hopefully 4’ by the end of year or spring of next. Starting to plan stocking.

 

[i cant think]

@i cant think @SaltyT and others
Bump this one went unanswered

Which of these for 3' tank? Can I do (2) from the list? Which one?

Cirrhilabrus isosceles
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalias
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Cirrhilabrus naokoa

Pic of current one

IME most of them will do perfectly in a 3’ tank. I’d avoid the lubbocki depending on which variant you get though as the Cebu occupies more swimming room than the Indonesian. The Indonesian tends to be more rock dwelling and better for a 3’ tank.

 

[attica38]

I struggled to keep 2 from fighting..how are you guys doing it?

My marble wrasse is a jerk and chases my juvenile red corris wrasse.

 

[Eric Cohen Verified Sponsor]

All this talk about chaoti's really makes me wish I had picked up one from @Eric Cohen a while back when he had a whole slew of them.

Just shipped the last one but Im sure I'll pick up more. Glad to see more people want them, and yes.....conditioning them is a must and really makes the difference for success.

 

[Slocke]

Well I got it. Captive bred about 1". Its really energetic and hasn't hidden for a second though getting a pic was almost impossible as it will not sit still. The midas blenny is being territorial towards it but that's the only problem. Eating calanus but not mysis.

I was going to put in the tank with the big fish but wimped out due its size. Should I trust it with bigger fish like BT triggers?

 

[i cant think]

Well I got it. Captive bred about 1". Its really energetic and hasn't hidden for a second though getting a pic was almost impossible as it will not sit still. The midas blenny is being territorial towards it but that's the only problem. Eating calanus but not mysis.

I was going to put in the tank with the big fish but wimped out due its size. Should I trust it with bigger fish like BT triggers?

I wouldn’t risk larger fish however considering their natural job on a reef I would doubt it would be eaten first.

 

[SaltyT]

Yes, plan is upgrade to a 3’ hopefully 4’ by the end of year or spring of next. Starting to plan stocking.

Nice! Go for the 4' if you can. All of those wrasses would be fine in a 4', but IME only the lubbocki could be okay in a 3' tank. I will defer to i can't think on his recommendation of the Cebu variant needing more space than the Indonesian. The other fairies on your list get bigger and need more room.

 

[i cant think]

Nice! Go for the 4' if you can. All of those wrasses would be fine in a 4', but IME only the lubbocki could be okay in a 3' tank. I will defer to i can't think on his recommendation of the Cebu variant needing more space than the Indonesian. The other fairies on your list get bigger and need more room.

Actually, I’d disagree on the naoko getting bigger. However they do best in a 4’ tank. My naokoae is my smallest wrasse at possibly just over 2 inches. I assume he’s fully grown as he hasn’t really grown much bigger since hitting 2 inches in size.
His activity level is where I agree they do best in a 4’ tank (They can be in a 3’ but they really do best in a 4’). This species goes all out when he displays - Albeit the lubbockis don’t really let my current one display. My first one that I had when my 4’ was first set up was the only fairy in the tank so he would display on the daily. He would often go from one side of the tank to the other within a few seconds.

If you want to see the display you’ll really want to get this species in first as if you go for another species you think is docile then add a Naokoae then it’ll most likely end up not displaying. Some more docile species can actually over power a Naokoae.
But if you don’t mind not having the displaying then you’ll have one character in the tank. Mine plays around with me when my hand is in the tank, although sometimes it’s not great as I almost managed to squish him when I was putting my wave maker back on the side.

 

[SaltyT]

Actually, I’d disagree on the naoko getting bigger. However they do best in a 4’ tank. My naokoae is my smallest wrasse at possibly just over 2 inches. I assume he’s fully grown as he hasn’t really grown much bigger since hitting 2 inches in size.
His activity level is where I agree they do best in a 4’ tank (They can be in a 3’ but they really do best in a 4’). This species goes all out when he displays - Albeit the lubbockis don’t really let my current one display. My first one that I had when my 4’ was first set up was the only fairy in the tank so he would display on the daily. He would often go from one side of the tank to the other within a few seconds.

If you want to see the display you’ll really want to get this species in first as if you go for another species you think is docile then add a Naokoae then it’ll most likely end up not displaying. Some more docile species can actually over power a Naokoae.
But if you don’t mind not having the displaying then you’ll have one character in the tank. Mine plays around with me when my hand is in the tank, although sometimes it’s not great as I almost managed to squish him when I was putting my wave maker back on the side.

Naokoae gets bigger than 2'' you kept yours in a nano tank for some time so that played a part in his slower growth. Now that he has more room he'll get bigger ;)

 

[i cant think]

Naokoae gets bigger than 2'' you kept yours in a nano tank for some time so that played a part in his slower growth. Now that he has more room he'll get bigger ;)

I’ve looked at him just now and he’s definitely gotten bigger. He’s pushing 3 inch now.

 

[JachPot]

@i cant think I realize I committed a great crime. I finally got my Orange Shoulder wrasse in and it's a beauty and I haven't even posted pictures yet. Pictures coming soon!


Dr Reefs QT'd fish wasn't able to send me the lineatus, so back to the drawing board....

 

[beesnreefs]

@i cant think I realize I committed a great crime. I finally got my Orange Shoulder wrasse in and it's a beauty and I haven't even posted pictures yet. Pictures coming soon!


Dr Reefs QT'd fish wasn't able to send me the lineatus, so back to the drawing board....

I’m also hoping for a Lineatus super male…got on a waitlist with Dr Reef.

 

[JachPot]

I’m also hoping for a Lineatus super male…got on a waitlist with Dr Reef.

I was in for the female, unfortunately it didn't make it through the QT process

 

[beesnreefs]

I was in for the female, unfortunately it didn't make it through the QT process

I’m really sorry to hear that. Here’s to hoping you get a happy, healthy one soon!

 

[i cant think]

I was in for the female, unfortunately it didn't make it through the QT process

That’s a shame to hear, unfortunately I have found Lineatus and many that come in “Supermale” to be harder. Lineatus is one I have struggled to get through the LFS stage when I was working there. They often struggled, another one I used to have a nightmare getting through the LFS stage was the Cook and Aussie variants of Scottorum.

 

[Tcook]

That’s a shame to hear, unfortunately I have found Lineatus and many that come in “Supermale” to be harder. Lineatus is one I have struggled to get through the LFS stage when I was working there. They often struggled, another one I used to have a nightmare getting through the LFS stage was the Cook and Aussie variants of Scottorum.

What I always think about when I see these supermales for sale online is "How old are they?" With wrasses living only 5-7 years they may be near their end of life. I'd rather get a young healthy female and watch it change.

 

[i cant think]

What I always think about when I see these supermales for sale online is "How old are they?" With wrasses living only 5-7 years they may be near their end of life. I'd rather get a young healthy female and watch it change.

Definitely, I think the main reason I lost my Melanomarginatus after having him for 2 years is because he was already an older male when I got him. If I was to try that species or a similar species again I’d get either a small male or a juvenile.

 

[Keko21]

Check out my new buddy! Ornate Leopard! Was looking rough after shipping but seems to have bounced back. He’s in QT with a royal gramma. Still working on getting him to eat… no interest in mysis so far. I did pick up some pods today at the lfs to keep him fed, but would really like him to transition to some frozen.

 

[beesnreefs]

What I always think about when I see these supermales for sale online is "How old are they?" With wrasses living only 5-7 years they may be near their end of life. I'd rather get a young healthy female and watch it change.

I hadn't thought about that....man, they are such gorgeous fish but maybe I need to switch my dream wrasse from a Supermale Lineatus to a Madagascar flasher wrasse