The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Petcrazyson]

Hello wrasse FINatics…. @SaltyT looking at you. ;)

So I’ve got a question regarding a wrasse…..a tamarin. So I know that Tamarin Wrasse are notorious for being a difficult fish to keep. Just to get them to feed is an accomplishment. But so are Leopard Wrasse. They are one of the hardiest Halichoeres once you get them past the shipping and the initial feeding. So once my reef has actually grown to the mark where I can sustain proper copepod populations (I have some now but I don’t want to risk that fish yet), I wanted to try a Leopard Wrasse, but also maybe a Tamarin? One like the Feminus Wrasse. But I’m super skeptical and worried of just the thought of keeping one. Are these really as hard to keep as they say? What exactly would I have to do to sustain them? I know that @SaltyT has or at least had one. I was hoping you all could help me with this fish? Is it even worth it?

 

[Tcook]

IMG 4445

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Just when I think of getting a magma wrasse another video of an Earl's shows up. Great wrasse!

 

[i cant think]

Just when I think of getting a magma wrasse another video of an Earl's shows up. Great wrasse!

I vote:
Shutmani all the way! Nothing beats that beautiful red the males have :)
Some call it the poor man’s jordani but seriously? The shutmani is nicer in my eyes.
I personally think the earlei is the wrasse every collector and their dog owns whilst shutmani don’t seem to be as popular.

 

[i cant think]

Hello wrasse FINatics…. @SaltyT looking at you. ;)

So I’ve got a question regarding a wrasse…..a tamarin. So I know that Tamarin Wrasse are notorious for being a difficult fish to keep. Just to get them to feed is an accomplishment. But so are Leopard Wrasse. They are one of the hardiest Halichoeres once you get them past the shipping and the initial feeding. So once my reef has actually grown to the mark where I can sustain proper copepod populations (I have some now but I don’t want to risk that fish yet), I wanted to try a Leopard Wrasse, but also maybe a Tamarin? One like the Feminus Wrasse. But I’m super skeptical and worried of just the thought of keeping one. Are these really as hard to keep as they say? What exactly would I have to do to sustain them? I know that @SaltyT has or at least had one. I was hoping you all could help me with this fish? Is it even worth it?

They tend to be rather difficult (especially the femininus). If you were to go for any tamarin, I would recommend you start with a Yellow Tail or Lineatus as these are the easier of the genus.
Leopards aren’t as hard as if you get lucky then you can often find ones feeding readily in the LFS. Tamarins aren’t as often seen feeding straight away however I’ve had more success with Yellow Tails than I have the others in an LFS environment which will vary to your home reef.

 

[SaltyT]

Hello wrasse FINatics…. @SaltyT looking at you. ;)

So I’ve got a question regarding a wrasse…..a tamarin. So I know that Tamarin Wrasse are notorious for being a difficult fish to keep. Just to get them to feed is an accomplishment. But so are Leopard Wrasse. They are one of the hardiest Halichoeres once you get them past the shipping and the initial feeding. So once my reef has actually grown to the mark where I can sustain proper copepod populations (I have some now but I don’t want to risk that fish yet), I wanted to try a Leopard Wrasse, but also maybe a Tamarin? One like the Feminus Wrasse. But I’m super skeptical and worried of just the thought of keeping one. Are these really as hard to keep as they say? What exactly would I have to do to sustain them? I know that @SaltyT has or at least had one. I was hoping you all could help me with this fish? Is it even worth it?

Most anampses are similar in care to leopards. Some anampses are more difficult to keep than others, but IME A. neoguinaicus and A. twistii are the best ones to try for your first anampses. Anampses are prone to internal parasites so when you look for one pass on any that look thin or show pinching behind the head. It’s tough to bring them back from that, most end up dying when they reach that point.

 

[Tcook]

A. twistii are the best ones to try for your first anampses.

Is that the Chubby Checker wrasse?

 

[Pankney72]

I love this thread, and even though I don’t usually post I felt compelled to give a shout out to my new boy, Psuedojuloides severnsi aka the royal pencil wrasse. He’s got another day in the box since my Solon is still a hair too interested in him, but otherwise doing great. No filter on my phone camera so here’s a stock photo from liveaquaria.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Most anampses are similar in care to leopards. Some anampses are more difficult to keep than others, but IME A. neoguinaicus and A. twistii are the best ones to try for your first anampses. Anampses are prone to internal parasites so when you look for one pass on any that look thin or show pinching behind the head. It’s tough to bring them back from that, most end up dying when they reach that point.

What about the Red Tail Tamarin?

 

[Slocke]

What about the Red Tail Tamarin?

A Hawaiian only fish I believe. One of the biggest losses as far as I’m concerned. They seem absolutely beautiful.

 

[SaltyT]

What about the Red Tail Tamarin?

Unfortunately, they’re not available. They didn’t make the list when Hawaii reopened collecting for the aquarium trade. This is also one of the more difficult to keep anampses. Definitely not a good candidate for your first one.

 

[takoarm8]

Melanarus wrasse and exquisite wrasse not getting along. Will it pass or did I just put Donald trump in the same room as joe Biden?

 

[Slocke]

Melanarus wrasse and exquisite wrasse not getting along. Will it pass or did I just put Donald trump in the same room as joe Biden?

Hahaha! I feel like melanarus sometimes just don’t like other wrasse. Is it an older melanarus as they seem to get grumpier with age and size?
However if your wrasse are acting like two 80 something year old men you have bigger problems.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Unfortunately, they’re not available. They didn’t make the list when Hawaii reopened collecting for the aquarium trade. This is also one of the more difficult to keep anampses. Definitely not a good candidate for your first one.

Wow even worse than a Feminus? Staying clear of that one lol.

 

[SaltyT]

Wow even worse than a Feminus? Staying clear of that one lol.

Femininus isn’t easy, but their price tag makes them difficult. Losing a $2K wrasse is like getting gut punched by Conor McGregor lol. OK maybe not that bad, but it hurts.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Femininus isn’t easy, but their price tag makes them difficult. Losing a $2K wrasse is like getting gut punched by Conor McGregor lol. OK maybe not that bad, but it hurts.

I’m barely getting over loosing a $285 fish. Can’t imagine loosing $2000 worth of fish.

 

[i cant think]

What about the Red Tail Tamarin?

Dang I was trying to forget this wrasse…

But yes, unfortunately they’re no longer for collection. I had the chance to buy a 2 inch female a week before the Hawaiian ban but passed because ‘The price was too risky’ (although it wasn’t actually an expensive fish compared to now it was in the upper-middle of the double digits). That is the day I regret because I went back for it the next week to find out Hawaii was closed up and the wrasse was taken.

I’m barely getting over loosing a $285 fish. Can’t imagine loosing $2000 worth of fish.

I can (and anyone else who has ever faced a tank crash most likely can) and trust me, you don’t want that. If you are able to find a healthy specimen that has been in captivity for Atleast a year at minimum, I would aim for that if you really wanted this wrasse. A newly captive femininus is going to be the hardest thing you are likely to face in this hobby in terms of fish. From my experience in an LFS, they were actually harder than a CBB to get settled and thriving. Which is why we only ever had 1-2 in at a time, they took almost all of our attention as if something wasn’t right they would tell us. They really need good water and if you were to QT, get a Pre-QTed and get it into an established reef as soon as you get it.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Dang I was trying to forget this wrasse…

But yes, unfortunately they’re no longer for collection. I had the chance to buy a 2 inch female a week before the Hawaiian ban but passed because ‘The price was too risky’ (although it wasn’t actually an expensive fish compared to now it was in the upper-middle of the double digits). That is the day I regret because I went back for it the next week to find out Hawaii was closed up and the wrasse was taken.

I can (and anyone else who has ever faced a tank crash most likely can) and trust me, you don’t want that. If you are able to find a healthy specimen that has been in captivity for Atleast a year at minimum, I would aim for that if you really wanted this wrasse. A newly captive femininus is going to be the hardest thing you are likely to face in this hobby in terms of fish. From my experience in an LFS, they were actually harder than a CBB to get settled and thriving. Which is why we only ever had 1-2 in at a time, they took almost all of our attention as if something wasn’t right they would tell us. They really need good water and if you were to QT, get a Pre-QTed and get it into an established reef as soon as you get it.

I’m thinking that that fish should be left in the ocean.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Dang I was trying to forget this wrasse…

But yes, unfortunately they’re no longer for collection. I had the chance to buy a 2 inch female a week before the Hawaiian ban but passed because ‘The price was too risky’ (although it wasn’t actually an expensive fish compared to now it was in the upper-middle of the double digits). That is the day I regret because I went back for it the next week to find out Hawaii was closed up and the wrasse was taken.

I can (and anyone else who has ever faced a tank crash most likely can) and trust me, you don’t want that. If you are able to find a healthy specimen that has been in captivity for Atleast a year at minimum, I would aim for that if you really wanted this wrasse. A newly captive femininus is going to be the hardest thing you are likely to face in this hobby in terms of fish. From my experience in an LFS, they were actually harder than a CBB to get settled and thriving. Which is why we only ever had 1-2 in at a time, they took almost all of our attention as if something wasn’t right they would tell us. They really need good water and if you were to QT, get a Pre-QTed and get it into an established reef as soon as you get it.

Yea I think I’ll pass on these fish lol. Beautiful but it’s one of those fish I think it be better for me to just dream about.

 

[i cant think]

Yea I think I’ll pass on these fish lol. Beautiful but it’s one of those fish I think it be better for me to just dream about.

I definitely think you’ll be capable of owning a Femininus in the future however I do recommend going for a different species as your first species.

I would personally try grab an Anampses neoguinaicus as the males are just as beautiful as the females with this species. Whilst with some others of this genus the males aren’t as nice as the females - although it’s unlikely they’ll transition in captivity.

 

[Petcrazyson]

definitely think you’ll be capable of owning a Femininus in the future however I do recommend going for a different species as your first species.

Thx for the encouragement :)