The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[AZReef13]

I have narrowed my list to the Black Leopard, and Hooded Fairy..... Now time to fined them

 

[AZReef13]

Really wanting a Pink streak tbh

I got my last 2 from Reef Pro's which have some when I just looked. My shipped very well. Followed guidelines from I Can't think... Doing quite well,

 

[Slocke]

I got my last 2 from Reef Pro's which have some when I just looked. My shipped very well. Followed guidelines from I Can't think... Doing quite well,

Just got my first fish from ReefPro Tuesday. Wasn't overly impressed but then it is a tamarin wrasse.

 

[Tcook]

I have narrowed my list to the Black Leopard, and Hooded Fairy..... Now time to fined them

$129 @ ReefPro

 

[i cant think]

Get a pair or a trio and add them as one of the first fish. This will get the best character out of them, and see them more often. Like stated above this fish is very cryptic, so you probably won’t see them at all for the first few days and weeks, and then sporadically as the months go by. So don’t be worrying if you don’t see them often.

Honestly, I disagree with this - A pair/Trio is a bad move if it’s your first attempt with this species.
I only went with a trio as they weren’t my first try (I had experience with 2 previous to the trio and even more in an LFS so I did understand their behaviour). I would only get a trio after Atleast 2 attempts with this species - Ideally 2 long term attempts (1-2 years) however if you know what went wrong with one attempt then you’ll likely only need 1 long term try with this species to see how difficult/easy they are in your care and situation.

If I get a pair will I have to worry about them picking each other off or are they just that docile they’ll be ok.

I’m not 100% sure if what happened to my 3rd pink streak however if I had to guess it was more likely due to him just not doing amazing from day one. But there is still that risk of them having picked off the third one.

I got my last 2 from Reef Pro's which have some when I just looked. My shipped very well. Followed guidelines from I Can't think... Doing quite well,

that’s great to hear they’re doing great :)
We need photos though!

 

[Pankney72]

Hey guys, just thought I'd pop I'd share some trials and tribulations of raising anything alive with it's own agenda... All my wrasse are doing excellent (including the baby captive bred tusk I ended up breaking down and paying for @OrionN )... My current issue is everyone's nightmare. My M. melagris has gone male over the last couple months. I can only describe him as a teenager. Chases everyone constantly, especially the female when he's not wiggling and dashing around her for attention. Even puffs up to fairies, flashers, my full grown 5" melanurus, and my male lyretail anthias. Everything but the flashers are bigger than him for the time being. It's not a great evolutionary move to pick fights you'd lose. He's also become SUPER shy now when I get close to the tank for any reason.

Full disclosure: this is an amusing story I wanted to share, not an actual cry for help. No one is getting hurt and I'm not worried about rehoming him if he doesn't grow out of the rebellious phase. I just don't have many fish nerds where I work :winking-face:

 

[homer1475]

As a transitioning, or transitioned male wrasse, he's trying to assert his dominance as the alpha male.

As long as no one asserts themselves as the alpha male, the chasing will subside.

 

[AZReef13]

Honestly, I disagree with this - A pair/Trio is a bad move if it’s your first attempt with this species.
I only went with a trio as they weren’t my first try (I had experience with 2 previous to the trio and even more in an LFS so I did understand their behaviour). I would only get a trio after Atleast 2 attempts with this species - Ideally 2 long term attempts (1-2 years) however if you know what went wrong with one attempt then you’ll likely only need 1 long term try with this species to see how difficult/easy they are in your care and situation.

I’m not 100% sure if what happened to my 3rd pink streak however if I had to guess it was more likely due to him just not doing amazing from day one. But there is still that risk of them having picked off the third one.

that’s great to hear they’re doing great :)
We need photos though!

I as well would like photo's they seem to know when Camera is out and they go Hiding. They send the Chromis out to be the sacrificial fish........

 

[AZReef13]

Just got my first fish from ReefPro Tuesday. Wasn't overly impressed but then it is a tamarin wrasse.

Sorry to hear that you weren't impressed with the fish you got? I spoke with some form reef pros before I ordered my Pinks... Got strong impression that they care about quality of the creatures they are selling

 

[i cant think]

Dang, reading so many stories of wrasses transitioning and showing how boisterous they can be makes me feel lucky… The only wrasse I have that shows dominance is my Iridis and nobody fights with him. Even then, his level of boisterous is like a Butterflies level of aggression (Or Atleast my butterfly’s aggression level which certainly isn’t peaceful).

 

[OrionN]

I would argue the best looking macropharyngodon is the negrosensis, which is usually found in the indo-pacific region.

I would tend to agree with @homer1475 here

 

[Slocke]

Sorry to hear that you weren't impressed with the fish you got? I spoke with some form reef pros before I ordered my Pinks... Got strong impression that they care about quality of the creatures they are selling

I was dissapointed they didn't communicate with me about shipping and then the wrasse arrived looking awful. The acclimation method then had me transfer the fish between containers multiple times which led to me dropping it. Maybe not in the best mood to give them a fair review as I woke up to the fish dyeing this morning. :crying-face:

I probably should be more forgiving since its an Anampses though.

 

[i cant think]

I was dissapointed they didn't communicate with me about shipping and then the wrasse arrived looking awful. The acclimation method then had me transfer the fish between containers multiple times which led to me dropping it. Maybe not in the best mood to give them a fair review as I woke up to the fish dyeing this morning. :crying-face:

I probably should be more forgiving since its an Anampses though.

I honestly have to say, that acclimation process seemed a bit extreme. Generally a drip will acclimate a fish to both Temperature but also the other parameters in the tank.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Honestly, I disagree with this - A pair/Trio is a bad move if it’s your first attempt with this species.
I only went with a trio as they weren’t my first try (I had experience with 2 previous to the trio and even more in an LFS so I did understand their behaviour). I would only get a trio after Atleast 2 attempts with this species - Ideally 2 long term attempts (1-2 years) however if you know what went wrong with one attempt then you’ll likely only need 1 long term try with this species to see how difficult/easy they are in your care and situation.

So maybe get 1 or 2 tops to learn behavior and after some good experience with them try to go bigger numbers?

 

[i cant think]

So maybe get 1 or 2 tops to learn behavior and after some good experience with them try to go bigger numbers?

I would personally aim for more than just 1-2 tries however generally after you own two you have a feel for their temper and how easy/hard they are. I know in the LFS it was a real struggle for me to keep these guys thriving (Even in established reef systems) however in my tanks I have no, they are relatively easy with a couple iffy ones.

 

[Petcrazyson]

I would personally aim for more than just 1-2 tries however generally after you own two you have a feel for their temper and how easy/hard they are. I know in the LFS it was a real struggle for me to keep these guys thriving (Even in established reef systems) however in my tanks I have no, they are relatively easy with a couple iffy ones.

Lol I meant get 1 or 2 at a time for several times lol.

Got it. You think maybe I should get some until after the tank continues maturing? It’ll be up for a year in June.

 

[i cant think]

Lol I meant get 1 or 2 at a time for several times lol.

Got it. You think maybe I should get some until after the tank continues maturing? It’ll be up for a year in June.

You’ll likely get away with them, I would personally aim for just a pair and see how they get along. Your best bet will be wait until March/April time to get one as they’ll be easier and the tank will be slightly more mature then :)

 

[Slocke]

Sorry to hear that you weren't impressed with the fish you got? I spoke with some form reef pros before I ordered my Pinks... Got strong impression that they care about quality of the creatures they are selling

So my mind has been changed as despite me not meeting their DOA they are giving me a refund. ReefPro is now a store I would definitely recommend.

 

[Tcook]

So my mind has been changed as despite me not meeting their DOA they are giving me a refund. ReefPro is now a store I would definitely recommend.

With their fish the best thing is to have warm saltwater and warm RO on hand. Match your QT salinity to the bag. Temp float then drop in. I’ve been able to just observe genicanthus and wrasse from them. Anthias, a different story ( from other vendors too).

 

[Slocke]

With their fish the best thing is to have warm saltwater and warm RO on hand. Match your QT salinity to the bag. Temp float then drop in. I’ve been able to just observe genicanthus and wrasse from them. Anthias, a different story ( from other vendors too).

I have an acclimation method I think works really well but I used theirs and I shouldn't have. I would have added the ammonia reducer to the bag then floated the bag in the sump while dripping from the DT. Moving it from bag to bucket, back to bag was completely unnecessary and too traumatic IMO. Though my incompetence at pouring from the bucket to the bag is only my fault.