The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[homer1475]

Has anybody here been successful with cirrhilabrus “pairs”? I think that is a vendor made up term/fantasy. They live in large harems in the wild. Leopards, sure.

Even in the wild, leopards tend to form small harems to. It's usually 1 male to 2 or 3 females.

Whats the old beach boys song? 2 girls for every boy?

 

[OrionN]

Sure you can have pairs and harem of wrasses. The thing is the male must be in great shape and sexually active to suppress sex changes in females. My males wrasses, and male angels for that mater, court and flashes at female from early afternoon to dust.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Scooped up this little one for the 180 gallon reef today at one of my LFS. Already out and about and eating frozen in quarantine.

 

[i cant think]

Has anybody here been successful with cirrhilabrus “pairs”? I think that is a vendor made up term/fantasy. They live in large harems in the wild. Leopards, sure.

For some reason the Leopards, Tamarins and Xenojulis wrasses don’t really transition in captivity so we’re more able to keep groups of them as they have a more random time of transition and they’re unlikely to transition however Cirrhilabrus/Paracheilinus species generally do transition on a regular basis. Large tanks are sure to hold pairs/trios perfectly (They have the territory for each wrasse to hide in and not be beaten around by the males).

 

[Tcook]

For some reason the Leopards, Tamarins and Xenojulis wrasses don’t really transition in captivity so we’re more able to keep groups of them as they have a more random time of transition and they’re unlikely to transition however Cirrhilabrus/Paracheilinus species generally do transition on a regular basis. Large tanks are sure to hold pairs/trios perfectly (They have the territory for each wrasse to hide in and not be beaten around by the males).

I agree. Minh has a large tank and plenty of experience and is likely the exception here. IMO trying two rhomboids in a tank 120 gallon or smaller is asking for trouble. Can always try if you have the ability to move one out.

 

[i cant think]

I agree. Minh has a large tank and plenty of experience and is likely the exception here. IMO trying two rhomboids in a tank 120 gallon or smaller is asking for trouble. Can always try if you have the ability to move one out.

If I found 6 female lubbocks and had an 8’ tank I’d try a harem of Lubbocki. But as you say, I don’t have the chance to rehome. If I did and I had room for 6 more fish id try it but that’s just a pain.

 

[jkcoral]

Stopped by my LFS and they had a beautiful sunset fairy. I couldn’t get a great picture, but she is so pretty and I really want to get her.

They also had a Decolores (severnsi) that was absolutely beautiful. I’ve never kept one, but am now back home furiously researching what it takes to care for them. I think I’m out of luck given my bare bottom set up, but man I want this one!

 

[i cant think]

Stopped by my LFS and they had a beautiful sunset fairy. I couldn’t get a great picture, but she is so pretty and I really want to get her.

They also had a Decolores (severnsi) that was absolutely beautiful. I’ve never kept one, but am now back home furiously researching what it takes to care for them. I think I’m out of luck given my bare bottom set up, but man I want this one!

This is the annoying thing with common names… The Briangreeni Fairy Wrasse is named the sunset fairy wrasse but so is the (IMHO ‘poor man’s’ naoko) Greeni Fairy Wrasse.

 

[jkcoral]

This is the annoying thing with common names… The Briangreeni Fairy Wrasse is named the sunset fairy wrasse but so is the (IMHO ‘poor man’s’ naoko) Greeni Fairy Wrasse.

Agreed, common naming does get annoying, especially when names are given to different color variations of the same fish. I always thought “sunset” were just a Pyle’s fairy wrasse (and the one at the store definitely looked like one).

I wish my LFS (TSA) would put scientific names somewhere on the tags, it’s not like they don’t have them :)

 

[i cant think]

Agreed, common naming does get annoying, especially when names are given to different color variations of the same fish. I always thought “sunset” were just a Pyle’s fairy wrasse (and the one at the store definitely looked like one).

I wish my LFS (TSA) would put scientific names somewhere on the tags, it’s not like they don’t have them :)

A lot of the time our LFSs always have the scientific names and that’s where I first learnt to focus on the scientifics and not the commons.
The first LFS I worked at was with the same guy I work with now and he taught me that if I did anything with the labels it was to read the scientifics as common names vary drastically.
I mean wrasses are the best way you can show the variety of common names just one fish has;
Take Anampses neoguincaicus for example. Here’s most of the common names this species is given;
Freedom Wrasse
Black and White Wrasse
Black Back Wrasse
China Wrasse
Black and White Tamarin Wrasse

And this species has a low number of Common names if we look at species in the generally aggressive safe side (Coris, Thalassoma, larger Halichoeres ect.)

 

[Troylee]

This is the annoying thing with common names… The Briangreeni Fairy Wrasse is named the sunset fairy wrasse but so is the (IMHO ‘poor man’s’ naoko) Greeni Fairy Wrasse.

I just call them wrasses! Blue wrasse, yellow wrasse, multicolor wrasse……….. :zany-face:

 

[i cant think]

I just call them wrasses! Blue wrasse, yellow wrasse, multicolor wrasse……….. :zany-face:

Don’t get me started with multicolour wrasses
TMC (our only distributor of fish) gives some truly whacky names! Most of the wrasses have multicolour or rainbow in their name somewhere.
I mean just guess what these guys are;
Clown Wrasse (C. sp.)
Multicolour Wrasse (H. sp.)
Multicolour Fairy Wrasse (C. sp.)
Multicolour Sapphire Fairy Wrasse (C. sp.)
Monti-Bug Eating Wrasse (H. sp.)
Lemon merengue Wrasse (H. sp.)
Blue and Yellow Wrasse (A. sp.)
Rainbow Wrasse (T. sp.)
Mexican Rainbow Wrasse (T. sp.)
Rainbow Wrasse (H. sp.)
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (C. sp.)

I’ve given clues to the genus as even I wouldnt get these guys if I didn’t know TMC’s insane names. These are older and TMC does seem to have changed some of their names to the more globally accepted names.

 

[Slocke]

A lot of the time our LFSs always have the scientific names and that’s where I first learnt to focus on the scientifics and not the commons.
The first LFS I worked at was with the same guy I work with now and he taught me that if I did anything with the labels it was to read the scientifics as common names vary drastically.
I mean wrasses are the best way you can show the variety of common names just one fish has;
Take Anampses neoguincaicus for example. Here’s most of the common names this species is given;
Freedom Wrasse
Black and White Wrasse
Black Back Wrasse
China Wrasse
Black and White Tamarin Wrasse

And this species has a low number of Common names if we look at species in the generally aggressive safe side (Coris, Thalassoma, larger Halichoeres ect.)

I call it the New Guinea wrasse :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[i cant think]

I call it the New Guinea wrasse :face-with-tears-of-joy:

Exactly! It’s insane how many names there are

 

[Slocke]

Exactly! It’s insane how many names there are

I call it that because that’s its scientific name. It’s so confusing calling something called New Guinea in Latin the China wrasse. That’s like calling halichoeres timorensis the India wrasse.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Stopped by my LFS and they had a beautiful sunset fairy. I couldn’t get a great picture, but she is so pretty and I really want to get her.

They also had a Decolores (severnsi) that was absolutely beautiful. I’ve never kept one, but am now back home furiously researching what it takes to care for them. I think I’m out of luck given my bare bottom set up, but man I want this one!

I had a splendid pencil previously, no more difficult than anything else Ive had. Just recently picked up a decolores a few days ago. So far so good with it. It is eating mysis so its just about weaning it onto the diy cubed cocktail that the rest eat.

 

[Troylee]

Don’t get me started with multicolour wrasses
TMC (our only distributor of fish) gives some truly whacky names! Most of the wrasses have multicolour or rainbow in their name somewhere.
I mean just guess what these guys are;
Clown Wrasse (C. sp.)
Multicolour Wrasse (H. sp.)
Multicolour Fairy Wrasse (C. sp.)
Multicolour Sapphire Fairy Wrasse (C. sp.)
Monti-Bug Eating Wrasse (H. sp.)
Lemon merengue Wrasse (H. sp.)
Blue and Yellow Wrasse (A. sp.)
Rainbow Wrasse (T. sp.)
Mexican Rainbow Wrasse (T. sp.)
Rainbow Wrasse (H. sp.)
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (C. sp.)

I’ve given clues to the genus as even I wouldnt get these guys if I didn’t know TMC’s insane names. These are older and TMC does seem to have changed some of their names to the more globally accepted names.

Well….. I did see a tiny yellow tail polka dot bikini wrasse! It was cool.. I’ll leave it with that name haha!

 

[jkcoral]

I had a splendid pencil previously, no more difficult than anything else Ive had. Just recently picked up a decolores a few days ago. So far so good with it. It is eating mysis so it’s just about weaning it onto the diy cubed cocktail that the rest eat.

Oh, that was your picture in this thread the other day! Beautiful fish!

I am not sure that I’d be able to keep one because my tank is bare bottom. Have you ever kept a pencil in a bare bottom tank, or are they a strict “need sand”?

Does your decolores stay out and active, or are they the type to hang out lower in the water column stick to the rocks?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Oh, that was your picture in this thread the other day! Beautiful fish!

I am not sure that I’d be able to keep one because my tank is bare bottom. Have you ever kept a pencil in a bare bottom tank, or are they a strict “need sand”?

Does your decolores stay out and active, or are they the type to hang out lower in the water column stick to the rocks?

Pencils definitely need sand!

They are usually out and about, but pick at the rockwork all day. My old royal was always racing around the tank, and my current splendid pair are always out and picking at everything.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Got my shipment of fish from NYAquatic today! My yellowtail tamarin was out briefly and looks amazing, but is currently hiding in the sand, so no pics