The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

Slocke · Dec 31, 2024

i cant think said:
Out of curiosity, why do you think this?
Is it mainly because Gomphosus and Thalassoma are closely related genera? Because Gomphosus has never had Thalassoma as a synonym.
Here’s the Thalassoma/Gomphosus family tree :)

I’m still tempted to see how easy it is to do a family tree for the reef safe (arguably nicer) genera.

Have fun if you do try. Issue is the Halichoeres and Coris genera are an absolute mess

i cant think · Dec 31, 2024

Slocke said:
Have fun if you do try. Issue is the Halichoeres and Coris genera are an absolute mess

If we go by @Cael Gallery ‘s theory - several species from those two genera should move into the other as most of the time, those species are incredibly close in relation (I mean, H. chloropterus is closely related to C. batuensis).

Slocke · Dec 31, 2024

i cant think said:
If we go by @Cael Gallery ‘s theory - several species from those two genera should move into the other as most of the time, those species are incredibly close in relation (I mean, H. chloropterus is closely related to C. batuensis).

Yeah. All the dna tests seem to suggest that the current organization is wrong. Its pretty obvious too. This Coris pictoides is quite obviously more Halichoeres then Coris gaimard.

JoJosReef · Dec 31, 2024

Slocke said:
Have fun if you do try. Issue is the Halichoeres and Coris genera are an absolute mess

I was wondering when you might show. Phylogenetic trees must be like your bat signal.

Tcook · Dec 31, 2024

i cant think said:
The photo is bad - I don’t want to startle her too much but look at this gorgeous girl!

You calling your clam a girl now?

Tcook · Dec 31, 2024

Slocke said:
Yeah. All the dna tests seem to suggest that the current organization is wrong. Its pretty obvious too. This Coris pictoides is quite obviously more Halichoeres then Coris gaimard.

Crazy names. Wasn’t Hologymnosus a character in Mad Max?

Slocke · Dec 31, 2024

Tcook said:
Crazy names. Wasn’t Hologymnosus a character in Mad Max?

Yep

TylerHaworth · Dec 31, 2024

New wrasse day! Isosceles just arrived and bag is floating. Hope she comes out in good shape.

TylerHaworth · Dec 31, 2024

Looked good through acclimation, swam into the rocks and haven't seen her since.

Hopefully the Rhomboid doesn't have a problem with her when the lights come back on tomorrow.

Now we wait.

Cael Gallery · Dec 31, 2024

i cant think said:
If we go by @Cael Gallery ‘s theory - several species from those two genera should move into the other as most of the time, those species are incredibly close in relation (I mean, H. chloropterus is closely related to C. batuensis).

Yes, both Halichoeres and Coris are what is referred to in taxonomy as polyphyletic, meaning that the species contained within that genus are descended from more than one common ancestor. As opposed to Gomphosus which shows that all species contained there descended from one common ancestor (clade 1), meaning that group is Monophyletic. And notice i said Gomphosus, that's because the name Gomphosus actually precedes Thalassoma meaning that whenever the 2 genera are revised and synonymised, Gomphosus will be the new name. So we'll end up with things like Gomphosus lutescens and Gomphosus lunare. I actually have a background in taxonomy, specifically i'm studying arachnology, so this is all pretty interesting to me. Even though i'm a bit of a novice about fishes in captivity, the taxonomic or ichthyology side comes pretty naturally!

Cael Gallery · Dec 31, 2024

i cant think said:
The photo is bad - I don’t want to startle her too much but look at this gorgeous girl!

It took me a couple minutes to see the choati. And only because of the few red spots.

TylerHaworth · Jan 1, 2025

Isosceles has been out from the rocks a few times and has eaten some Mysis.

Still skittish obviously and the Rhomboid has followed it around a bit but I haven't seen any chasing or quick/violent behavior... Hopefully just checking each other out for a peaceful relationship.

Crabby48 · Jan 1, 2025

Many years ago Hunter told me choats are sensitive to alk swings that coral won’t flinch at. All these years I wondered what is it about alk swings and choats have in common. Past couple weeks I been dosing alk to raise it. First dose raises .4 DKH and choats swam strange and hid along with little interest in food or me around the tank for few days. Dose number 2 I raised .3 but in two doses. Choats acted similar but recovered quick. Dose number 3 raised tank .2 and it was divided in multiple doses Sshe is much better but little off. Never noticed it with my other 3 choats. Maybe coincidence but I see a pattern. I don’t have a ph probe hooked up yet and I’m using calcium bicarbonate

Tcook · Jan 1, 2025

Crabby48 said:
Many years ago Hunter told me choats are sensitive to alk swings that coral won’t flinch at. All these years I wondered what is it about alk swings and choats have in common. Past couple weeks I been dosing alk to raise it. First dose raises .4 DKH and choats swam strange and hid along with little interest in food or me around the tank for few days. Dose number 2 I raised .3 but in two doses. Choats acted similar but recovered quick. Dose number 3 raised tank .2 and it was divided in multiple doses Sshe is much better but little off. Never noticed it with my other 3 choats. Maybe coincidence but I see a pattern. I don’t have a ph probe hooked up yet and I’m using calcium bicarbonate

Very interesting. But that would mean the choats has some defect or difference in a biologic process that the other macro’s don’t have? Might be a stretch. However we know they can be harder to keep than the others. Many questions.

Crabby48 · Jan 1, 2025

Tcook said:
Very interesting. But that would mean the choats has some defect or difference in a biologic process that the other macro’s don’t have? Might be a stretch. However we know they can be harder to keep than the others. Many questions.

So many thoughts. I suspect she has flukes or I should say something bothering her gills. Maybe adding alk irritates it more.

Vetekli · Jan 2, 2025

Hello Wrasse friends!

Question, i currently have a ornate leopard wrasse in my 80g 4 foot tank. He is a juvenile about 2". My LFS recently got some naokako wrasses in stock, do you think there would be aggression between him and the leopard?

Other fish i have are 2 ocellaris, 1 royal gramma, 1 fire goby, 1 pajama cardinal. All get along well.

JoJosReef · Jan 2, 2025

Vetekli said:
Hello Wrasse friends!

Question, i currently have a ornate leopard wrasse in my 80g 4 foot tank. He is a juvenile about 2". My LFS recently got some naokako wrasses in stock, do you think there would be aggression between him and the leopard?

Other fish i have are 2 ocellaris, 1 royal gramma, 1 fire goby, 1 pajama cardinal. All get along well.

I've never seen any aggression between my blue star leopard and any other fish, including a brunneus fairy, exquisite fairy and a Carpenter's flasher. Naokoe are meant to be a bit more aggressive than the ones I mentioned, though, but I wouldn't expect aggression from the leopard.

Tcook · Jan 2, 2025

Vetekli said:
Hello Wrasse friends!

Question, i currently have a ornate leopard wrasse in my 80g 4 foot tank. He is a juvenile about 2". My LFS recently got some naokako wrasses in stock, do you think there would be aggression between him and the leopard?

Other fish i have are 2 ocellaris, 1 royal gramma, 1 fire goby, 1 pajama cardinal. All get along well.

I have a naoko with my ornate and no issues