The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks evolved, but this guy has been in my tank for several months. In fact, he used to stay up until lights out, now he just buries himself in the afternoon and doesn't come out until the next morning. When he's awake he looks great, but he's become a sleepyhead. Any thoughts, wrasse lovers?

I find that if you feed closer to when he goes to sleep that this will keep him out for a few more minutes, keep doing this starting at about 15-20 minutes before he goes down, and as he stays up longer continue with the 15-20min before he goes to sleep.

 

[evolved]

^ And that's a good trick I use while QT'ing too.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I'm planning on getting a pair of mckosker flasher wrasse. Will the female eventually turn male? Thanks! :)

 

[eatbreakfast]

I'm planning on getting a pair of mckosker flasher wrasse. Will the female eventually turn male? Thanks! :)

Most likely yes. Males of the same sp. are less tolerant of each other than tbey would be to males of other sp. It might be a better approach to get a male mckosker and a male of another sp.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Ok thank you. What about leopard wrasses? Will the females stay female if there is a male present?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Females will most likely stay female with a male, but take care when adding a female to an established male, as the female may be transitioning and it is evident to wrasses before people, or the male is just ornry.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Ok thanks for your help!! :)

 

[Eienna]

Do fairy wrasses and leopard wrasses change sex like that too?

I was wondering about maybe getting a bipartitus...what is it about them that warrants an "expert" label?

 

[eatbreakfast]

All wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, changing sex from female to male.

What gives leopards the expert label is that they have trouble shipping, but also have a need for pods all day and in an immature system or a tank with a lot of competition for pods often have trouble getting enough to eat.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

If leopards get on a diet of frozen fish food, will they need the pods?

 

[Marshall O]

If leopards get on a diet of frozen fish food, will they need the pods?

My limited experience with them is that smaller ones will hunt for pods all day even when eating prepared foods, while larger ones may only occasionally hunt if they are fed at least twice per day.

 

[KaneH]

Ok. I have narrowed down my search for wrasses. I would like to know if Cirrhilabrus exquisitus, Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis, and Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus will get along. I'd like to keep a pair of C. exquisitus and/or C. rubrimarginatus. Again, I have a 120 with plenty of rock work, sand, and pods.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I have three fairy's in my 75 no problems

 

[KaneH]

TarHeel, what three do you have?

 

[Marshall O]

Ok. I have narrowed down my search for wrasses. I would like to know if Cirrhilabrus exquisitus, Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis, and Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus will get along. I'd like to keep a pair of C. exquisitus and/or C. rubrimarginatus. Again, I have a 120 with plenty of rock work, sand, and pods.

The three you mentioned should get along fine. If you don't add them all at the same time, use an acclimation box when adding a new one. I would not do pairs though. Just single males (or females and let them turn male!) of the different species. All to often the female in a pair turns male. Some species are more tolerant of having another male, others not at all.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

My limited experience with them is that smaller ones will hunt for pods all day even when eating prepared foods, while larger ones may only occasionally hunt if they are fed at least twice per day.

So will a young one need those pods? I really want a pair of leopards but don't want them to die. Would it be better for me to get an older leopard wrasse or a young one?

 

[eatbreakfast]

So will a young one need those pods? I really want a pair of leopards but don't want them to die. Would it be better for me to get an older leopard wrasse or a young one?

Yes, young ones need those pods.

If you are set on a pr. I have heard of more success stories in getting two females and letting them decide which will transition to male.

 

[Marshall O]

I would just got a single specimen to start off with. Go with an easier species such as M. bipartitus, M. ornatus or M. meleagris. Then if that does well, get a single specimen from another species. That would maximize your chances of success IMO.

 

[studioac]

I find that if you feed closer to when he goes to sleep that this will keep him out for a few more minutes, keep doing this starting at about 15-20 minutes before he goes down, and as he stays up longer continue with the 15-20min before he goes to sleep.

Well, I feed them in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. Lately the melanurus doesn't even wait for the afternoon feeding. He seems to be sleeping more and more and is only active about 8 or 9 hours a day! I'm not really worried because he still looks fine and eats well--doesn't appear sick at all. I just miss seeing him in the afternoon and evening. I was just wondering if anyone else had a wrasse as sleepy as mine.

 

[Marshall O]

I was just wondering if anyone else had a wrasse as sleepy as mine.

I have a H. melanurus in my QT right now that doesn't wake up until around 4PM and then into the sandbed at lights out at 9:30PM. So only up for 5.5 hours! Very active when it is up and eats just fine during my nightly feeding. Just not used to a fish only up for 5.5 hours...