The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

Longnose Hawkfish

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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.

Is there a reason why to purchase two leopards, but different species? Thanks for your help.
 

studioac

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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...
OK, I don't feel so bad! If I ever figure out how to post pictures I post one. He's quite beautiful when he's awake!
 

Marshall O

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Is there a reason why to purchase two leopards, but different species? Thanks for your help.

Because the interaction between a male and female is not the same as with other species that truly bond. If you like the look of both the male and female of a particular species, than you could do one female and see how it does in your care. If that is successful, add a second female and let them decide which will turn male.
 

eatbreakfast

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No, they wont react much differently. Macropharyngodon wrasses are haremic and it is social interactions that determine gender roles. In fish such as butterflies, angels, and some tangs pairs bond and their interactions reflect this.
 

Marshall O

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So a male and female of different species will interact more than two of the same species?

No, they will basically act the same. Which is why I prefer individuals from different species. You can certainly still try a pair, just start with one female as mentioned.
 

eatbreakfast

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Ok. So two different species still have the possibility to pair up?

Wrasses dont truly pr up, instead they are in harems where one male has a territory with multiple females where the male's attention prevents the females into transitioning into males.
 

eatbreakfast

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Ok, so the if I get two females of any leopard species, one should stay female while the other transitions?

In many cases yes, but not always, sometimes they both remain female, and in some other cases they begin to transition close to simultaneously and fight.
 

akitareefer

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In my tank I have 2 lineautus a rhomboid, beauperryi, a mckossers, 2 lubbocks male and female, and a scotts supermale. My earlei which is on his way as well as a pair of flame, also on the way is the rare 8 line flasher wrasse which i've been waiting for, For sometime now with my experience each has its own symbiotic relationship with the others while one flashes at the other another one runs and hides. My scotts seems to be one of the kingpins in the tank and my Rhomboid likes to disappear. I also have a 4 inch purple tang in there i have a custom 160 gallon cube 4 sided starphire glass tank. I couldn't agree more with Marshall O and Eatbreakfast you can put quite a few fairy's in your tank but you really have to decide which are best my Lubbocks did not like eachother at first and chased one another around like cats and dogs I thought day one i was gonna go to bed and wake up to a carcase. However its not always about the nicest most expensive ones you can get there are some beautiful wrasses out there that are not very pricey either I just love them because they will never go after my coral and their gorgeous fish. But I always qt my fish with prazipro i've seen alot of fish especially fish that are sand dwellers or diggers get infected by parasites or worms that lay dorment in sand beds. Side note blood worms for me are an occasional snack we feed them bloods maybe once a month otherwise its my own blend. however since the addition of the purple tang they all seem to go after the seaweed clip now which i find strange anyone else experience this with their wrasses?
 

Eienna

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In my tank I have 2 lineautus a rhomboid, beauperryi, a mckossers, 2 lubbocks male and female, and a scotts supermale. My earlei which is on his way as well as a pair of flame, also on the way is the rare 8 line flasher wrasse which i've been waiting for, For sometime now with my experience each has its own symbiotic relationship with the others while one flashes at the other another one runs and hides. My scotts seems to be one of the kingpins in the tank and my Rhomboid likes to disappear. I also have a 4 inch purple tang in there i have a custom 160 gallon cube 4 sided starphire glass tank. I couldn't agree more with Marshall O and Eatbreakfast you can put quite a few fairy's in your tank but you really have to decide which are best my Lubbocks did not like eachother at first and chased one another around like cats and dogs I thought day one i was gonna go to bed and wake up to a carcase. However its not always about the nicest most expensive ones you can get there are some beautiful wrasses out there that are not very pricey either I just love them because they will never go after my coral and their gorgeous fish. But I always qt my fish with prazipro i've seen alot of fish especially fish that are sand dwellers or diggers get infected by parasites or worms that lay dorment in sand beds. Side note blood worms for me are an occasional snack we feed them bloods maybe once a month otherwise its my own blend. however since the addition of the purple tang they all seem to go after the seaweed clip now which i find strange anyone else experience this with their wrasses?
I haven't had a wrasse yet, but I have a green spotted puffer who likes nori for some odd reason. They're supposed to be carnivores.
 

MistaOrange

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My African exquisite wrasse excuses the blurry pic it was taken from a clip.
uploadfromtaptalk1401168495688.jpg
 

Marshall O

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My wrasses go crazy over nori.

10 out of 11 Wrasses in my 125 do as well, including my M. bipartitus. They will literally grab a piece out of my Powder Brown Tang & Magnificent Foxface's mouths! The only one that doesn't is my M. choati.
 

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