The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[scchase]

Was watching my wrasses today and I noticed that my extremely large (5"+) male Potter's leopard has little tusks on the outside corner of each side of his mouth. Anyone else ever notice these before on leopards? Looking at pics online looks like most males have them and a lot of larger females as well, little white spike looking things.

 

[Wrangy]

Nice wrasses @Wrangy!

Still a couple to come as well :)

 

[evolved]

Was watching my wrasses today and I noticed that my extremely large (5"+) male Potter's leopard has little tusks on the outside corner of each side of his mouth. Anyone else ever notice these before on leopards? Looking at pics online looks like most males have them and a lot of larger females as well, little white spike looking things.

Those are the pharyngeal teeth, and precisely how the Latin for the genus is derived.
Macropharyngodon = throat teeth

 

[scchase]

Probably how come their mouths get messed up so easily as well. Never could figure out what was getting caught on nets till now, not that I like to use nets to catch them if I can help it. Also wouldn't it be large throat teeth?

 

[Paul87]

Just noticed my lineatus swimming very odd. Almost seems week. First time he's acted like this. Any ideas guys?

 

[Jstn]

Was watching my wrasses today and I noticed that my extremely large (5"+) male Potter's leopard has little tusks on the outside corner of each side of his mouth. Anyone else ever notice these before on leopards? Looking at pics online looks like most males have them and a lot of larger females as well, little white spike looking things.

Grab a pic of that beauty

 

[scchase]

Grab a pic of that beauty

Best pic I could get tonight, glass cleaning and photography don't go together.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Just noticed my lineatus swimming very odd. Almost seems week. First time he's acted like this. Any ideas guys?

Thats a spinal injury. Either hitting a hard object trying to jump or hitting the glass sides of the tank when startled. Sometimes they get better, usually they waste away.

 

[Jstn]

Thats a spinal injury. Either hitting a hard object trying to jump or hitting the glass sides of the tank when startled. Sometimes they get better, usually they waste away.

I had that happen to my brunneus, he only made it five days

 

[Paul87]

Thats a spinal injury. Either hitting a hard object trying to jump or hitting the glass sides of the tank when startled. Sometimes they get better, usually they waste away.

That sucks. I wonder what happened, no one messes with him and I haven't seen him run into anything... Hope he manages to pull through.

 

[evolved]

Also wouldn't it be large throat teeth?

Well, yes, but you get the gist. :p

Thats a spinal injury. Either hitting a hard object trying to jump or hitting the glass sides of the tank when startled. Sometimes they get better, usually they waste away.

Yes; agree. Sorry Paul. :(

 

[Paul87]

Well I think you guys nailed it. The lineatus was found dead today. Such a bummer. I wonder what caused it? I suppose just not suitable in a smaller tank like mine though he was appearing to be comfortable.

 

[Maritimer]

I don't know how big your tank is, but I lost a two-inch Lubbock's wrasse to the same thing in a 65-gallon tank. A startled fish can crash into something in _any_ size tank, I should think . . .

~Bruce, saddened by your loss.

 

[cginter]

I had my potters pass on me a while back. It's jaw/mouth got stuck open and eventually passed after several days. Does this happen commonly or was it a freak accident. My local saltwater store said it happens randomly and usually isn't anything cause by the water condition.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had my potters pass on me a while back. It's jaw/mouth got stuck open and eventually passed after several days. Does this happen commonly or was it a freak accident. My local saltwater store said it happens randomly and usually isn't anything cause by the water condition.

Any thoughts on this?

It often happens during transport. A wrasse will try to bury and will damage it's jaw. It can also happen if a leopard continually tries to bury deeper than it is able in a tank. It is unrelated to water chemistry.

 

[Paul87]

I don't know how big your tank is, but I lost a two-inch Lubbock's wrasse to the same thing in a 65-gallon tank. A startled fish can crash into something in _any_ size tank, I should think . . .

~Bruce, saddened by your loss.

Thanks man. He was in a 40 breeder (I know I know). But no other tank mates ever messed with him, not sure what he could have been startled by. I did remove a dead torch the other day that was epoxied to a rock which slightly shifted when I did it. The lineatus wasn't in sight while I did it. Maybe I nudged or pinched him and didn't know. :(

 

[JAWS 32]

Well I think you guys nailed it. The lineatus was found dead today. Such a bummer. I wonder what caused it? I suppose just not suitable in a smaller tank like mine though he was appearing to be comfortable.

Sorry, about the loss of your fish

 

[Paul87]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. That was the most expensive I've ever lost so far, considering I even got a decent price for it (175). On to new and exciting things. I'm down to just my 4 wrasses. Female pintail, ruby head, leopard, and social. My buddy has a male pintail in right now. Would I be good to add him? He's not a lot bigger than my female. Would they pair up? If I had a pair, I'd want a pair of isosceles the most I believe. Am I safe to pull the trigger? Input wrasse pros!

 

[Goby-won]

Does anyone know if a puddingwife wrasse sleeps in the sand? I bought him off a friend. I already have a Christmas and Yellow Coris that sleep in the sand, so I was just wondering.

 

[Paul87]

Does anyone know if a puddingwife wrasse sleeps in the sand? I bought him off a friend. I already have a Christmas and Yellow Coris that sleep in the sand, so I was just wondering.

Yes it will sleep in the sand. Halichoeres wrasses sleep in the sand.