The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[King Adeft]

Do you have a sump with rock and macros? You can dump a few bottles of commercial pods in there to help seed it.

You should also have adequate rock in your display, which might be a little tough in 50 gallons, but maybe doable if he's also eating frozen foods. My mandarin loves nutrimar ova and has been "living" in a 20g QT for several months now without issue.

Some people have had success supplementing with newly hatched baby brine shrimp as well.

No sump that is were I am challenged any ideas on how to grow pods anyway .

 

[King Adeft]

How would a Christmas Wrasse do in 50 gallon reef tank with a mandarin dragonet and a starry Blenny and bangaii cardinalfish. Would the Christmas Wrasse compete for pods with the mandarin or would he allow the mandarin to eat. I don't have any pods in my tank right now but my mandarin is eating frozen. I want to try to sustain a copepod population rather then get a wrasse but if the wrasse bother that...

 

[leahfiish]

How would a Christmas Wrasse do in 50 gallon reef tank with a mandarin dragonet and a starry Blenny and bangaii cardinalfish. Would the Christmas Wrasse compete for pods with the mandarin or would he allow the mandarin to eat. I don't have any pods in my tank right now but my mandarin is eating frozen. I want to try to sustain a copepod population rather then get a wrasse but if the wrasse bother that...

Halichoeres genus wrasses will compete with the mandarin for pods. If you can't or don't want to supplement pods, I would look at fairy (Cirrhilabrus genus) or flasher (Paracheilinus genus) instead.

 

[ngoodermuth]

No sump that is were I am challenged any ideas on how to grow pods anyway .

I'll pm you so we don't take this thread too far off topic :)

 

[ascheff]

It should be ok to add the rhomboid, especially since a Katherine was added. Just use an acclimation box, as the lineatus may have an interest.

Be wary of adding mini dartfish, or other fish that size, I've had H. marginatus get predatory to fish that size.

Thank you. My acclimation box is almost as important for me as my screen top, so will definitely use it.

And thanks for the warning on the mini dartfish. My current smallest fish is the Neon Goby, which was about an inch long when I added him, but the fact that he's a cleaner might make him less of a target.

 

[ascheff]

Speaking of schooling fish, which is what attracted me to the mini dartfish, what ever happened to Minilabrus Striatus from the Red Sea?

They popped up in a few articles a few years back, but then nothing after that.

Are they still being collected? And did people have any success with that batch?

While not quite as small, they are still small for a wrasse, and from those articles it seems they can be kept in groups.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Speaking of schooling fish, which is what attracted me to the mini dartfish, what ever happened to Minilabrus Striatus from the Red Sea?

They popped up in a few articles a few years back, but then nothing after that.

Are they still being collected? And did people have any success with that batch?

While not quite as small, they are still small for a wrasse, and from those articles it seems they can be kept in groups.

They haven't been collected the last few years. Most proved to be delicate, refusing to eat.

 

[Dodgersfan]

Hi Hunter,

First let me say thank you for putting this all together, it's easily the single most helpful article I've read. I'm working on a stocking list right now for a new 90g reef I'm in the process of setting up and I wanted to get your feedback on it and see if you would make any changes. I'm looking at doing a wrasse dominated tank, and I'm wanting more smaller fish rather than fewer larger fish. I'm not set on any particular fish on this list if something doesn't look like it will mesh well I'm fine with leaving it out, my main goal is to get as many of these interesting fish as will coexist peacefully. I'm planning on stocking flashers first, as far as I understand it a few males of different species should coexist as long as I add them all together, I'm thinking 3 or 4 would be better, but as far as I can tell mccoskers, yellowfin & carpenters all look extremely similar, and Blue, linespot, & filamented are a second group of extremely similar looking wrasses. Can I combine two from each of these groups or are they too similar? Should I just pick 1 from column A and one from column B and keep it at 2 flashers, or would 3 or 4 be better? Can you recommend a mix that would be compatible?


Most of the rest of the wrasses I'm considering are Cirrhilabrus, I'm considering Exquisite, Lubbocks, Lineatus, Orangeback and Labouts in that stocking order. The lineatus and labouts are very close together on the chart and the labouts is orange for aggression, are these two going to be one or the other or can I have both? Third, I'd like one halichores, Vroliks, Christmas or ornate in that order of preference. Is any one of those more likely to get along with the rest Than the others? I'm planning on stocking this one near the end. Finally there are the non wrasse tank mates, I get conflicting info from various websites out there for how much additional bio load I can have, I'm not expecting to add all of these, just a quick list that I'm interested in that I'd like to get some feedback on whether or not they will be comparable with the wrasses I've chosen: chalk bass, flame angel, lawnmower blenny, kole tang, and my wife really wants a blue spot Toby, which I don't think is going to be a good tankmate, but I'd like confirmation on that. I don't have a ton of rock or bottom dwellers so if you have any suggestions that I haven't considered I'd be interested to hear. Clowns don't really do much for me, but I'm open to pretty much anything. So basically I've got a finalists list, but not a final list. I'm really interested to hear what your thoughts are and what you'd add or remove from the list. Thanks for the help!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hi Hunter,

First let me say thank you for putting this all together, it's easily the single most helpful article I've read. I'm working on a stocking list right now for a new 90g reef I'm in the process of setting up and I wanted to get your feedback on it and see if you would make any changes. I'm looking at doing a wrasse dominated tank, and I'm wanting more smaller fish rather than fewer larger fish. I'm not set on any particular fish on this list if something doesn't look like it will mesh well I'm fine with leaving it out, my main goal is to get as many of these interesting fish as will coexist peacefully. I'm planning on stocking flashers first, as far as I understand it a few males of different species should coexist as long as I add them all together, I'm thinking 3 or 4 would be better, but as far as I can tell mccoskers, yellowfin & carpenters all look extremely similar, and Blue, linespot, & filamented are a second group of extremely similar looking wrasses. Can I combine two from each of these groups or are they too similar? Should I just pick 1 from column A and one from column B and keep it at 2 flashers, or would 3 or 4 be better? Can you recommend a mix that would be compatible?


Most of the rest of the wrasses I'm considering are Cirrhilabrus, I'm considering Exquisite, Lubbocks, Lineatus, Orangeback and Labouts in that stocking order. The lineatus and labouts are very close together on the chart and the labouts is orange for aggression, are these two going to be one or the other or can I have both? Third, I'd like one halichores, Vroliks, Christmas or ornate in that order of preference. Is any one of those more likely to get along with the rest Than the others? I'm planning on stocking this one near the end. Finally there are the non wrasse tank mates, I get conflicting info from various websites out there for how much additional bio load I can have, I'm not expecting to add all of these, just a quick list that I'm interested in that I'd like to get some feedback on whether or not they will be comparable with the wrasses I've chosen: chalk bass, flame angel, lawnmower blenny, kole tang, and my wife really wants a blue spot Toby, which I don't think is going to be a good tankmate, but I'd like confirmation on that. I don't have a ton of rock or bottom dwellers so if you have any suggestions that I haven't considered I'd be interested to hear. Clowns don't really do much for me, but I'm open to pretty much anything. So basically I've got a finalists list, but not a final list. I'm really interested to hear what your thoughts are and what you'd add or remove from the list. Thanks for the help!

2 from each group of flasher for a total of 4 should be fine.

Add the orangeback before the lineatus. It is a more peaceful, and likely to fade in color if not higher up in the hierarchy.

Christmas can mean a few different species. Biocellatus and claudia would be your most peaceful of the possibilivrolik's(chrysotaenia), and ornatissmus is the most aggressive.

Your other possible fish additions will all be fine with wrasses.

 

[Dodgersfan]

Thanks for the feedback, so you think the Toby puffer would be worth giving a shot? And the lineatus and labouts would be ok together? Those were the two biggest areas of concern I had with my stocking list. What are your thoughts on what's left as far as stocking space goes after the wrasses? Am I close to the limit or is there room for a few of those non-wrasse potential tank mates? Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks for the feedback, so you think the Toby puffer would be worth giving a shot? And the lineatus and labouts would be ok together? Those were the two biggest areas of concern I had with my stocking list. What are your thoughts on what's left as far as stocking space goes after the wrasses? Am I close to the limit or is there room for a few of those non-wrasse potential tank mates? Thanks!

The labouti and lineatus may or may not work, but it would be the labouti that will be the problem.

Bioload varies tank to tank. Add slowly and test ogten to determine stocking level.

 

[evolved]

How close would you say I’m to the limit of my tank for wrasses? Do I have space for the Rhomboid? And then equally important, seeing as the Rhomboid and Lineatus is relatively closely related, will that even work?

It should be ok to add the rhomboid, especially since a Katherine was added. Just use an acclimation box, as the lineatus may have an interest.

I agree; one more fish isn't really stretching things far, and rhomboidalis and lineatus usually work together if the tank is large.

 

[evolved]

Hi Hunter,

First let me say thank you for putting this all together, it's easily the single most helpful article I've read.

Hi! Which article are you referring to? (it's not clear to me)

stocking flashers first, as far as I understand it a few males of different species should coexist as long as I add them all together

Usually fine, yes. And they don't have to be added all together either, but it helps.

Can I combine two from each of these groups or are they too similar?

Yes, 2 from each group would be fine.

The lineatus and labouts are very close together on the chart and the labouts is orange for aggression, are these two going to be one or the other or can I have both?

I don't think you're looking at the most current chart: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...feriority-need-not-apply-1st-revision.322326/
If either are going to be a problem, it would certainly be the laboutei.

Third, I'd like one halichores, Vroliks, Christmas or ornate in that order of preference.

And what species does "Christmas" mean to you? That's a common name that can refer to ~5 different species.
I would absolutely skip the ornate however - it's almost always pretty darn aggressive.

I'm really interested to hear what your thoughts are and what you'd add or remove from the list.

It's pretty rare I buy anything that's not a wrasse. :) I'll refer to TJ (eatbreakfast) on those questions.

 

[becks]

It's so hard to pick fish for my tank, I'm so indecisive. I scrapped the idea of a starcki damsel as my tank is so peaceful there's no chasing or bullying of any kind and i don't want to change that if I can help it.

I have a female bipartitus and she's my fave fish, i had to sell my chyrus wrasse as he was bullying the bipartitus.

I've thought about buying a mccosker flasher wrasse but would not want one to bully my peacock wrasse.

 

[linus.chan]

I have a bathyphilus and i am interested in the following-
rhomboidalis, isosceles, ex and lineatus.

From the most recent chart https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...feriority-need-not-apply-1st-revision.322326/

it looks like i can't get both the rhomboidalis and the lineatus, correct? (given their location on the chart near each other)

And will the bathyphilus and isosceles be okay? They are not in the same complex, but are a bit close to each vertically.

 

[evolved]

it looks like i can't get both the rhomboidalis and the lineatus, correct? (given their location on the chart near each other)

Depends on the size of the tank. They're in different sub-groups.

And will the bathyphilus and isosceles be okay?

Yes; parallel branches, but both being low in aggression it'll be fine.

 

[linus.chan]

Depends on the size of the tank. They're in different sub-groups.
.

Would 120gallon ("fat") work? or would it need 180?

 

[evolved]

Would 120gallon ("fat") work? or would it need 180?

Probably, but bigger is better. A 180 will be fine.

In a 120, the rockscape and "lines of sight" matter.

 

[Slayvoff]

Hey Wrasse lovers - what are some of the prettiest looking Wrasses? Talk about a subjective question eh?

I like bright colored fish that really stand out and want my tank full of them. So I guess that can be used as a guide to what I am looking for. For example, Mystery Wrasse, Lineatus Fairy Wrasse....

Something I am not interested in: Leopard Wrasse. (Just for context on what I like)

Any other Wrasse fish that have are brightly colored and amazing to watch?

 

[evolved]

Talk about a subjective question eh?

So subjective, it's impossible for anyone besides you to answer. ;)

Any other Wrasse fish that have are brightly colored and amazing to watch?

About 90% of them... ;Wacky