The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[cancun]

How many times a day do you feed your wrasses?

Hi there! I agree....in my display I feed Mysis twice a day....and every few days on top of Mysis twice a day, I add some fish eggs to the mix...

By the way....how are things going with your two leopards?

 

[cancun]

Can a group or Yellow Coris and Radiant Wrasses Get Along?

Live Aquaria describes the Yellow Coris (Halichoeres chrysus) and Radiant Wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) as being peaceful and that they can be mixed with other peaceful wrasses including their own species.

Would it be possible to mix 3 of each in the same large tank?

Hi....yea I too have had no luck with Halichoeres mixing....I have a yellow Cori's he is peaceful....and a red Cori's who is peaceful too....but when I have ever tried another Halichoeres....such as the Checkerboard Wrasse....the CB Wrasse was so agressive a few weeks after I put him in the tank..so back to the LFS he went. That's just my experience.... mixing Wrasses is not an exact science that's for sure. You can give it a shot...but be prepared to move one if you have too. Also if you go for a Radient....make sure and get one from a LFS so you can check him over....and to make sure he is eatting before you bring him home. Just my 2 cents! [emoji16]

 

[OrionN]

Is it constant chasing and fighting and is one of them hiding?

An acclimation box would have be a good way to introduce.

They don't really fight anymore. Just flashing at each other they the go their own way.

 

[cancun]

my new baby

Nice red Coris....you bought him changing into his adult colors? I have had mine for a
Couple of years now....he was a inch when I put him in my tank...now he is 6 inches and changing...he looks like yours....be prepared to glue all corals down....even whole colonies....he will flip them over looking for food...here is a pic of mine...see in the pic my alveapora and frog spawn glued to heavy pieces of live rock...lol..[emoji16]

 

[eatbreakfast]

For those trying to mix Halichoeres species keep in mind that Halichoeres has been a "catch-all" genus that badly needs taxonomic revision. There are probably 5 or more genera that should be seperated and there is a variety of sizes and demeanors within these groups. In Kuiter's wrasse bible he has them divided. Some groups, such as "Biochoeres" includes chrysus and iridis, and "Hemiulis" which includes timorensis and leucurus are quite peaceful and tolerant of other peaceful wrasses. Other groups such as "Platyglossuss" which includes melanurus and marginatus as well as what he has listed "Halichoeres" which includes zeylonicus and pelicieri sometimes can be mixed with other peaceful wrasses, but sometimes can be aggressive, then there are other groups which are even more aggressive.

 

[BigJohnny]

For those trying to mix Halichoeres species keep in mind that Halichoeres has been a "catch-all" genus that badly needs taxonomic revision. There are probably 5 or more genera that should be seperated and there is a variety of sizes and demeanors within these groups. In Kuiter's wrasse bible he has them divided. Some groups, such as "Biochoeres" includes chrysus and iridis, and "Hemiulis" which includes timorensis and leucurus are quite peaceful and tolerant of other peaceful wrasses. Other groups such as "Platyglossuss" which includes melanurus and marginatus as well as what he has listed "Halichoeres" which includes zeylonicus and pelicieri sometimes can be mixed with other peaceful wrasses, but sometimes can be aggressive, then there are other groups which are even more aggressive.

So leucurus is typically more peaceful than melanarus? What about chrysotaenia or annularis?

I am trying to decide between the 4. Other wrasses include two established blue star leopards, don't plan on adding any others after.

 

[Jesterrace]

Oh incidentally I also had a Red Head Salon Fairy Wrasse/Solar Wrasse/Solarensis Wrasse. It was fine at first but then snapped and went after everything in the tank and I had to get rid of it. I guess it's just me but I have seen aggression from every one of these fish I have seen. Here is a vid of it:

 

[Rispa]

Hey, I'm thinking about trying a school of Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse. Saltwaterfish has females available, so I'm hoping 4 females will keep any aggression shifting and since they aren't male they will be less aggressive. If one turns male he'll have 3 ladies to keep him busy. Does that sound like reasonable logic?

 

[eatbreakfast]

So leucurus is typically more peaceful than melanarus? What about chrysotaenia or annularis?

I am trying to decide between the 4. Other wrasses include two established blue star leopards, don't plan on adding any others after.

Yes, leuvurus is more peaceful than melanurus. Annularis is a junior synonym of marginatus, so can be a little pushy. Chrysotaenia is a sister speciesof melanurus, so their behavior is nearly identical.

Hey, I'm thinking about trying a school of Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse. Saltwaterfish has females available, so I'm hoping 4 females will keep any aggression shifting and since they aren't male they will be less aggressive. If one turns male he'll have 3 ladies to keep him busy. Does that sound like reasonable logic?

Unfortunately, that will likely not work. In aquaria fairy wrasses almost always transition from female to male, even if a male is present. So instead of having 4 females with one transitioning into male, you will likely end up with all of them transitioning at some point and aggression between them, depending on tank size so much so that you wilp end up with just one.

 

[OrionN]

Another question.
In a 320 DT, will Flasher wrasses co-exist with some of the Fairy Wrasse?
I have a Sailfin and a Labouti in my 320. They were very aggressive toward each other but settle to coexisting now with the Sailfin slightly more dominate. I have a Lubbock, Longfin Fairy and Carpenter, Yellowfin Flasher wrasse in my QT 40 gal reef system. All 4 are doing well. Except the Longfin is new.

I think of adding the four at once into my DT. Will it work, or the two Fairy in there are too aggressive? What if I rethink this and use less aggressive Fairy species? What if I remove both of the Sailfin and Labouti but keep them together in my 100 gal sump and re-add them last?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Another question.
In a 320 DT, will Flasher wrasses co-exist with some of the Fairy Wrasse?
I have a Sailfin and a Labouti in my 320. They were very aggressive toward each other but settle to coexisting now with the Sailfin slightly more dominate. I have a Lubbock, Longfin Fairy and Carpenter, Yellowfin Flasher wrasse in my QT 40 gal reef system. All 4 are doing well. Except the Longfin is new.

I think of adding the four at once into my DT. Will it work, or the two Fairy in there are too aggressive? What if I rethink this and use less aggressive Fairy species? What if I remove both of the Sailfin and Labouti but keep them together in my 100 gal sump and re-add them last?

Using a social acclimation box for a few days to introduce new fish, and introducing a few fish simultaneously helps greatly in reducing aggression. Getting the aggressive fish out to let the more peaceful settle is also a good idea.

 

[OrionN]

Thanks TJ.

OK. I will have to wait for my Acclimation box to arrive. In the mean time, I will try to trap the two wrasse in my DT. If I can trap both of them, I will but them in the sump and place all for wrasse in my DT all at once.

I saw several Flame Fairy at Elegance Reef in San Antonio this weekend. They are for sale for 150.00. The male is large and the other three are changing males. All in their large coral display. Must be about 6-8 feetX4-5 feet by ~ 24 inches high. I was really in a hurry, and they are really too expensive for bumbling wrasse keeper like me. If someone who live in Central Texas and looking for Flame Fairy, you may want to give them a call.
I asked, and the sale person said that they are 150 each if they can catch them.

 

[Rispa]

Unfortunately, that will likely not work. In aquaria fairy wrasses almost always transition from female to male, even if a male is present. So instead of having 4 females with one transitioning into male, you will likely end up with all of them transitioning at some point and aggression between them, depending on tank size so much so that you wilp end up with just one.

Great, thank you so much. I thought they transitioned more like clownfish. With that information I'll stick to just 1.

 

[evolved]

.yea I too have had no luck with Halichoeres mixing....I have a yellow Cori's he is peaceful....and a red Cori's who is peaceful too

But those are not both of the Halichoeres genus. Be cautious with common names. ;)

So leucurus is typically more peaceful than melanarus? What about chrysotaenia or annularis?

I am trying to decide between the 4. Other wrasses include two established blue star leopards, don't plan on adding any others after.

Yes, leuvurus is more peaceful than melanurus. Annularis is a junior synonym of marginatus, so can be a little pushy. Chrysotaenia is a sister speciesof melanurus, so their behavior is nearly identical.

+1 to all of that.

Hey, I'm thinking about trying a school of Ruby Finned Fairy Wrasse. Saltwaterfish has females available, so I'm hoping 4 females will keep any aggression shifting and since they aren't male they will be less aggressive. If one turns male he'll have 3 ladies to keep him busy. Does that sound like reasonable logic?

Don't do it - you'll end up with a single male and 3 victims. Give this one a read when you have some time: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.259894/

In a 320 DT, will Flasher wrasses co-exist with some of the Fairy Wrasse?
I have a Sailfin and a Labouti in my 320. They were very aggressive toward each other but settle to coexisting now with the Sailfin slightly more dominate. I have a Lubbock, Longfin Fairy and Carpenter, Yellowfin Flasher wrasse in my QT 40 gal reef system. All 4 are doing well. Except the Longfin is new.

In general, mixing fairys and flashers is doable. However, the Sailfin you have will likely be rather limiting in this sense. I would expect it to be quite intolerant of most flasher wrasses, regardless of the tank size. The Sailfin and the Longfin may also be incompatible.

I think of adding the four at once into my DT. Will it work, or the two Fairy in there are too aggressive? What if I rethink this and use less aggressive Fairy species? What if I remove both of the Sailfin and Labouti but keep them together in my 100 gal sump and re-add them last?

Typically with wrasses, removing an aggressor and reintroducing it again later does very little and results in the same aggression.
Avoid the aggressive species from here and you can do quite a lot: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/cirrhilabrus-complexes-inferiority-need-not-apply-1st-revision.352/

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Another set of my baby’s getting ready to go in.

 

[Paul87]

Hey guys! First post in a good while. I'm still in it though! Here are some photos from today. I got a couple new guys.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

He’s in the acc box under inspection by the velvet

 

[Makers Marc]

Hey guys! First post in a good while. I'm still in it though! Here are some photos from today. I got a couple new guys.

Was that yellow tail tamarin and Moyers rom NYAquatic? Is the tamarin competing during feeding?

 

[Paul87]

Was that yellow tail tamarin and Moyers rom NYAquatic? Is the tamarin competing during feeding?

Nope, neither are from there. The yellow tail tamarind I've had a while now. Doesn't mess with anyone but definitely shows up for dinner! Lol. The Moyer's I just got the other day. Already it's smashing frozen calanus and Jimbo's reef gumbo.

 

[melypr1985]

Will a Red Margin Fairy wrasse and a Scott's Fairy wrasse do well together in a 250 gallon tank? They are both about 4 1/2 inches and the red margin has been in the display for about 8 months. The Scott's would go into QT first then into the display in about 6 weeks.

@evolved @eatbreakfast

The new scott's ....