The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Mark Gray]

My new addition and my first wrase in 40+ years of fish keeping l. Bad picture but you get the idea

 

[Rolltidekraz]

Are Wrasse right for me? I have read mixed reviews. Does anyone See any problems with a few different wrasse With my current stock list?

100g mixed reef
ocellaris clownfish
Blue Tang
Flame Angle
Purple dottyback
Foxface Rabbitfish
Banggai cardinalfish
Coral banded shrimp
20 or 30 snails
20 or 30 hermits
15 or so softies

 

[Greenstreet.1]

My new addition and my first wrase in 40+ years of fish keeping l. Bad picture but you get the idea

Welcome to the club.

 

[cancun]

My new addition and my first wrase in 40+ years of fish keeping l. Bad picture but you get the idea

Right.... welcome!!! [emoji16]. Oh and nice Solorensis!!!

 

[cancun]

Are Wrasse right for me? I have read mixed reviews. Does anyone See any problems with a few different wrasse With my current stock list?

100g mixed reef
ocellaris clownfish
Blue Tang
Flame Angle
Purple dottyback
Foxface Rabbitfish
Banggai cardinalfish
Coral banded shrimp
20 or 30 snails
20 or 30 hermits
15 or so softies

I don't see a issue with you keeping a Wrasse with that stock list! Do you have a type of Wrasse in mind?

 

[Rolltidekraz]

Thank

I don't see a issue with you keeping a Wrasse with that stock list! Do you have a type of Wrasse in mind?

i was hoping for a Christmas wrasse but am worried it’s not reef safe. So maybe a six line and a type of fairy wrasse to begin.

 

[cancun]

Thank

i was hoping for a Christmas wrasse but am worried it’s not reef safe. So maybe a six line and a type of fairy wrasse to begin.

A fairy Wrasse is a great choice, but from my own experience, I would avoid a six line like plague! Do a quick Google search and type in six line Wrasse agressive....you see plenty of posts about this.....

 

[OrionN]

Several wrasses have common name as Christmas wrasse.
I would recommend a Biocellatus. Other wrasse in the same Genus included Melanurus or Radiant wrasse should be OK

 

[Rolltidekraz]

Another reefer told me my dottyback would fight with any wrasse due to similar body type. Any truth to this?

 

[cancun]

Look at the little Melegris I picked up today ..I know the little tike is tiny, but I have raised my current Melegris from the same size...and the second pic is of my Red Coris photo bombing my shot..... LOL!

 

[2una]

Another reefer told me my dottyback would fight with any wrasse due to similar body type. Any truth to this?

Yep - I have a dottyback with wrasse,mines like a grumpy old man that only comes out to go chase somebody, most wrasse wise up to stay away from its territory but new comers the dottyback will go look for.
Whilst the dottyback may chase from time to time its not anything life endangering.He's just a jerk,

 

[Rolltidekraz]

Yep - I have a dottyback with wrasse,mines like a grumpy old man that only comes out to go chase somebody, most wrasse wise up to stay away from its territory but new comers the dottyback will go look for.
Whilst the dottyback may chase from time to time its not anything life endangering.He's just a jerk,

Thank you. It’s so funny how such a small fish could be a bully.

 

[ascheff]

Looks to be a transitioning male to me but not terminal. The tail gets much more pointed and blue dots appear on the lateral line and under the dorsal fin (or did on mine).

Agree.

Thanks for the feedback guys - male but not yet terminal was what I suspected too. Considering he's already two years old, I guess I shouldn't hold my breath for a full transformation if my social hierarchy stays as is. I love this fish, such a great personality, but can't help feeling slightly jealous whenever I see a fully transitioned terminal male.

On that note, what effect do dominant wrasses from other genera have on a fairy wrasse's transition? In my case a Halichoeres marginatus, who isn't aggressive, but does rule the tank and gets a bit pushy around feeding time. I have a few other wrasses that are more dominant than the Pintail, including some Cirrhilabrus, but the marginatus is the only fish that makes the whole tank his territory.

 

[Mini Coop]

Ok. I didn’t get it. I thought they were all ugly...too “fishy” looking. Not pretty enough. “I’ll never have a wrasse” I said. Too hard to QT. Then I saw a McCosker flaher. And loved him.
The first was sick when I got him. He didn’t last 1 day in my QT.
The second. Crushed by a rock the day I went to pick him up from the buddy I ordered him from.

I give up. Not for me.
But the LFS had one in and he was gorgeous. A baby. I HAD to try again!

Annnddd....he got velvet. I was up until the wee hours of he morning. FW bath. Reef rally bath. And a new QT. I don’t know how. But he survived. Copper and all. He made it!

Then I had my eyes on a blue star leopard wrasse. I mean...gorgeous. I saw that they were rated cook expert only“ and I certainly am not that. But I finally had decided that I was skilled enough and fish disease and had quarantine enough smaller fish, but it was worth a shot! I wanted three of them.It took me three months of having a quarantine tank ready to go to finally get three of them in! When I brought them home, one of them looked bad right out of the bag! I’m not sure it looks so great in the fish store, but I really wanted them, and it took so long for them to come in! Needless to say, she didn’t make it. And there was one that wasn’t eating great. She didn’t make it either. But the one did survive copper, and eats like a pig! She’s amazing. Her name is Fantasia.

I just felt like sharing this because as I am sitting here enjoying my tank tonight, which doesn’t usually happen. I am always too busy running around the house caring for my two toddlers. But there was nothing on TV tonight I decided to enjoy the fruits of my labor! My wrasses are just amazing to watch. Lots of activity. And both beautiful. And now I want more. Lol.

The LFS has a beautiful Japanese pintail in. I don’t know much about them, and it seems like nobody else does either. But any advice on what gorgeous brasses I could add to my tank that would be compatible with the two I already have would be appreciated! I’ll have to work on some pics with the good camera. But here is a crappy phone snap for now.

 

[Mark Gray]

Ok. I didn’t get it. I thought they were all ugly...too “fishy” looking. Not pretty enough. “I’ll never have a wrasse” I said. Too hard to QT. Then I saw a McCosker flaher. And loved him.
The first was sick when I got him. He didn’t last 1 day in my QT.
The second. Crushed by a rock the day I went to pick him up from the buddy I ordered him from.

I give up. Not for me.
But the LFS had one in and he was gorgeous. A baby. I HAD to try again!

Annnddd....he got velvet. I was up until the wee hours of he morning. FW bath. Reef rally bath. And a new QT. I don’t know how. But he survived. Copper and all. He made it!

Then I had my eyes on a blue star leopard wrasse. I mean...gorgeous. I saw that they were rated cook expert only“ and I certainly am not that. But I finally had decided that I was skilled enough and fish disease and had quarantine enough smaller fish, but it was worth a shot! I wanted three of them.It took me three months of having a quarantine tank ready to go to finally get three of them in! When I brought them home, one of them looked bad right out of the bag! I’m not sure it looks so great in the fish store, but I really wanted them, and it took so long for them to come in! Needless to say, she didn’t make it. And there was one that wasn’t eating great. She didn’t make it either. But the one did survive copper, and eats like a pig! She’s amazing. Her name is Fantasia.

I just felt like sharing this because as I am sitting here enjoying my tank tonight, which doesn’t usually happen. I am always too busy running around the house caring for my two toddlers. But there was nothing on TV tonight I decided to enjoy the fruits of my labor! My wrasses are just amazing to watch. Lots of activity. And both beautiful. And now I want more. Lol.

The LFS has a beautiful Japanese pintail in. I don’t know much about them, and it seems like nobody else does either. But any advice on what gorgeous brasses I could add to my tank that would be compatible with the two I already have would be appreciated! I’ll have to work on some pics with the good camera. But here is a crappy phone snap for now.

Nice looking fish I just got my first wrasse too after about 40 years in the saltwater hobby good luck, I wanted a leopard but I like my shrimp too

 

[bhuyett]

She’s amazing. Her name is Fantasia.

I just felt like sharing this because as I am sitting here enjoying my tank tonight, which doesn’t usually happen. I am always too busy running around the house caring for my two toddlers. But there was nothing on TV tonight I decided to enjoy the fruits of my labor! My wrasses are just amazing to watch. Lots of activity. And both beautiful. And now I want more. Lol.

The LFS has a beautiful Japanese pintail in. I don’t know much about them, and it seems like nobody else does either. But any advice on what gorgeous brasses I could add to my tank that would be compatible with the two I already have would be appreciated! I’ll have to work on some pics with the good camera. But here is a crappy phone snap for now.

Congrats on the new addition. They are beautiful in their female form. Once they turn male, I'm not a fan of their colors.
I would have went with the Pintail (cf Isosceles) wrasse. I cant wait to get the replacement for mine that passed away. Hopefully mine will ship out Monday evening for a Tuesday morning arrival. I just love the sharp "V" shaped tail and the blue laterally down the side of the body and in the fin is just gorgeous.

 

[OrionN]

I called LiveAquaria--they said sometimes it's a computer error. Who knows. Quality Marine is only about 45 minutes away from me. The package is in Anaheim right now (which is about 5 minutes from my house). It doesn't help that we're in the middle of a 100+ degree heat wave right now.

I hope it work out well for you and the wrasses.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks for the feedback guys - male but not yet terminal was what I suspected too. Considering he's already two years old, I guess I shouldn't hold my breath for a full transformation if my social hierarchy stays as is. I love this fish, such a great personality, but can't help feeling slightly jealous whenever I see a fully transitioned terminal male.

On that note, what effect do dominant wrasses from other genera have on a fairy wrasse's transition? In my case a Halichoeres marginatus, who isn't aggressive, but does rule the tank and gets a bit pushy around feeding time. I have a few other wrasses that are more dominant than the Pintail, including some Cirrhilabrus, but the marginatus is the only fish that makes the whole tank his territory.

Other genera don't have much of an affect on Cirrhilabrus. Other congenerics have a much greater affect.

Ok. I didn’t get it. I thought they were all ugly...too “fishy” looking. Not pretty enough. “I’ll never have a wrasse” I said. Too hard to QT. Then I saw a McCosker flaher. And loved him.
The first was sick when I got him. He didn’t last 1 day in my QT.
The second. Crushed by a rock the day I went to pick him up from the buddy I ordered him from.

I give up. Not for me.
But the LFS had one in and he was gorgeous. A baby. I HAD to try again!

Annnddd....he got velvet. I was up until the wee hours of he morning. FW bath. Reef rally bath. And a new QT. I don’t know how. But he survived. Copper and all. He made it!

Then I had my eyes on a blue star leopard wrasse. I mean...gorgeous. I saw that they were rated cook expert only“ and I certainly am not that. But I finally had decided that I was skilled enough and fish disease and had quarantine enough smaller fish, but it was worth a shot! I wanted three of them.It took me three months of having a quarantine tank ready to go to finally get three of them in! When I brought them home, one of them looked bad right out of the bag! I’m not sure it looks so great in the fish store, but I really wanted them, and it took so long for them to come in! Needless to say, she didn’t make it. And there was one that wasn’t eating great. She didn’t make it either. But the one did survive copper, and eats like a pig! She’s amazing. Her name is Fantasia.

I just felt like sharing this because as I am sitting here enjoying my tank tonight, which doesn’t usually happen. I am always too busy running around the house caring for my two toddlers. But there was nothing on TV tonight I decided to enjoy the fruits of my labor! My wrasses are just amazing to watch. Lots of activity. And both beautiful. And now I want more. Lol.

The LFS has a beautiful Japanese pintail in. I don’t know much about them, and it seems like nobody else does either. But any advice on what gorgeous brasses I could add to my tank that would be compatible with the two I already have would be appreciated! I’ll have to work on some pics with the good camera. But here is a crappy phone snap for now.

Pintails are a smaller, peaceful fairy wrasse that would do well with your current wrasses. There are many other species that would fit well. If any strike your fancy ask here and we will be happy to help.

 

[Ds04384]

I have a fairly general question regarding wrasse appearance. Is the color/fin quality more of a product of overall health and water quality or does it vary strongly from individual to individual. I suspect it’s a mix of both. Main reason I am asking is because I saw a good deal on a carpenters flasher at an LFS near me but it did not look especially vibrant and the fins did not look like it was in the best shape. If I had bought it and gave it some serious tlc, would it be reasonable to expect it to look significantly better down the road? I did not want to buy it and nurse it back to health only to end up with a healthy fish that still did not have the pop I’m looking for

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have a fairly general question regarding wrasse appearance. Is the color/fin quality more of a product of overall health and water quality or does it vary strongly from individual to individual. I suspect it’s a mix of both. Main reason I am asking is because I saw a good deal on a carpenters flasher at an LFS near me but it did not look especially vibrant and the fins did not look like it was in the best shape. If I had bought it and gave it some serious tlc, would it be reasonable to expect it to look significantly better down the road? I did not want to buy it and nurse it back to health only to end up with a healthy fish that still did not have the pop I’m looking for

It really depends on a number of factors. Health and position in the social hierarchy are the 2 biggest factors, but some individuals just look better than others.