The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[gotmesalty77]

@evolved my ruby headed fairy is starting to become quite the pain, if I were to add a mirror would that help the situation? If I do should I actually add it into the tank or on the outside facing in ?

 

[evolved]

Several weeks go I posted I had just added a Chaoti wrasse to my tank, sadly I found it dead this morning, i tried virtually every food known to man to get it to eat, pods, cyclopese, worms, clam, fish eggs, mysis, brine, chopped mussel all soaked in selcon and garlic.. But it wouldn’t eat anything... Im wondering if there’s anything I missed or is this species just one that we really should stop trying to keep @evolved

Sorry to hear. It's a species I've never attempted to try myself, as I don't feel it's worth the struggle for the low chance of success.

@evolved my ruby headed fairy is starting to become quite the pain, if I were to add a mirror would that help the situation? If I do should I actually add it into the tank or on the outside facing in ?

Typically once bad behavior is present, there's not much you can do about it short of removing the fish.

 

[gotmesalty77]

Sorry to hear. It's a species I've never attempted to try myself, as I don't feel it's worth the struggle for the low chance of success.

Typically once bad behavior is present, there's not much you can do about it short of removing the fish.

Hmm then I should blame the blue green chromis I saved from the toilet bowl because I love the ruby

 

[evolved]

I’m curious about what others have experienced with aggressive Silver Belly / Yellow Coris wrasses. I had two that I think transitioned to full males — Both developed the large green/red splash of color along the profile of their gills and face; I only have one now because the more aggressive one decided to kill the other. I attempted relentlessly to catch either the aggressive one or the one getting beat up but I was unsuccessful; and this all happened about five weeks ago. Since then I lost a sand sifting goby from old age.

Fast forward to this weekend...

On Sunday I introduced a sand-sifting diamond goby who just got out of quarantine to my display. I decided on getting a smaller juvenile Goby so I can be sure to get a good 5-6 years out of him/her. Unfortunately, my once healthy goby, had a pieces of fins missing and was at the surface of my display trying to jump out. That’s when I noticed the silver belly corris was nipping and thrusting at the goby. I pulled the goby from the display and put it into my Mandarin tank.

This silver belly wrasse has shown to be very aggressive. He doesn’t bother any fish or coral but he proactively goes after my margarita snails by hitting them off the glass and flipping them over when they are on the sand bed. The only other wrasse in the tank is a peaceful leopard wrasse.

Anyone know if this particular breed of Hoelichoeres is typically this aggressive? He’s not starving or showing signs of malnutrition —- I was pondering whether I wasn’t feeding him enough, but he is very healthy in appearance and color and there is no finnage issues.

For visual verification of the species he looks exactly like this photo on @LiveAquaria https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2113/?pcatid=2113

Although, they labeled this as a Yellow / Purple Wrasse.


Thank you for the responses. Happy reefing.

I would just like to add that you seem to be interchanging two different species as the same, when they are not. And different species do tend to have different tendencies.
The "yellow wrasse" (all yellow Halichoeres) is H. chrysus, whereas the "yellow and purple wrasse" (yellow Halichoeres with a white/silver belly) is H. leucoxanthus.

I’m thinking of getting a Scott’s fairy wrasse, anyone have any experience? Are they as big butt heads as often described, mainly concerned with aggression with my red head Solon, gold banded and rosefacia wrasses? Thoughts chaps @evolved

I would not - sounds like a mix to have problems with for sure.
The bigger issue with scottorum (besides the attitude) is that they do not keep the bright, saturated colors - they will fade out to something much duller.

 

[Lizbeli]

I lost this guy. I think he got a spinal injury when my lfs used a net to catch him. So sad, was my first wrasse. They are so beautiful.

 

[Crabby48]

I lost this guy. I think he got a spinal injury when my lfs used a net to catch him. So sad, was my first wrasse. They are so beautiful.

Sorry for the loss. Great looking wrasse and photo.

 

[TheHarold]

I hope he went hiding and in a few days he recovers and comes out for food.
I had a lineatus lay on the sand bed and not eat for 3 weeks but would go to the rocks at night. 4th week he ate some and improved. He had what looked like spinal injury. Wrasse jump hard when chased.Month later he is doing good so don’t lose hope.

Saw him peek out a few times this morning! So thats 4/4 fish I added, pretty good!

 

[Crabby48]

Saw him peek out a few times this morning! So thats 4/4 fish I added, pretty good!

I was thinking about him but didn’t want to ask if it was for the worse.
Happy to hear he is peeking. Keep us posted please

 

[Streetlamp]

My Timor, in some winter sunlight

 

[TheHarold]

These look nice (Though the smalls can be under 1")

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/6986/katherines-fairy-wrasse?pcatid=6986&c=747+7163+6986

 

[KylerMT98]

Anyone have experience with the Madagascar leopard wrasse?

 

[evolved]

Anyone have experience with the Madagascar leopard wrasse?

M. vivienne? But it's not endemic to Madagascar.

 

[CavalierReef]

I love wrasses but, alas, I have a little 32 gallon Biocube I'm putting together because in my "forever" living situation that is all I have room for. I would love one wrasse in this tank. My preference would be a male McCosker's. I would appreciate your thoughts on keeping this beautiful fish or a recommendation for an alternative. Thank you for your time.

 

[evolved]

I love wrasses but, alas, I have a little 32 gallon Biocube I'm putting together because in my "forever" living situation that is all I have room for. I would love one wrasse in this tank. My preference would be a male McCosker's. I would appreciate your thoughts on keeping this beautiful fish or a recommendation for an alternative. Thank you for your time.

The only species suitable for that size of tank, IMO, are the pink streak wrasse or a possum species.
Paracheilinus are best in a tank at least 3 feet in length.

 

[CavalierReef]

Thanks for the response, Evolved. I've seen minimum tank size recommendations for the Red Pygmy as high as 75 gallons and the McCosker's as low as 30. Recommendations are all over the map. I'm sure some of that depends on whether you are trying to sell fish or not. I'm not one of those "trade it in when it gets too big" guys so I want the fish to be happy in the long term.

 

[Crabby48]

i have a iridis and thinking on adding a melasmapomus. Will they be ok together in a
4’ x 2’ display?

 

[evolved]

i have a iridis and thinking on adding a melasmapomus. Will they be ok together in a
4’ x 2’ display?

Probably; both species typically are okay in temperament.

 

[Mortie31]

Anyone have experience with the Madagascar leopard wrasse?

Hi yes, I’ve had one for several months now, there the same as most leopards.. fine “if” you can get them eating, mines an absolute pig now and eats anything including paste... there a stunning fish imo..

 

[ZanclusKeeper]

Nice wrasses everyone, here are my two favorites!

 

[Mortie31]

A quick pic before my lights go off of a Cirrhilabrus laboutei I picked up earlier, he’s a nice submale who should get better and better..