Wrasse bullies

[gatekeeperdi]

Hi,

I've got a 64"× 30"× 24" tank with a sump. I've had a male Solorensis Wrasse, male Laboute wrasse and male Exquisite wrasse in my tank for months but recently the Solorensis started attacking the Laboute. Over the past week the Exquisite has joined in. We had to take the Solorensis and Exquisite out as they had battered the poor Laboute so much. Our LFS has had the naughty ones off us so just hoping the Laboute will survive.

We have a Regal Tang, Kole eye Tang, female blue Spotted Leopard Wrasse, female black tail Tamarin Wrasse, a cleaner wrasse, red Corris wrasse, green Mandarin, Starry Blenny, Copperband Butterfly, Matted Filefish and a pair of Caramel Clownfish left in there.

In time we would like to add some more wrasses but after this experience we're wondering which ones would be least problematic.

We would like to have an Iridis and a Naoko if we can get them. Are these likely to be a problem?

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks, Di

 

[jcdeng]

Don't know about the Iridis, but stay away from Naoko, well known bully, also from my own experience. It didn't only go after wrasses, it went for everything including my tomini tang.

 

[melypr1985]

@eatbreakfast @evolved @4FordFamily might have some insight into that for you. :)

 

[Salty1962]

Naoka's can get aggressive. Probably became the alpha of the tank.

 

[gatekeeperdi]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll forget having a Naoko wrasse if they're very aggressive.

Has anyone got any suggestions for other wrasses I could add with the fish stock I have that might be the most peaceful please? I'd like to avoid WW3 in the tank if I can avoid it after this experience.

I've also got a one spot foxface rabbit fish who I missed off the stock list on my initial post above.

Thanks.

 

[4FordFamily]

Has the bullied fish become weaker recently? Fish are often relentless and any sign of weakness will first be exploited by similar species as has happened here.

Unfortunately when mixing wrasse this is always a risk. I'm interested to see what the other two experts more knowledgeable with wrasse than I think

 

[evolved]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.259894/

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would agree with @4FordFamily . If the labouti suddenly got weaker, it would become an easy target. Under normal circumstances those three species should be fine.

The irididis wrasse should be fine with your current stock.