Wrasse for 40 gal breeder

[MrDeathKills]

What are some wrasse that would be fine in a 40 gallon breeder? There are so many beautiful ones out there and would love to know if I can have any “good” ones. We do plan on getting a Mandrian Goby. Also must be reef safe.

 

[tynewell1]

Yellow wrasse, carpenter wrasse, etc. I’ve had success with both of those, both are also very bright and beautiful

 

[nereefpat]

Pink streak or any of the possum wrasses would fit. There may be a concern about eating your mandarin's pods.

Lubbock's or yellow fin fairy would be good ones. Pintail is gorgeous. Certain Halichoeres are debatable for a 40 gallon.

Avoid sixline, 4 line, mystery wrasses for aggression.

 

[tynewell1]

Pink streak or any of the possum wrasses would fit. There may be a concern about eating your mandarin's pods.

Lubbock's or yellow fin fairy would be good ones. Pintail is gorgeous. Certain Halichoeres are debatable for a 40 gallon.

Avoid sixline, 4 line, mystery wrasses for aggression.

I agree, I wouldn’t get a wrasse if you have a mandarin, unless you add pods to your tank regularly. My wrasse spends every second of the day finding pods and eating them, he is a pig!

 

[nereefpat]

I agree, I wouldn’t get a wrasse if you have a mandarin, unless you add pods to your tank regularly. My wrasse spends every second of the day finding pods and eating them, he is a pig!

Many wrasses eat pods. Fairy wrasses don't, so that's nice

 

[i cant think]

I’d do a lubbocki (I have both variants in my 4’ tank and they’re my favourite wrasses along side the radiant).

 

[MrDeathKills]

Many wrasses eat pods. Fairy wrasses don't, so that's nice

So you are saying any wrasse that has fairy in its name will not eat pods? If so my wife and I both liked this little guy.

 

[nereefpat]

So you are saying any wrasse that has fairy in its name will not eat pods?

Right. Fairy wrasses, genus Cirrhilabrus, are plankton eaters. They won't hurt the pod population.

C. rubeus might be a little big for a 40 breeder. Might be okay.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Six line in my 40b does wonders

 

[shakacuz]

my yellow coris wrasse is doing well in my 40B, currently about 3 1/2 inches.

 

[dwest]

I would do flasher wrasses in that size of tank. With flashers or fairies you must have a lid.

https://www.thewrasseguy.com/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses

 

[MrDeathKills]

I would do flasher wrasses in that size of tank. With flashers or fairies you must have a lid.

https://www.thewrasseguy.com/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses

We were also looking at McCosker's Flasher or Filamented Flasher as well. We will have to take the pod eating into consideration. Thanks.

 

[MrDeathKills]

Right. Fairy wrasses, genus Cirrhilabrus, are plankton eaters. They won't hurt the pod population.

C. rubeus might be a little big for a 40 breeder. Might be okay.

You think at 3” thats big? I made sure to grab the breeder so fish could have as much length to swim as possible

 

[sdreef]

Some wrasse also need a sand bed. For a 40 breeder, wrasse from the paracheilinus genus (flasher wrasse) would fit well. Some species from cirrhilabrus genus aka fairy wrasse would also do well. As others had mentioned, some fairy wrasse may be a little too large so you would need to look into the specific species further. Flasher and fairy wrasse don't require a sand bed and would be compatible with a dragonette.

 

[MrDeathKills]

Some wrasse also need a sand bed. For a 40 breeder, wrasse from the paracheilinus genus (flasher wrasse) would fit well. Some species from cirrhilabrus genus aka fairy wrasse would also do well. As others had mentioned, some fairy wrasse may be a little too large so you would need to look into the specific species further. Flasher and fairy wrasse don't require a sand bed and would be compatible with a dragonette.

Yea we were heart set on a leopard wrasse but found that they need a deep sand bed so that went out the window. We will continue to look at fairy and flasher wrasses. We have plenty of time to choose as we are not adding any fish for a good 3 months.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Pink-streaked wrasse are the smallest I'm aware of. Very peaceful and cryptic but will compete with your mandarin for pods. If your mandarin is eating prepared you'd be fine. Similar swimming style and look to a sixline without the baggage.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I'd go with either one of the flasher wrasses or a Lubbock's fairy. They stay smaller, are peaceful, less likely to compete for pods, and don't need a sandbed

 

[Nano_Tuners]

Pintail Fairy is the nicest small wrasse imo

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Pintail Fairy is the nicest small wrasse imo

They are! I love mine, but I wouldn't put one in a 40 breeder. He uses every square inch of the 75 gallon, and is still growing.

 

[i cant think]

Everyone is saying a flasher wrasse but personally I wouldn’t go with any and here’s my reason. They dive into things in small tanks when they flash so I wouldn’t put them in anything less than a 4’ tank. Fairy wrasses good for the tank include anything from the lubbocki complex, these stay around 3” (sometimes smaller) and aren’t very aggressive. I’d look at most of the wrasses that stay below 3”, it would probably be pushing the tank for a wrasse that can potentially hit 4”