Wrasse peeps please help with compatibility.

[dkelley]

I’m at the stage I want to throw a few wrasses in the tank and would like to do them together. Looking at saltwater fish.coms sale at the moment I have a list here and would like to add three or four.

A cleaner wrasse is a definite one but how about two or three more from the list below. And if it’s an either/or the maybe give me groups and choose one from each group? I’m just not as versed as so many amazing minds on here so I appreciate it.


Carpenters flasher wrasse
Exquisite wrasse
Lunare wrasse
Red Coris wrasse
Rainbow wrasse
Paddlefin wrasse
Leopard

Free to mention anything else from another group or something.

You all are awesome! Thanks in advance.

 

[JoJosReef]

Tank dimensions are an important factor. Can you tell us length, width and height? Sand bed, of course?

 

[dkelley]

Sorry, I should have included them.

56x24x23 tall deep sand bed 3”+ in anticipation of a wrasse crew. I had a zero edge tank that I moved over to this tank. Not a lot of fish on that one so this tank only has a couple clowns and a fox face at the moment. Will add a copper and and flame angel as well but mostly wrasse centric.

 

[dkelley]

I will add the tank is mature. I moved over 150lbs of rock over. Loads of bio life, bristle worms, pods, etc. I’ve been in the hobby a little while now so definitely not a rookie.

 

[JoJosReef]

For the bigger wrasses @Slocke @i cant think . Theeopard, exquisite amd carpenters go fine together.

 

[i cant think]

I’m at the stage I want to throw a few wrasses in the tank and would like to do them together. Looking at saltwater fish.coms sale at the moment I have a list here and would like to add three or four.

A cleaner wrasse is a definite one but how about two or three more from the list below. And if it’s an either/or the maybe give me groups and choose one from each group? I’m just not as versed as so many amazing minds on here so I appreciate it.


Carpenters flasher wrasse
Exquisite wrasse
Lunare wrasse
Red Coris wrasse
Rainbow wrasse
Paddlefin wrasse
Leopard

Free to mention anything else from another group or something.

You all are awesome! Thanks in advance.

Only do a Cleaner Wrasse if you have plenty of other large bodied fish - a tang tank is perfect for them.
This isn’t to do with starvation but instead they can become violent and I mean ruthless. I had one kill 2 wrasses, a Pencil and a Leopard, after losing a few of the large bodied fish I had.

The only three on that list that will mix well are;
Leopards, Flashers, Fairies.
The Thalassoma and Coris species can be quite 75/25 on if they will mix with peaceful wrasses or not - most of the time landing in the aggressive half.

 

[Slocke]

The coris is too big. The paddlefin (T lucasanum?) is probably too aggressive. The lunare is definitely too aggressive and too big. Also agree that the cleaner is a bad idea. They get aggressive

 

[dkelley]

Perfect! Thank you all. That is exactly what I needed.

 

[Cael Gallery]

Only do a Cleaner Wrasse if you have plenty of other large bodied fish - a tang tank is perfect for them.
This isn’t to do with starvation but instead they can become violent and I mean ruthless. I had one kill 2 wrasses, a Pencil and a Leopard, after losing a few of the large bodied fish I had.

The only three on that list that will mix well are;
Leopards, Flashers, Fairies.
The Thalassoma and Coris species can be quite 75/25 on if they will mix with peaceful wrasses or not - most of the time landing in the aggressive half.

I'm sceptical of everyone saying that coris are aggressive, especially C.gaimard. I've had mine for like 2 months now, when i got it was still in bright orange and white juvenile colours, even though it's like 5 inches. After a week it started transitioning and is now almost full adult female colours. As you can see on the wrasse thread i've got tons of wrasses in with him and he has never bothered other fish ever. He's at the top of the wrasse pecking order, even above multiple Thalassoma, Halichoeres etc but never aggressive. Only time i've seen him do anything was in the video i posted over there, he nipped my newly introduced T.lutescens as it swam past. My C.pictoides is about an inch smaller and very chill for the most part, he occasionally chases my H.richmondi but i added that 2 days ago and otherwise doesn't bother other fish including my Anampses.
People also say hogfish are aggressive or semi-aggressive, my previous spanish hogfish never bothered other fish, even when it was housed with a juvenile lennardi and my current B.paraleucosticticus is very shy and timid.
I think given a large tank Coris are absolutely fine with small peaceful wrasses, Thalassoma probably will harass them.

 

[i cant think]

I'm sceptical of everyone saying that coris are aggressive, especially C.gaimard. I've had mine for like 2 months now, when i got it was still in bright orange and white juvenile colours, even though it's like 5 inches. After a week it started transitioning and is now almost full adult female colours. As you can see on the wrasse thread i've got tons of wrasses in with him and he has never bothered other fish ever. He's at the top of the wrasse pecking order, even above multiple Thalassoma, Halichoeres etc but never aggressive. Only time i've seen him do anything was in the video i posted over there, he nipped my newly introduced T.lutescens as it swam past. My C.pictoides is about an inch smaller and very chill for the most part, he occasionally chases my H.richmondi but i added that 2 days ago and otherwise doesn't bother other fish including my Anampses.
People also say hogfish are aggressive or semi-aggressive, my previous spanish hogfish never bothered other fish, even when it was housed with a juvenile lennardi and my current B.paraleucosticticus is very shy and timid.
I think given a large tank Coris are absolutely fine with small peaceful wrasses, Thalassoma probably will harass them.

So, this is where it gets interesting.
Coris species (more so the larger species like C. gaimard or C. formosa) tend to remain peaceful until they hit maturity. Generally a 5 inch coris is going to be peaceful, especially with Thalassoma species.
However, once they start to get to 7-10 inch they often “snap” and that’s when I’ve discovered coris species becoming nasty. Another thing to realise is Anampses themselves can become rather boisterous as they mature so if they’re large enough then they can withstand a young Coris’ aggression.
I wouldn’t mix the larger Coris with Pseudojuloides or Macropharyngodon species simply due to these genera being the most peaceful. Yes we class all the Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus, Pseudojuloides, Halichoeres, Anampses etc. as being peaceful but two genera just don’t always get the same boisterous behaviour (Pseudojuloides and Macropharyngodon). Those two genera will often be easily bullied and outcompeted by Coris species.

However, the smaller Coris species (Picta, Caudimacula, Dorsomacula) tend to remain less aggressive and stay with their ‘peaceful’ demeanour. Pretty much, these guys are able to mix with most of the peaceful wrasses as they will most of the time become more nudging but not have the outward aggression that larger species get.


I had a Jade, seen as highly aggressive. She was so peaceful in my system (5x2 foot), but I moved her into an 8x3 foot coral tray and she snapped. She had grown from 5 inch to now 6/7 inches and has begun the transition period into male. Wrasses can mix with her but she will nail Macropharyngodon, small Anampses etc. So I have to stick with Coris species when it comes to mixing with her.

 

[Cael Gallery]

So, this is where it gets interesting.
Coris species (more so the larger species like C. gaimard or C. formosa) tend to remain peaceful until they hit maturity. Generally a 5 inch coris is going to be peaceful, especially with Thalassoma species.
However, once they start to get to 7-10 inch they often “snap” and that’s when I’ve discovered coris species becoming nasty. Another thing to realise is Anampses themselves can become rather boisterous as they mature so if they’re large enough then they can withstand a young Coris’ aggression.
I wouldn’t mix the larger Coris with Pseudojuloides or Macropharyngodon species simply due to these genera being the most peaceful. Yes we class all the Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus, Pseudojuloides, Halichoeres, Anampses etc. as being peaceful but two genera just don’t always get the same boisterous behaviour (Pseudojuloides and Macropharyngodon). Those two genera will often be easily bullied and outcompeted by Coris species.

However, the smaller Coris species (Picta, Caudimacula, Dorsomacula) tend to remain less aggressive and stay with their ‘peaceful’ demeanour. Pretty much, these guys are able to mix with most of the peaceful wrasses as they will most of the time become more nudging but not have the outward aggression that larger species get.


I had a Jade, seen as highly aggressive. She was so peaceful in my system (5x2 foot), but I moved her into an 8x3 foot coral tray and she snapped. She had grown from 5 inch to now 6/7 inches and has begun the transition period into male. Wrasses can mix with her but she will nail Macropharyngodon, small Anampses etc. So I have to stick with Coris species when it comes to mixing with her.

How many people even have a 10inch coris though? I very rarely see any larger than like 6" in captivity, and one at 10 inches would be a terminal phase.

 

[i cant think]

How many people even have a 10inch coris though? I very rarely see any larger than like 6" in captivity, and one at 10 inches would be a terminal phase.

Most people don’t have them for long enough but I’ve definitely had to rehome a couple of them for other people.

 

[Singspot]

I’m at the stage I want to throw a few wrasses in the tank and would like to do them together. Looking at saltwater fish.coms sale at the moment I have a list here and would like to add three or four.

A cleaner wrasse is a definite one but how about two or three more from the list below. And if it’s an either/or the maybe give me groups and choose one from each group? I’m just not as versed as so many amazing minds on here so I appreciate it.


Carpenters flasher wrasse
Exquisite wrasse
Lunare wrasse
Red Coris wrasse
Rainbow wrasse
Paddlefin wrasse
Leopard

Free to mention anything else from another group or something.

You all are awesome! Thanks in advance.

I would not add these - too aggressive and will kill all other inverts. You other choices are peacfull ..
Lunare wrasse
Red Coris wrasse
Rainbow wrasse
Paddlefin wrasse

I would instead get
Radiant Wrasse
Yellow corris wrasse
Ear muff Wrasse
Yellow banded Possum Wrasse

 

[Cael Gallery]

I would not add these - too aggressive and will kill all other inverts. You other choices are peacfull ..
Lunare wrasse
Red Coris wrasse
Rainbow wrasse
Paddlefin wrasse

I would instead get
Radiant Wrasse
Yellow corris wrasse
Ear muff Wrasse
Yellow banded Possum Wrasse

Agree definitely do not add a T.lunare. a female paddlefin could work, males can be iffy. Thalassoma ideally need a 6 foot tank to cohabit with peaceful wrasse in my experience though. Completely disagree on red coris. Mine is the boss of my wrasses, even above 2 Thalassoma which are slightly larger but has never bothered another wrasse. Don't know what a 'rainbow wrasse' is since that can refer to like 5 different species