Wrasse question

[frag!]

Can anyone with wrasse experience chime in? I have a 240 gallon tank with a melanarus. About a year ago I bought a pearl wrasse from the LFS. He told me that he should be fine with the melanarus. Well I noticed about 1 week later the pearl started swimming up and down in the corners of my tank. He would feed fine and didnt show any signs of disease. He disappeared about a week later. Recently I bought a solarensus wrasse. After acclimating and dripping I let him go. He immediately swam underneath a rock and stayed in one spot. This was with the lights still off. When I came back he disappeared and havent seen him for a week now assuming he is dead. A few times I noticed my melanarus coming out of the rocks with his fins perked up, wondering if he was harrassing the guy. I paid 50.00 for a fish that didnt even make it a week. I have 6 bangai cardinals and a royal gramma that he doesnt bother. Has he claimed the whole tank as his? Not going to happen.

I would like some input on what kind of wrasses you can mix. I heard similar shaped body of wrasses are trouble. Thanks for any advice.

 

[tigerdragon]

Wrasses will bury and hide till they get used to everything heck my orange spotted goby disappeared for over a week now he is all up front

 

[eatbreakfast]

Adding new wrasses to an established melanurus can be hit and miss, but can be successful. Using a social acclimation box helps greatly to reduce aggression toward newcomers, as the first few days are usually the worst.

While some wrasses can bury for extended period of times a C. solorensis is not one that buries. He could still be hiding but you should be able to see him.

Do you have a top for your tank? Wrasses are notorious jumpers especially when being chased or harassed.

 

[Marshall O]

Adding new wrasses to an established melanurus can be hit and miss, but can be successful. Using a social acclimation box helps greatly to reduce aggression toward newcomers, as the first few days are usually the worst.

While some wrasses can bury for extended period of times a C. solorensis is not one that buries. He could still be hiding but you should be able to see him.

Do you have a top for your tank? Wrasses are notorious jumpers especially when being chased or harassed.

+1 to all of this. My tips are that first you should quarantine all new fish. Get them eating well before releasing them into the DT. During QT, I treat prophylactically for worms using Prazi-pro. Avoid Wrasses known to be aggressive (i.e. any from the Pseudocheilinus genus). And finally, acclimation box is a MUST. Keep the new fish in until the established no longer show any aggression. For me, this has taken between 1-3 days. I release at night, just before the lights go off.

 

[frag!]

No I do not have a top for my tank. I wasnt aware that they were jumpers. I looked around my tank and top and didnt find a carcass. I guess I will be looking for some mesh for the tank. Hopefully he is still in there hiding but no signs yet. Thanks for the replies.

 

[3dees]

my Melanurus was one of the first fish added to my tank. he never bothered any new additions. bought as a female and changed into a male. gets along fine with my Sixline.