Wrasse questions

[bobby.w.hodges]

There is a plethora of info on this site on the subject, it's really too much for me to sort through. I have two questions, 1. Does the flame wrasse help with pest control? 2. Will a flame wrasse cohabitate with a yellow coris wrasse?

Any info would be helpful, thanks for looking.

 

[saltyhog]

No, yes. :D

Flame wrasse is a Cirrhilabrus (fairy wrasse) and they are not known for eating tank pests. However, the yellow coris (not a coris at all but a Halichoeres) is a well known consumer of some pests (like flat worms).

The yellow wrasse is one the most mild mannered of all the Halichoeres wrasses. You will enjoy him a lot. The flame is also one of my favorite fairies. When they display they are even more beautiful.

 

[saltyhog]

And a short video.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Thanks so much for the direct answers. I was hoping that the flame would eat nudis, I got a great deal on him, lfs will have the yellow wrasse in stock soon so I'll add him next.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Thanks for the video too, it's good to see him with a powder brown, hopefully mine is that passive towards his new tank mate.

 

[saltyhog]

Thanks for the video too, it's good to see him with a powder brown, hopefully mine is that passive towards his new tank mate.

That's a Gold Rim, a close cousin of the Powder Brown.

 

[mayday0237]

And a short video.

My yellow "coris" got so happy he changed color to orange
I have a pintail that looks exactly like that. Is it a pintail fairy?

 

[saltyhog]

My yellow "coris" got so happy he changed color to orange
I have a pintail that looks exactly like that. Is it a pintail fairy?

Yes sir, C. isoscoles.

That is the most unique H. chrysus ever! Do you have pictures of him before the color change? Never seen one that color!

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Well I thought I bought a flame wrasse, thank God I didn't pay flame wrasse price. Turns out I have a male whip fin wrasse. I see a lot of sites that say out of stock. This is an indo fish, I guess finding him a mate is not good.

 

[OrionN]

Whip Fin is a much more aggressive Fairy wrasse than almost all other fairy wrasse. He definitely will not be "..that passive towards his new tank mate" and this is the reason why you "..did not didn't pay flame wrasse price" for him. Sorry you got got a wrong wrasse that s extremely aggressive.

 

[Rybren]

Well I thought I bought a flame wrasse, thank God I didn't pay flame wrasse price. Turns out I have a male whip fin wrasse. I see a lot of sites that say out of stock. This is an indo fish, I guess finding him a mate is not good.

Wrasses don't have 'mates.' Two fairy wrasses of the same species will not fair well together and in all likelihood will eventually become one.

From one of Evolved's threads...

About “Pairing” Wrasses, or Harems

In the wild, most genera of wrasses live in harems, which consists of a group of females to one dominant male. Often, there are a few transitional males in this group as well, which are essentially males-in-waiting – waiting for their chance to overtake the current or become the new dominant male. Within this harem, there is an established hierarchy; there are no bonded or mated relationships – it is all about the dominance of the terminal male and submission of the females and transitional males. This behavior is similar to that of anthias; wrasses do not “pair” like clown fish do.

In aquaria, it is rather difficult to successfully duplicate nature, in that all females tend to eventually transition to male, regardless of the presence of a more dominant male. Often, when this occurs in the presence of a dominant male, the new male may end up with best coloration. However, the survival of the old male is always questionable, and sometimes removal of one male becomes necessary for obvious aggression. For these reasons, I no longer bother with more than one specimen of a single species except in certain (rare) circumstances. I have attempted to keep a male/female pair/trio from the Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres, and Paracheilinus genera, only to always result in all females turning to male with time.

Therefore, as an alternative to keeping pairs/trios/harems of wrasses in aquaria, an aquarist may wish to keep single specimens of each species mixed with others. So long as certain species are avoided, selections are made carefully, and in accords with the “About Mixing Species and Genera” section above, the results should be rewarding. Each specimen is highly likely to eventually transition to male, providing the best coloration. As an added bonus, the hierarchy of the group lends to displays of finnage and “flashing” of colors on frequent occasions for delightful viewing. However, the only catch with this approach is that some patience may be required. If specimens are purchased as juveniles or females, it may be a while before they transition into males. This time frame is widely variable, and depends not only on the fish’s age & maturity, but also the hierarchy established amongst the tank mates. In short, the timing is complicated, and may be as short as a few weeks to many, many months.

For more on “pairing”, see this article of mine (portions of the above are taken from here):
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pairing-wrasses-thats-not-how-any-of-this-works.3/

 

[nereefpat]

My yellow "coris" got so happy he changed color to orange
I have a pintail that looks exactly like that. Is it a pintail fairy?

You sure that's H. chrysus? You might have a hogfish there (Bodianus sp?) @evolved ?

 

[mayday0237]

Hmm do they normally have zero pink and orange to start? Our lfs has a guy we affectionately named fishthuzela because he knows so much and has been around the hobby so long. He buys the coris all the time and they all are solid yellow. This one was solid yellow for months. Then I started putting vitamins in my frozen food and he colored up. I wish he would stay in one place long enough to get a good shot he is stunning...so I guess if they are known to look completely yellow at juvenile stage it's possible.

 

[mayday0237]

Wrasses don't have 'mates.' Two fairy wrasses of the same species will not fair well together and in all likelihood will eventually become one.

From one of Evolved's threads...

About “Pairing” Wrasses, or Harems

In the wild, most genera of wrasses live in harems, which consists of a group of females to one dominant male. Often, there are a few transitional males in this group as well, which are essentially males-in-waiting – waiting for their chance to overtake the current or become the new dominant male. Within this harem, there is an established hierarchy; there are no bonded or mated relationships – it is all about the dominance of the terminal male and submission of the females and transitional males. This behavior is similar to that of anthias; wrasses do not “pair” like clown fish do.

In aquaria, it is rather difficult to successfully duplicate nature, in that all females tend to eventually transition to male, regardless of the presence of a more dominant male. Often, when this occurs in the presence of a dominant male, the new male may end up with best coloration. However, the survival of the old male is always questionable, and sometimes removal of one male becomes necessary for obvious aggression. For these reasons, I no longer bother with more than one specimen of a single species except in certain (rare) circumstances. I have attempted to keep a male/female pair/trio from the Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres, and Paracheilinus genera, only to always result in all females turning to male with time.

Therefore, as an alternative to keeping pairs/trios/harems of wrasses in aquaria, an aquarist may wish to keep single specimens of each species mixed with others. So long as certain species are avoided, selections are made carefully, and in accords with the “About Mixing Species and Genera” section above, the results should be rewarding. Each specimen is highly likely to eventually transition to male, providing the best coloration. As an added bonus, the hierarchy of the group lends to displays of finnage and “flashing” of colors on frequent occasions for delightful viewing. However, the only catch with this approach is that some patience may be required. If specimens are purchased as juveniles or females, it may be a while before they transition into males. This time frame is widely variable, and depends not only on the fish’s age & maturity, but also the hierarchy established amongst the tank mates. In short, the timing is complicated, and may be as short as a few weeks to many, many months.

For more on “pairing”, see this article of mine (portions of the above are taken from here):
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pairing-wrasses-thats-not-how-any-of-this-works.3/

Wow I really thought I could recreate the "harem" going forward I will only purchase singles. Thank you very much this is great information.

 

[nereefpat]

I could be wrong. Let's see what the wrasse ID guy says.

What's your Omaha fish store, by the way?

 

[mayday0237]

Yes sir, C. isoscoles.

That is the most unique H. chrysus ever! Do you have pictures of him before the color change? Never seen one that color!

Solid lemon yellow Nov 1st. I purchased him and three of the yellow /white belly ( he calls them lemon meringue wrasses )

 

[mayday0237]

I could be wrong. Let's see what the wrasse ID guy says.

What's your Omaha fish store, by the way?

Nebraska Aquatics...Scott and Shawn have been amazing. Scott is the 'thuze lol

 

[mayday0237]

Nebraska Aquatics...Scott and Shawn have been amazing. Scott is the 'thuze lol

Also yes my tank went thru the ugly phase in November lol..

 

[mayday0237]

Maybe if u zoom u can get a better look.

 

[mayday0237]

Nope still poop quality