Acclimation box and wrasse question

[spiraling]

Hi all,
I have a linespot flasher wrasse in the acclimation box, and I'm wondering how you know when to release him.

Tank:
Reefer 525xl
Current inhabitants:
2 percula
1 tail spot blenny
1 mccloskers flasher wrasse

The two wrasses flared once at each other and have been watching each other, but it looks more like curiosity. They occasionally flare but don't charge at each other, it seems more of a display. I haven't seen anything I would consider aggression. The mccloskers and the blenny are buddies. The linespot was in QT with another wrasse and a goby and was super mellow and friendly to them. He likes to snuggle when scared.

The blenny checked the new addition out. She might nip some tail fins if the new addition gets too close to her condo, but otherwise gets along well with the current wrasse and clowns. I'm not sure the clowns have noticed the acclimation box 3" from their anemone. But I have had them for years and they are always friendly to new additions.

With no signs of aggression after several hours how long should I leave him in the box? The only things I have read about timing is a few days to disperse aggression, but they seem OK.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[solitude127]

I would leave him in there for at least 3 days. Nothing worse if you were to let go now and then the aggression starts. I've left a wrasse in an acclimation box for a week so I wouldn't worry about 3 days.

 

[cancun]

Hi all,
I have a linespot flasher wrasse in the acclimation box, and I'm wondering how you know when to release him.

Tank:
Reefer 525xl
Current inhabitants:
2 percula
1 tail spot blenny
1 mccloskers flasher wrasse

The two wrasses flared once at each other and have been watching each other, but it looks more like curiosity. They occasionally flare but don't charge at each other, it seems more of a display. I haven't seen anything I would consider aggression. The mccloskers and the blenny are buddies. The linespot was in QT with another wrasse and a goby and was super mellow and friendly to them. He likes to snuggle when scared.

The blenny checked the new addition out. She might nip some tail fins if the new addition gets too close to her condo, but otherwise gets along well with the current wrasse and clowns. I'm not sure the clowns have noticed the acclimation box 3" from their anemone. But I have had them for years and they are always friendly to new additions.

With no signs of aggression after several hours how long should I leave him in the box? The only things I have read about timing is a few days to disperse aggression, but they seem OK.

Thanks for your advice!

I agree.....from my own experience there is nothing worse then releasing the new guy and for him to go into hiding because he is getting bullied. Do you have pics of your new addition?

 

[mahindra.dev]

I’d wait for 2-3 days. Check out article by @evolved

 

[spiraling]

I’d wait for 2-3 days. Check out article by @evolved

I think it was his article I read about using the box

not a great pic....

 

[evolved]

Yeah, give it a few days - nothing bad will come of waiting.
But if you've misread the ques you've seen so far, you'll regret release it early.

 

[saltyhog]

Agree. It's easy to misread aggression with wrasses some times. I've had them ignore the fish in the acclimation box for a while but then turn aggressive once it's released. Watching for a little longer won't hurt anything and it could save you a lot of grief.

 

[spiraling]

Thanks all!
I'll leave him in the box until Sunday and keep monitoring.
My understanding is that I should release him shortly before lights out - is that correct?

 

[mahindra.dev]

That’s what I did. After 3 days I let it go an hr before lights out.

 

[evolved]

Thanks all!
I'll leave him in the box until Sunday and keep monitoring.
My understanding is that I should release him shortly before lights out - is that correct?

Usually safest, yes.

 

[jake_francis]

Hi all,
I have a linespot flasher wrasse in the acclimation box, and I'm wondering how you know when to release him.

Tank:
Reefer 525xl
Current inhabitants:
2 percula
1 tail spot blenny
1 mccloskers flasher wrasse

The two wrasses flared once at each other and have been watching each other, but it looks more like curiosity. They occasionally flare but don't charge at each other, it seems more of a display. I haven't seen anything I would consider aggression. The mccloskers and the blenny are buddies. The linespot was in QT with another wrasse and a goby and was super mellow and friendly to them. He likes to snuggle when scared.

The blenny checked the new addition out. She might nip some tail fins if the new addition gets too close to her condo, but otherwise gets along well with the current wrasse and clowns. I'm not sure the clowns have noticed the acclimation box 3" from their anemone. But I have had them for years and they are always friendly to new additions.

With no signs of aggression after several hours how long should I leave him in the box? The only things I have read about timing is a few days to disperse aggression, but they seem OK.

Thanks for your advice!

I never had luck with QT or using acclimation box for my wrasses. They all seem to die during QT or acclamation box. Since then I have done the following. Make sure the fish is eating at LFS. temp acclimate in the sump (lights out) for 3 hrs. Water acclimate when lights are out. I release in the thank when all the fish are hiding. So far, I haven’t lost any fish so far, no aggression.

 

[spiraling]

I never had luck with QT or using acclimation box for my wrasses. They all seem to die during QT or acclamation box. Since then I have done the following. Make sure the fish is eating at LFS. temp acclimate in the sump (lights out) for 3 hrs. Water acclimate when lights are out. I release in the thank when all the fish are hiding. So far, I haven’t lost any fish so far, no aggression.

I've had 2 die in QT and one in the acclimation box. He freaked out, hid, and died in a few hours.
Aren't you worried about ich?

 

[jake_francis]

I've had 2 die in QT and one in the acclimation box. He freaked out, hid, and died in a few hours.
Aren't you worried about ich?

I think wrasses are less prone to ick. I feed multiple times a day to build their immune system up. From my experience, QT and acclimation stresses the fish and in turn stress everyone in the tank which can lead to ick. My goal is to have everyone eat and less aggression. Also, I only buy fishes from
2 LFS. I don’t buy from online stores.

 

[ReefBeta]

The tankmates sound pretty aggressive towards to new guy. The aggression died down after several hours probably they realized they can't get through the box to actually reach him. I would probably wait longer rather than shorter. Last time when added a yellow tang to my tank with 2 dwarf angels, they didn't even seem to bother when the yellow tang was added to the acclimation box. It stayed there for 3 days, no aggression whatsoever. Then I after realized it, the 2 dwarf angels chased the yellow tang for a good full day before calming down. So what I mean is, they can't beat the **** out of it yet doesn't necessarily mean they're OK with it already. Be patient.

 

[evolved]

I've had 2 die in QT and one in the acclimation box. He freaked out, hid, and died in a few hours.
Aren't you worried about ich?

Ich is one thing, but velvet is what you should be really worried about.

 

[4FordFamily]

Ich is one thing, but velvet is what you should be really worried about.

Agree. Wrasse are effective “Typhoid Mary’s” for parasites. Thick slime coats, mucous cocoon sleeping quarters, and/or sleeping under the sand keep them safer and not as frequently symptomatic as most other tankmates. This is why observational quarantine of wrasses is often so ineffective and leads to disease in your tank. They can go months not showing symptoms, even with velvet.

 

[ca1ore]

I put all but the largest fish into my socialization box for 3 days minimum (even if the mob ignore it); release at night; then tape a 12x12 mirror to the end of the tank. Most new fish settle in.

 

[cancun]

I think it was his article I read about using the box

not a great pic....

Beautiful fish! Looks really good!

 

[ReefBeta]

I put all but the largest fish into my socialization box for 3 days minimum (even if the mob ignore it); release at night; then tape a 12x12 mirror to the end of the tank. Most new fish settle in.

Is the 12x12 mirror there to distract the dominate fish? I never hear about this, but it sounds like a genius idea.

 

[ca1ore]

Is the 12x12 mirror there to distract the dominate fish? I never hear about this, but it sounds like a genius idea.

Oh, it's an old trick. Keeps the aggressive fish busy with their reflections. I variously refer to it as the moron or idiot mirror. It's actually quite funny to watch.