Adding a female Melanurus wrasse

[PiscesPower]

I have a male melanurus, still a juvenile, I've had him since November. I was considering adding a female melanurus, I really love the fish and thought it would be nice to have both for the coloring.

Just wondering what the chances of success with adding a second one. Tank is a Red Sea Reefer 250.

 

[eatbreakfast]

First, it is impossible to have a melanurus wrasse that is simultaneously a juvenile and a male. Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that they start off as juveniles, then are females, then transition into males.

Secondly, these roles are determined by social dynamics. So dominant fiah show their dominance through chasing and displays. A red sea reefer 250 just isn't enough space for 2 melanurus wrasses.

 

[evolved]

First, it is impossible to have a melanurus wrasse that is simultaneously a juvenile and a male. Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that they start off as juveniles, then are females, then transition into males.

Secondly, these roles are determined by social dynamics. So dominant fiah show their dominance through chasing and displays. A red sea reefer 250 just isn't enough space for 2 melanurus wrasses.

Agree.

Best to pick another species entirely, if you want another wrasse.

 

[PiscesPower]

First, it is impossible to have a melanurus wrasse that is simultaneously a juvenile and a male. Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that they start off as juveniles, then are females, then transition into males.

Secondly, these roles are determined by social dynamics. So dominant fiah show their dominance through chasing and displays. A red sea reefer 250 just isn't enough space for 2 melanurus wrasses.

Was a poor choice of words. I was using 'juvenile' to describe that I don't feel it has reached full adult size. Thank you for the quick response. I certainly don't want to create stress or competition in the tank, but couldn't find much written, rather than a few anecdotal posts, about adding a female to a tank with an existing male.

 

[Drao05]

I have a male and female melanurus wrasse together in a Red Sea 425XL. I added the female a few months after the male. They have been together in my tank for about a year now without any issues. I hear that you can have issues if the female is already in process of transitioning to male (but doesn't show the physical male characteristics).