Blue Star Leopard Wrasse - QT Treatment & Compatibility

[evolved]

They almost always figure it out... eventually.

 

[joro]

Quick Update - He has buried the past few nights and is coming out a few minutes after lights on in the morning. He's definitely less skittish, eating like a champ, and has a ton of personality. The goby has also found the sand and they seem to switch off - at night the wrasse gets the sandbed and during the day, the DWG gets it.

So I'm considering ordering two more of the Blue Star Females and perhaps 1 other wrasse (leaning towards the Exquisite Fairy Wrasse) but a few questions:

1. Any concerns with the Exquisite Fairy and the Blue Stars in terms of compatibility?
2. LA doesn't list any of the Exquisite Fairy as male, so I'm assuming they haven't transitioned. Is it normal for them to transition if there is another male in the tank even if it's a different variety?
   1. A sub-question of this, in general, can you keep more than one male wrasse in a tank or it should be 1 male to many females?
3. Assuming I purchased the Exquisite Fairy, would all of this be ok in a 20 QT? To recap, the stock list would be 3 Blue Stars - 1 male, 2 female - , 1 Exquisite Fairy, and 1 Diamond Watchman Goby. In case it matters, the filter is rated for 50 gallons, so I'm not overly concerned about the bio-load but don't want to spike ammonia (especially if I end up treating with Copper after everyone's doing well).

 

[evolved]

Quick Update - He has buried the past few nights and is coming out a few minutes after lights on in the morning. He's definitely less skittish, eating like a champ, and has a ton of personality. The goby has also found the sand and they seem to switch off - at night the wrasse gets the sandbed and during the day, the DWG gets it.

So I'm considering ordering two more of the Blue Star Females and perhaps 1 other wrasse (leaning towards the Exquisite Fairy Wrasse) but a few questions:

1. Any concerns with the Exquisite Fairy and the Blue Stars in terms of compatibility?
2. LA doesn't list any of the Exquisite Fairy as male, so I'm assuming they haven't transitioned. Is it normal for them to transition if there is another male in the tank even if it's a different variety?
   1. A sub-question of this, in general, can you keep more than one male wrasse in a tank or it should be 1 male to many females?
3. Assuming I purchased the Exquisite Fairy, would all of this be ok in a 20 QT? To recap, the stock list would be 3 Blue Stars - 1 male, 2 female - , 1 Exquisite Fairy, and 1 Diamond Watchman Goby. In case it matters, the filter is rated for 50 gallons, so I'm not overly concerned about the bio-load but don't want to spike ammonia (especially if I end up treating with Copper after everyone's doing well).

1. No concern
2. Female exquisites are a rarely collected commodity; pretty much all of them are males in the trade.

- stick with one specimen of any one species; multiple species can be mixed regardless of sex.​

3. Yes, provided you're keeping tabs on water quality and ammonia.

 

[joro]

1. No concern
2. Female exquisites are a rarely collected commodity; pretty much all of them are males in the trade.

- stick with one specimen of any one species; multiple species can be mixed regardless of sex.​

3. Yes, provided you're keeping tabs on water quality and ammonia.

In regards to the 2nd questions response, are you saying I should not do 3 of the Blue Stars? I was planning on adding 2 females to the 1 male I already have in QT

 

[4FordFamily]

1. No concern
2. Female exquisites are a rarely collected commodity; pretty much all of them are males in the trade.

- stick with one specimen of any one species; multiple species can be mixed regardless of sex.​

3. Yes, provided you're keeping tabs on water quality and ammonia.

Agree 100%.

 

[4FordFamily]

In regards to the 2nd questions response, are you saying I should not do 3 of the Blue Stars? I was planning on adding 2 females to the 1 male I already have in QT

No he means as far as adding additional fairy wrasse as you mentioned. Adding females of the same species ends poorly in time as they'll transition male and you'll have issues potentially. Save the bio load and add more male wrasse or any sex of wrasse of other species for color and a neat mix.

Adding more leopards is fine and in fact I find that they do best in groups.

 

[joro]

Thank you both @evolved and @4FordFamily for clarifying that! One more general question, is the sand burrowing behavior specific to the Blue Stars or is that something that all wrasses do?

 

[evolved]

One more general question, is the sand burrowing behavior specific to the Blue Stars or is that something that all wrasses do?

It's a matter of genus; those of the following genera do: Anampses, Halichoeres, Macropharyngodon, and Pseudojuloides.

 

[joro]

So 1 of the females made her first appearance today out of the sand and ate a little bit but not too much. I've noticed a small amount of aggressive behavior towards her from the male blue star (primarily "chasing her" whenever he swims by), I assume this is normal behavior but is there anything I should be on the look out for with aggressiveness? I've enclosed a video below which may help!

 

[evolved]

For the most part, that's just exhibiting dominance. Provided it doesn't escalate to the point he's forcing her into constant hiding or into the sand, all is good.

 

[Triggreef]

Pretty normal behavior not exactly aggression. You'll know it's aggression when it causes the less dominant to go back in the sand when it normally would be out.

I've not had great luck quarantining leopards in this manner. It's not impossible maybe lucky to get one out of 4 or 5. Treat prazi earlier than later as it takes care of flukes and internal parasites both common to leopards and any wrasse in general.

I would have done the leopards separate, however I know your trying to keep getting the free shipping.

The solarensis and exquisite will be fine but I'd highly suggest introducing them together at the same time.

The best way I've quarantined the leopards had been in an established 72g I set up for the purpose. Very little equipment heater and pumps only however normal sand bed and liverock with huge pod population. There's even some hardy corals in it. I only dose prazi pro for the wrasses. They immediately destroy pods while I get them on frozen and live black worms. For the smaller ones, use some scissors in a cup and cut up the black worms into small bits it really helps get them started.

Then I observe like a hawk for any other possible diseases. After a couple months, I wait at least 2 for leopards as I feel after 2 months they are used to tank life enough to handle ttm, so I do ttm if needed. But that's not often as I've never seen signs of anything on a leopard aside from flukes or internal parasites.

Hope that helps.

Also, I like to stick with different variations of leopards to eliminate future aggressions if those female turn male. Ime, potters, bipart, meleagris, all do well together. Ornate does fine with meleagris and bipart but not potters. Black is good with all those. Those are the only ones I have our have had in the past. Right now I have males of meleagris, potters, and bipart that just turned male, and female meleagris all in the same tank.

 

[evolved]

I've not had great luck quarantining leopards in this manner. It's not impossible maybe lucky to get one out of 4 or 5. Treat prazi earlier than later as it takes care of flukes and internal parasites both common to leopards and any wrasse in general.

FWIW, I've successfully QT'd 5 jeweleds together in a 10g tank in this manner, all at once. I don't advocate pushing the limits in this manner though unless you know what you're doing - I recognize I was being a bit brave in doing such.
But yes, prazi for sure. It's easy insurance and simple once you're going through the motion of QT.

 

[joro]

I haven't started the Prazi yet - I was going to make sure they were all out/eating and 1 female still hasn't come out of the sand - but should i start that immediately instead of waiting? Also, when I came back after lunch it looks like the 1 female that was out is back in the sand FWIW.

Thanks!

 

[Triggreef]

I would. I usually hit them on the 2nd or third day. Then a second dose a week after.

 

[joro]

I would. I usually hit them on the 2nd or third day. Then a second dose a week after.

Ok and it looks like dosing is 1 teaspoon per 20 gallons? The knuckleheads at Amazon decided the dosing instructions would be a great place to put a sticker

Also, I've heard wrasses are a little more sensitive to Prazi than others. Should I dose a little less to be sure no adverse reactions occur?

 

[Triggreef]

Full dose. If you notice adverse reaction such as laying in one spot breathing heavy, then you can always put on some carbon. It's easily removed.

And dosage is correct

 

[evolved]

Full dose. If you notice adverse reaction such as laying in one spot breathing heavy, then you can always put on some carbon. It's easily removed.

And dosage is correct

+2

 

[joro]

It just dawned on me that I think I left the carbon block in the HOB filter which I won't be able to remove until tomorrow AM when my little one wakes up. Should I re-dose the Prazi again tomorrow since the carbon was still running?

 

[4FordFamily]

For the most part, that's just exhibiting dominance. Provided it doesn't escalate to the point he's forcing her into constant hiding or into the sand, all is good.

X2 I wouldn't worry

 

[4FordFamily]

It just dawned on me that I think I left the carbon block in the HOB filter which I won't be able to remove until tomorrow AM when my little one wakes up. Should I re-dose the Prazi again tomorrow since the carbon was still running?

My understanding is that prazi works within 30 minutes of entering the water, and is gone entirely (at least what remains does nothing to kill the parasites) within 24-48 hours anyway.

@Humblefish can you confirm?