Fairy wrasse for 40 breeder?

[SIJoe]

Hello all I have recently lost my Mccoskers flasher wrasse due to jumping out of my netted top. I have since switched to 1/4 inch netting to stop the jumping. I am in the market for a new wrasse. My stocking is currently a royal gramma, firefish, and one chromis. I have a couple options here now but am mainly asking if I could keep a smaller fairy wrasse species in a 40 breeder. I am mainly looking at the orange back fairy which is the front runner and the lubbock's fairy as my second on the list. I was also considering a flasher trio is I could find one. Could you please give me some feedback on my choices and if you had an opinion on a more colorful wrasse in the fairy species I should consider.

 

[evolved]

For Cirrhilabrus wrasses, I would only consider those of the lubbocki complex. The tank is not big enough for others.

Any Paracheilius is ultimately better suited.

 

[SIJoe]

So I guess orange back fairy is out of the question? If you had to recommend a flasher wrasse which would you choose? and should i get a trio or will the male maintain his color without females present?

 

[FaviaFreak]

love the Sri Lanka Social Fairy Wrasses Chirrhilabrus Rubiventralis[h=1][/h]

 

[FaviaFreak]

love the Sri Lanka Social Fairy Wrasses Chirrhilabrus Rubiventralis

 

[evolved]

So I guess orange back fairy is out of the question? If you had to recommend a flasher wrasse which would you choose? and should i get a trio or will the male maintain his color without females present?

Yes, unfortunately I wouldn't consider an orange back.
Any flasher is fine really; the choice is a matter of personal preference. A true trio is a bit hard to come by; you might be waiting a while. Another option is to pick 2-3 Paracheilinus males of different species and add them at the same time or soon thereafter. You'll get the same coloration and flashing behavior this way, while having fish which appear different too.

love the Sri Lanka Social Fairy Wrasses Chirrhilabrus Rubiventralis

The rubriventralis complex is on the borderline for a 40B; some would do it, but I would not.

 

[SIJoe]

I was under the impression that 3 males of different species would still fight in a 40b. I really loved my mccoskers but I am looking more at the blue flasher wrasse now

 

[Deinonych]

I loved my McCoskers - tons of personality, but I've become a big fan of P. filamentosus due to their long dorsal filaments. P. cyaneus is beautiful too.

 

[SIJoe]

Deinonych do you agree with evolved about fitting 3 flashers all male of different species in a 40breeder?

 

[Deinonych]

I would defer to his judgment as he is much more knowledgeable about labrids than I am.

 

[SIJoe]

3 male flasher wrasse in a 40b?

I have a 40b that has been established for close to a year now. I am in the market for a new fish now and recently was given advice that I should obtain 2-3 male flasher wrasse of different species in order to keep their color. My question is is this a plausable idea without having my flashers fight with each other. I am looking at a blue flasher, carpenter's flasher, and a royal flasher all male in a 40 breeder along with a royal gramma, 1 chromis, and a firefish.

Will the flashers fight with each other?
Is my tank large enough for this?
Should I shy away from this idea?

 

[Deinonych]

I don't think you'll find anyone with better experience with wrasses than Evolved. The recommendation he made should work fine for you.

 

[Rutrag]

FWIW, I have a blue flasher male, a small McCosker's male, and a male Lubbock's in my 75. I see some aggression from the blue towards the Lubbock's, but nothing constant, just a little nip every now and again. The Lubbock's was the first in. I was worried for the McCosker's when I added him last, mainly because of the size difference, but the other two pretty much ignore him.