Flasher Wrasse ‘flashing’ or aggression?

[Dan Kyle]

Alright so two days ago I introduced a flasher wrasse into my reef tank. He is a male and his tank mates are a coral beauty angel fish, diamond goby, 2 clownfish and a yellow wrasse.

Initially when I acclimatised the fish he was hiding in the rock work for the first day but the day after he was out, alert and exploring. He seems to be paying a lot of attention to my yellow wrasse though. He will flash but then goes on to chase my yellow wrasse for a short while. My yellow wrasse isn’t interested but I’m not convinced the flasher wrasse is ‘flashing’ to attract the yellow but more flashing as sign of aggression?

I’d like to hear your opinion on this. I’m just hoping I haven’t upset the community by adding the flasher.

 

[xnguven]

Hey Dan,

It sounds like it could it be a bunch of possible things.
1) flashing to attract the yellow wrasse if it’s a female
2) flashing to show dominance
3) flashing because of ich, Gill flukes, etc
4)saw his reflection and think it could be a potential male rival
5) has an itch

I would recommend keeping an eye out for him as he is still new to the tank and may just need some time to settle down. If you can, you can always quarantine him to prevent any further spreading of ich and gill flukes and other parasites.

 

[Dan Kyle]

Hey Dan,

It sounds like it could it be a bunch of possible things.
1) flashing to attract the yellow wrasse if it’s a female
2) flashing to show dominance
3) flashing because of ich, Gill flukes, etc
4)saw his reflection and think it could be a potential male rival
5) has an itch

I would recommend keeping an eye out for him as he is still new to the tank and may just need some time to settle down. If you can, you can always quarantine him to prevent any further spreading of ich and gill flukes and other parasites.

Thanks Xnguven,

I definitely don’t see it being parasite related. I have inspected all my fish up close and they all look healthy. I think it’s most likely to be one of the first two points you made. The flasher doesn’t always flash at the yellow then proceeds to chase. They can swim past each other gracefully but it’s now and again my flasher will flash then chase. Do we know how to sex the yellow wrasses? If it’s a girl it would make much more sense to me.

 

[Mjrenz]

That kind of sounds like aggression to me, @ngoodermuth has a lot of knowledge on wrasses

 

[Dan Kyle]

That kind of sounds like aggression to me, @ngoodermuth has a lot of knowledge on wrasses

That’s my concern. Looking right now they are getting on fine. The flasher follows the yellow quite a lot without bothering him/her. He will just have these ‘mad moments’ of flashing which will lead to the yellow wrasse being chased. The yellow wrasse is bigger than the flasher to so it’s quite an attitude he has.

 

[ngoodermuth]

What kind of flasher wrasse is it? They are usually pretty timid... it sounds like you got one with small dog complex lol

How big is the yellow (I’m assuming it’s a h. Chrysus) in relation to the flasher?

The flashing is more that likely just a display of dominance. Mine swim together all day, but around sundown every day the “top fish” will swim around with fins flared and make sure everyone knows they are still tank boss(es).

 

[Dan Kyle]

What kind of flasher wrasse is it? They are usually pretty timid... it sounds like you got one with small dog complex lol

How big is the yellow (I’m assuming it’s a h. Chrysus) in relation to the flasher?

The flashing is more that likely just a display of dominance. Mine swim together all day, but around sundown every day the “top fish” will swim around with fins flared and make sure everyone knows they are still tank boss(es).

Thanks for the reply, ngoodermuth.

It’s a carpenters wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri).

He doesn’t seem to be flashing so much with the yellow. It’s amazing how quick this has turned around actually because my diamond goby is being more trouble now. Every time my goby sees the flasher he will get chased around the tank. I hope that calms down soon. The yellow wrasse I have is a good 2.5” in size.

 

[saltyhog]

Sometimes I think flasher wrasse display for the water is wet, sky is blue reasons. They can and will display at any fish that gets close to them. Flashing itself is to be desired and never a problem. Flashing and chasing can be. I bet it will not be a problem, especially as the yellow wrasse grows.

It should be noted there are two things we use the term "flashing" for. One is the display that wrasses do to show dominance and attract mates. The other is completely different and unrelated and is related to disease (the quick rubbing on substrate/rock).

 

[Jesterrace]

It could be just that initial "re-establishment of pecking order" you often get when adding a new fish. The only fish I ever added to either of my saltwater tanks where this wasn't an issue was my saltwater mollies. You could try the mirror trick to get your fish focused on something else other than the new addition.

 

[Dan Kyle]

Sometimes I think flasher wrasse display for the water is wet, sky is blue reasons. They can and will display at any fish that gets close to them. Flashing itself is to be desired and never a problem. Flashing and chasing can be. I bet it will not be a problem, especially as the yellow wrasse grows.

It should be noted there are two things we use the term "flashing" for. One is the display that wrasses do to show dominance and attract mates. The other is completely different and unrelated and is related to disease (the quick rubbing on substrate/rock).

Great read! Thank you for your input. My flasher isn’t rubbing on substrate or rock. For the most part he is swimming gracefully around the yellow wrasse now. He will do the occasional flash and chase but my yellow wrasse doesn’t seem phased by it.

 

[Dan Kyle]

It could be just that initial "re-establishment of pecking order" you often get when adding a new fish. The only fish I ever added to either of my saltwater tanks where this wasn't an issue was my saltwater mollies. You could try the mirror trick to get your fish focused on something else other than the new addition.

Also true and I did consider this. I don’t think I’m overly concerned about it. I’m more concerned about the hate my goby has for the flasher wrasse. He is being evil.

 

[evolved]

You're simply observing the hierarchy being established. So long as the yellow wrasse isn't being forced into hiding, then there's no need to fret.

Also, I'm seeing a confusion of terms being thrown around here. There's two different types of "flashing" being discussed. Flashing, like flashers do, where the fins are erected and the colors of the scales shift is one type of flashing. The other way the term is used is when a fish rubs or "bounces" off of a substrate - that's a "scratching" behavior typically pertaining to diseases. Not the same thing.

 

[stefanm]

You're simply observing the hierarchy being established. So long as the yellow wrasse isn't being forced into hiding, then there's no need to fret.

Also, I'm seeing a confusion of terms being thrown around here. There's two different types of "flashing" being discussed. Flashing, like flashers do, where the fins are erected and the colors of the scales shift is one type of flashing. The other way the term is used is when a fish rubs or "bounces" off of a substrate - that's a "scratching" behavior typically pertaining to diseases. Not the same thing.

As this post, if he's displaying it can be aggression and/or a show of dominance, mine does it a lot at feeding time, they can be a little aggressive also, mostly at feeding time in my limited experience only 2 1/2 months with a yellow flasher wrasse, probably my favourite.

Funnily enough I wouldn't mind moving on my clowns and tang for some more wrasses.