help with stocking 110 gallon - wrasses? anthias?

[spiraling]

I would like some advice on my stocking list. 110 gallon mixed reef. Set up for a few months.
I've had saltwater tanks for several years.

I like my fish to be non-aggressive, easy to keep, and have more small ones vs a few large ones

list so far:
2 percula clowns (already have them)
watchman / pistol. (had them, then the goby disappeared shortly after the move to the new tank and I would like another)
mandarin - (must have, but I need to wait several more months until I have a thriving pod population, so whatever I get must be compatible enough that I can add this guy later)
tail spot blenny (just a maybe on this one. I don't have an algae problem, but an algae eater would be a nice addition)

choice 1 - wrasses
maybe 2 or 3 flashers with a fairy?
McCoskers
Carpenters
Filamented
Lubbocks

choice 2 - anthias
group of 3 or 4? I would get all the same species for a harem
Randalls or Carberri?


For those of you who have had both wrasses and anthias - which would you choose and why? Which species are best suited for my setup? Which are easier to keep?

Thanks in advanced for your advice!

 

[Labridaedicted]

It's kind of a dice roll on the flasher and fairy mixing. I have found flashers to be the more aggressive of the two and both to be sometimes aggressive to anthias.

I would do this order:

Anthias (squammipinnis is a hardy and robust variety)

Cirrhilabris (pink margin is robust, hardy and usually docile)

Paracheilinus (despite their size, can be feisty. Especially towards fish that look similar. I've found labouts to be exceptionally docile, although, the colors are highly variable and health can be hit or miss)

If you have a few species of any of these in mind, I can try to give you experience and insight I have of them.

 

[spiraling]

It's kind of a dice roll on the flasher and fairy mixing. I have found flashers to be the more aggressive of the two and both to be sometimes aggressive to anthias.

I am thinking either wrasses or anthias, not both. I want room for more corals

I considered the lyretails. on LA they say a minimum tank size of 125, so I thought 3 might be crowded in a 5' 110 gallon.

Would it be better to stick to either flashers or fairies and not mix them then?
The pink margin looks pretty nice .

 

[ksfulk]

Ive got about the same sized tank as you, and I have both wrasses and anthias in my tank. Wrasses are generally pretty easy to come by and hardy once you get them through QT, though buying them online can be hit or miss based on the shipping. Ive had better success with locally sourced wrasses, but it seems like its different for everybody. For the most part, you can mix and match flashers and fairies, but some are more aggressive towards conspecifics than others. @evolved has a great article about the compatibility of fairy wrasses that Ive found invaluable when deciding which specimen I wanted in my tank. The article is found here.

As for anthias, lyretails and bartletts are hardy anthias that can generally adapt to once a day feedings, but they can be very aggressive to all tankmates once they begin to show others that they are the boss. I have a pair of Carberryi, and they are very mellow, Ive never had a problem with them picking on one another or harassing other fish and I highly recommend them. With most anthias, at least a trio is recommended, but five is better if you can swing it. If you choose less agressive species, they can generally be mixed together. I kept 5 lyretails, 3 bartletts, 3 carberryi, 2 resplendants and 2 purple queens together for over a year without any issue. Once I downsized, I sold most of the anthias, and lost the bartletts to a nasty bacterial infection - but I have one of the original lyretails (and 2 new girlfriends) and my 2 carberryi right now

In my reefer 525, I currently have the following wrasses:

Cirrhilabrus Exquisitius (Exquisite Fairy Wrasse)
Cirrhilabrus cf. Cyanopleura (Ruby Head Fairy Wrasse)
Cirrhilabrus rubreus (Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse)
Paracheilinus McCoskeri (McCosker's Flasher Wrasse)
Macropharyngodon meleagris (Leopard Wrasse)
Macropharyngodon orantus (Ornate Leopard Wrasse)

The following anthias:

Pseudanthias squamipinnis (x3)
Nemanthias carberryi (x2)

And the rest of these guys are in there too:

Ctenochaetus strigosus (Yellow Eyed Kole Tang)
Zebrasoma desjardini (Desjardini Sailfin Tang)
Ecsenius stigmatura (Twinspot Blenny)
Amphiprion ocellaris (Snowflake Clown)

 

[spiraling]

Ive got about the same sized tank as you, and I have both wrasses and anthias in my tank. Wrasses are generally pretty easy to come by and hardy once you get them through QT, though buying them online can be hit or miss based on the shipping. Ive had better success with locally sourced wrasses, but it seems like its different for everybody. For the most part, you can mix and match flashers and fairies, but some are more aggressive towards conspecifics than others. @evolved has a great article about the compatibility of fairy wrasses that Ive found invaluable when deciding which specimen I wanted in my tank. The article is found here.

Hey ksfulk, we have the same tank - I had been watching your build thread. That seems like a lot of fish! I'm sure your tank is quite active.

Last night I was going through that exact post. Great detailed information. I am now thinking I would start with three more mellow fairy wrasses, and perhaps add something later.

I don't have a local source for livestock, so i will be ordering from live aquaria or bluezoo. Based on availability, temperament to be more mellow according to the article, and price, I am thinking about these three. Does it seem like a good group? I'm not against buying a more expensive fish, like the linaeus or rhomboid, but in my experince the less expensive ones tend to be hardier and can be just as beautiful. But if there is a 'must have' fairy wrasse let me know.

Lubbocks c lubbocki
Bluehead c cyanopleura
Pink Margin c rubrimarginatus

Would I eventually need females of one or more species so the males keep their color?

 

[Labridaedicted]

I like the selections! You may want to try to find a Lubbocks at a store. Their color can be HIGHLY variable. I've seen some drab ones and some that are absolutely exquisite.

While they will keep their color better with females, it has been my experience that the introduction of females will illicit more aggression amongst the males. Plus you would want a few of the females or the constant pestering of the males can stress a solo female.

This is just from my experience, though, ymmv

 

[spiraling]

I like the selections! You may want to try to find a Lubbocks at a store. Their color can be HIGHLY variable. I've seen some drab ones and some that are absolutely exquisite.

While they will keep their color better with females, it has been my experience that the introduction of females will illicit more aggression amongst the males. Plus you would want a few of the females or the constant pestering of the males can stress a solo female.

This is just from my experience, though, ymmv

Would I want several females of each species, or would 2 or 3 females of one species work? Or one of each species?

I guess my current plan would be to get the three as juveniles, then in another year, assuming they all turn to males, add more. Is that OK to do?

 

[ksfulk]

Hey ksfulk, we have the same tank - I had been watching your build thread. That seems like a lot of fish! I'm sure your tank is quite active.

Last night I was going through that exact post. Great detailed information. I am now thinking I would start with three more mellow fairy wrasses, and perhaps add something later.

I don't have a local source for livestock, so i will be ordering from live aquaria or bluezoo. Based on availability, temperament to be more mellow according to the article, and price, I am thinking about these three. Does it seem like a good group? I'm not against buying a more expensive fish, like the linaeus or rhomboid, but in my experince the less expensive ones tend to be hardier and can be just as beautiful. But if there is a 'must have' fairy wrasse let me know.

Lubbocks c lubbocki
Bluehead c cyanopleura
Pink Margin c rubrimarginatus

Would I eventually need females of one or more species so the males keep their color?

Im partial to the cf. cyanopleura myself I've only had one rubrimarginatus and it didnt make it through quarantine - other wrasses in the pylei complex have been model citizens when they were small, but increasing aggressive - small sample set though. The lubbocki - Ive only had "jerks" - Id prefer a bathyphilus (hooded) or a jordani (flame) over the lubbocki. Then again, if you like the purple coloration, they are definately pretty. I picked my wrasses based on the coloration that I wanted in the tank - pick the fish you have to have and then plan the rest accordingly.

I wouldnt get pairs of wrasses at all for tanks our size. Fairy and flasher wrasses dont pair up, and attempting a harem in a tank with small dimension will likely only end up with some dead fish. Trios of wrasses that are of the same genus (Cirrhilabrus for fairies or Parachelinus for flashers) will eventually all turn to males, and will color up nicely as they will display for one another, and thats good enough. All of mine are well colored, and they flash and display for each other every evening when the main lights go out and the moonlights / LEDs are on. If you get them all together, you'll want to provide lots of cover in the QT for them and then introduce them to the DT all at the same time. This is important, because they will be less likely to terrorize one another if all introduced at the same time. Once the initial wrasses are put into the tank, any new member should be introduced using a social acclimation box.

Getting all juveniles is a great idea, as not only are they cheaper, but you also get to see them transition too.

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

I've kept Anthias and wouldn't again. They hog the food as they are aggressive feeders and only the males are eye catching

 

[spiraling]

Im partial to the cf. cyanopleura myself I've only had one rubrimarginatus and it didnt make it through quarantine - other wrasses in the pylei complex have been model citizens when they were small, but increasing aggressive - small sample set though. The lubbocki - Ive only had "jerks" - Id prefer a bathyphilus (hooded) or a jordani (flame) over the lubbocki. Then again, if you like the purple coloration, they are definately pretty. I picked my wrasses based on the coloration that I wanted in the tank - pick the fish you have to have and then plan the rest accordingly.

I wouldnt get pairs of wrasses at all for tanks our size. Fairy and flasher wrasses dont pair up, and attempting a harem in a tank with small dimension will likely only end up with some dead fish. Trios of wrasses that are of the same genus (Cirrhilabrus for fairies or Parachelinus for flashers) will eventually all turn to males, and will color up nicely as they will display for one another, and thats good enough. All of mine are well colored, and they flash and display for each other every evening when the main lights go out and the moonlights / LEDs are on. If you get them all together, you'll want to provide lots of cover in the QT for them and then introduce them to the DT all at the same time. This is important, because they will be less likely to terrorize one another if all introduced at the same time. Once the initial wrasses are put into the tank, any new member should be introduced using a social acclimation box.

Getting all juveniles is a great idea, as not only are they cheaper, but you also get to see them transition too.

Great info! I'll start looking at some of the wrasses you mentioned.

 

[spiraling]

so this might be my list:

2 percula clowns
watchman / pistol.
mandarin - (need to add later)
tail spot blenny

exquisite c exquisitus
bluehead c cyanopleura
hooded c bathyphilus
pink margin c rubrimarginatus


and suddenly I have a wrasse tank!

 

[Warthur]

Go for a harem of ventralis if you have the cash for it. They are beautiful

 

[spiraling]

Go for a harem of ventralis if you have the cash for it. They are beautiful

Beautiful fish.
Bluezoo recommends a harem in a 180, so I don't think I'll have the space ;Bookworm