Mystery Wrasse chasing others

4nealalan · Sep 13, 2012

I bought what was sold as a "banana wrasse" on Sept 6. Last night (Sept 12) I bought two other wrasse (Melanurus and Solaris Wrasse ). Within 5 minutes the new wrasse were being completely stalked by the existing wrasse. They both found very good hiding places and the existing wrasse kept covering every square inch of the tank like he was trying to find them...

1) Will this activity stop or am I destined to pull fish out of the tank?

2) If I have to pull the "banana wrasse", how can I catch something like this? He is so fast he would be tough to get in a 125 gal that didn't have rock.

Here's a photo of the mystery "banana wrasse": http://fishtankatbosworthbrothel.tumblr.com/image/31083296807

Murfman · Sep 13, 2012

That doesn't, IMO look like a Banana Wrasse, look up Yellow Coris Wrasse. That is also known as a Banana Wrasse. Yours looks like a Christmas Wrasse.

Carrigg · Sep 13, 2012

When we add a new fish to our tank, we completely rearrange the rocks. It levels the playing field and the territorial fish no longer have the home advantage. Once we do that, everyone gets along as new territories are established. We have a trigger and wrasse with damsels and chromis - all coexisting peacefully. See if that helps.

4nealalan · Sep 17, 2012

Thanks for the idea!

Good news is I moved the rock around and it helped the matter a bit. I also upped the specific gravity from 1.21 to 1.23 to see if it would throw them off a bit, also.

The Solaris Wrasse is defending himself and is just plain faster and smarter than the yellow wrasse. Bad news is the Melanarus Wrasse has disappeared for 2 days. I need to check the overflows tonight, to see if he somehow made it down there.

reeferman · Sep 17, 2012

the melanarus is buried in the sand most likely.thats where they sleep and retreat to when stressed.it can stay buried for days until its comfortable.

3Twinklets · Sep 17, 2012

Not all wrasses can be mixed. Here is the link to a very good article on wrasses
www.3reef.com/forums/tropical-fish/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-122261.html

Fatman · Sep 17, 2012

Not saying this is what it is, but my friend bought two wrasse about two weeks ago. They were mislabeled as something else. They turned out to be Gold Nugget Wrasse. Check them out, yours might be a juvenile.

4nealalan · Sep 20, 2012

Fatman said:
Not saying this is what it is, but my friend bought two wrasse about two weeks ago. They were mislabeled as something else. They turned out to be Gold Nugget Wrasse. Check them out, yours might be a juvenile.

Wow, I want a Gold Nugget Wrasse!

I can't get a good photo of mine. He is yellow, brownish and white stripe the length of his body and some very faint light red and green lines on his head.

SteezySPS · Sep 24, 2012

try putting a large mirror on the side for a few days. this will distract the established fish while giving your new fish an opportunity to get acquainted with the new environment.

chort55 · Sep 24, 2012

SteezySPS said:
try putting a large mirror on the side for a few days. this will distract the established fish while giving your new fish an opportunity to get acquainted with the new environment.

yeah that along with a rescape if possible should do the trick. If not theres probably not much that will

evolved · Sep 24, 2012

You have exactly what you bought: a juvenile Thalassoma lutescens.
Not very suitable for a reef tank and moreso not very suitable with other peaceful wrasses.

3Twinklets said:
Not all wrasses can be mixed. Here is the link to a very good article on wrasses
www.3reef.com/forums/tropical-fish/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-122261.html

:thumb: