Need opinions on a wrasse choice.

tripdad · Oct 11, 2017

Hello and thanks in advance! I'm looking for opinions from some wrasse experts on a possible purchase for my 65 gallon SPS reef. What I really want is a group of square back anthias but my tank is too small. In searching for other options for an equally bright, showy fish I have come across the flasher wrasses, specifically the Carpenter's and the McCosker's. They both seem very brightly colored and showy, can be kept in groups and are peaceful according to the sites. The fish must be peaceful as my tank currently is very chill, I'm done with aggressive fish in this tank. I've been in the fish side of the hobby since 1985 but never had any Flasher wrasses so....educate me, am I looking at the right fish group, both for color and aggression ? P.S. the tank currently has 5 smallish fish.

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 11, 2017

Only keep a single male of any flasher wrasse species, you'll get better coloration out of him and there's a chance of aggression between two or more males. 1-2 females are great to pair with the male so that he does the "flashing" that they are named for. Fairy wrasses are also a good option but some of them are known for their possible aggression towards other fairy wrasses.

eatbreakfast · Oct 11, 2017

Flasher wrasses are an excellent choice for your tank. A trio made up of one specimen from 3 seperate species would be your best option. They will flash and chase each other to a degree, but it shouldn't be too bad.

Just make sure your tank is covered bevause flashers are jumpers.

eatbreakfast · Oct 11, 2017

nautical_nathaniel said:
Only keep a single male of any flasher wrasse species, you'll get better coloration out of him and there's a chance of aggression between two or more males. 1-2 females are great to pair with the male so that he does the "flashing" that they are named for. Fairy wrasses are also a good option but some of them are known for their possible aggression towards other fairy wrasses.

I would advise against getting more than one specimen per species, even if you get one male and one or two females. Female flasher wrasses tend to transition to male even if a male is present, and males of the same species are more aggressive to each other than to males of a different species.

evolved · Oct 11, 2017

tripdad said:
can be kept in groups and are peaceful according to the sites

Yes, but don't try to keep males along with females. Usually flashers which are sold as females are actually sub-males, and even if they are females they are still highly prone to transition to male regardless. And males together of the same species will not work out.
Stick with one specimen of each species and you'll be okay.

tripdad · Oct 11, 2017

Thanks for the info. so far , I appreciate it.

nautical_nathaniel · Oct 11, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
I would advise against getting more than one specimen per species, even if you get one male and one or two females. Female flasher wrasses tend to transition to male even if a male is present, and males of the same species are more aggressive to each other than to males of a different species.

Thanks for clarifying, I think my assumption of one male to N females was coming from Leopard wrasse groupings, but I can see how it would be different for flasher wrasses if they are more likely to change sex even in the presence of a dominant male, then again there isn't much dominance with a flasher wrasse haha

eatbreakfast · Oct 11, 2017

nautical_nathaniel said:
then again there isn't much dominance with a flasher wrasse haha

There is when it comes to conspecifics.

evolved · Oct 11, 2017

Despite nearly all the (old) literature out there which states that wrasses can be kept as pairs/trios/harems, things don't really work this way in captivity. Much of the literature is wrong as it's based on assumptions derived from nature.

Baldguy · Oct 11, 2017

It doesn't help that many lfs's and online vendors sell "bonded pairs" or pairs in general. Mostly to get rid of the less desirable females.

evolved · Oct 11, 2017

Baldguy said:
less desirable females

Only for those who don't understand the females will likely be males in time.

saltyhog · Oct 11, 2017

Would you need to avoid multiples of species that are pretty similar in that size tank? examples (flavianalis, mccoskeri,carpenteri).

Lots of possible combos but I would like one of that trio, one P. attenuatus and maybe P. angularis or lineopunctatus

Baldguy · Oct 11, 2017

saltyhog said:
Would you need to avoid multiples of species that are pretty similar in that size tank? examples (flavianalis, mccoskeri,carpenteri).

Lots of possible combos but I would like one of that trio, one P. attenuatus and maybe P. angularis or lineopunctatus

There's no need to avoid that trio unless you want a different look. They see each other as different species. Those are my favorite three flashers for the money and I will always have them. They have a bit more color than the others you mention with the exception of the Attenuatus. The Attenuatus has not been available for a long time, over a year for sure. Money no object the Diamond Tail is the best IMO.

saltyhog · Oct 11, 2017

Baldguy said:
There's no need to avoid that trio unless you want a different look. They see each other as different species. Those are my favorite three flashers for the money and I will always have them. They have a bit more color than the others you mention with the exception of the Attenuatus. The Attenuatus has not been available for a long time, over a year for sure. Money no object the Diamond Tail is the best IMO.

Thanks. I knew it would be ok in a larger tank as I had flavianalis, rubricaudalis and mccoskeri along with an attenuatus at one time. It has been almost a year since I've seen an attenuatus for sale but before that they were available pretty often... or seemed to be.

Baldguy · Oct 11, 2017

Yep, I've been looking for an Attenuatus for a while. I had one and it was beautiful. Kinda scared what the price will be when they come up again. Minimum $350 I'm guessing.

saltyhog · Oct 11, 2017

Baldguy said:
Yep, I've been looking for an Attenuatus for a while. I had one and it was beautiful. Kinda scared what the price will be when they come up again. Minimum $350 I'm guessing.

Dang! I think I paid $160 for mine a few years ago. I might have to save a little longer and get a Bell's or a C. johnsoni or C. earlei

Baldguy · Oct 12, 2017

saltyhog said:
Dang! I think I paid $160 for mine a few years ago. I might have to save a little longer and get a Bell's or a C. johnsoni or C. earlei

I think I paid $220 about 3 or 4 years ago. NYA had a bunch that many of us scored. Really is a beautiful fish. Not my pic. Credit to Reefbuilders.