No luck with Possum Wrasses

[SauceyReef]

As promised. Got into the tank yesterday and is doing great. So far a little shy, but is starting to come out more and more. Hes so awesome! Adorable little guy about 1.5" long.

Awesome! Congrats Where did you end up getting yours? Sorry if I missed it above. Also what size tank are you running?

If anyone did not know I found out yesterday through another fellow reefer these fish have some ****** teeth! Wait until you see them attack a large amphipod.. They are like little sharks.

 

[OdinPrime]

Awesome! Congrats Where did you end up getting yours? Sorry if I missed it above. Also what size tank are you running?

If anyone did not know I found out yesterday through another fellow reefer these fish have some ****** teeth! Wait until you see them attack a large amphipod.. They are like little sharks.

Ordered him from Liveaquaria. 90 gallon softie/LPS tank. Hes been coming out a lot more since yesterday. He's about 1.5" with the littlest mouth lol. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled!

 

[SauceyReef]

Ordered him from Liveaquaria. 90 gallon softie/LPS tank. Hes been coming out a lot more since yesterday. He's about 1.5" with the littlest mouth lol. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled!

The crazy thing is that little mouth still has a bunch of really sharp teeth!

 

[FMF0331]

I was lucky to score two of them at my LFS, had them since April. I started them off with Tigger Pods, then slowly moved on to fish eggs, cyclopeeze, reef planktons. They are now eating everything that will fit in their mouth. Every 4 weeks i dump in a jar of Algae Barn 5280 pods to replenish their live food supply.

 

[Paul B]

I have 2 of them, this one for about 7 years so far but I would never medicate or quarantine one of these. (or any fish) but thats just me.

Possum wrasses like more to graze and don't really need to be fed. But they need an aged tank with some growth to do that.

They are also very, very shy and need really good hiding places or they will be stressed to death. If you can see them, they can see you and won't be happy or live very long.

Very nice fish and I wish you much better luck with your next one.

 

[OdinPrime]

I have 2 of them, this one for about 7 years so far but I would never medicate or quarantine one of these. (or any fish) but thats just me.

Possum wrasses like more to graze and don't really need to be fed. But they need an aged tank with some growth to do that.

They are also very, very shy and need really good hiding places or they will be stressed to death. If you can see them, they can see you and won't be happy or live very long.

Very nice fish and I wish you much better luck with your next one.

Thank you for the tips! My tank is only approaching one year, but I've been doing my best to make sure I keep stocking my fuge with new pods every time I go to the store. Glad to know this too since he hasnt come out to eat yet since I got him during feeding.

I do see him wandering around in my cave-work and picking at rocks. Such a fun little guy to watch float around.

 

[Paul B]

Your tank is very new and unfortunately new tanks won't have much growth in them to support quite a few fish that like to graze and many fish do that but we mistakenly feel we can feed them enough by buying pods.

It will help but those types of fish tend to grab a bite from something all day and sometimes night.
Never clean the back or side glass and don't over clean the substrait. It will get there.

 

[SauceyReef]

Your tank is very new and unfortunately new tanks won't have much growth in them to support quite a few fish that like to graze and many fish do that but we mistakenly feel we can feed them enough by buying pods.

It will help but those types of fish tend to grab a bite from something all day and sometimes night.
Never clean the back or side glass and don't over clean the substrait. It will get there.

7 years wow!! That is so cool. You really think a year established 90 gallon tank is too young? I have mine in a 6month old fluval 13.5 you may hate me. Personally I was recommended by most that the Possums would be fine in this size. There are not many fish we can get in 10 gallons and this is one of the recommended ones. I have had the fish close to a month and still have tons of microfauna. Like I actively see amphipods, copepods, isopods, etc on the glass and liverock. I also feed tisbe/tiger pods to the tank once or twice a month. The fish seems very happy and is eating every time I put food in the tank. Looks nice and plump. Also unlike what everyone is saying it totally avoids my rock work and swims around the outskirts of all the rocks. It slept behind a frag holder for the first 3 weeks until I just moved it last week! Even with lots of rock spots available... Funny fish!

 

[Paul B]

7 years wow!! That is so cool. You really think a year established 90 gallon tank is too young?

Yes I do. Unless the tank had a good portion of real live rock. I am glad your wrasse is fat and "happy". But that tank is still to new in my opinion.
I really hope he lives forever.

 

[JMann]

I have mine in a 6month old fluval 13.5 you may hate me. Personally I was recommended by most that the Possums would be fine in this size. There are not many fish we can get in 10 gallons and this is one of the recommended ones.

I don’t know who “recommended” this but they surely aren’t wildlife biologists or even legit aquarium fish experts if they say a Possum Wrasse is good in a 10 gallon tank. Will it die instantly or look huge in it as a juvenile? No, but that is not a responsible metric in my opinion. I know you mentioned you plan on upgrading so I would do that as soon as you can and go as big as you can. Just in general. Only the tiniest of fishes who live a less active type of life should be kept in anything less than 30 or 40 gallon tanks in my opinion. Most nano and burrow dwelling gobies, dartfish, some nano blennies, and small frogfish are examples of fish who don’t roam large areas for the most part and make more sense to be ok in a small environment.

 

[SauceyReef]

Yes I do. Unless the tank had a good portion of real live rock. I am glad your wrasse is fat and "happy". But that tank is still to new in my opinion.
I really hope he lives forever.

Ahhh me as well! I feel horrible knowing I could be torturing the little one. As soon as I move out of here in a month I’m upgrading but just to a 28.

still in my defense every single website describing these fish say they can be housed in a 10-20 gallon. The fluval evo group im in has them as a reccomended fish. There are only a few of you on forum sites saying it won’t work and they need even more such large/established tanks than a mandarin. Y’all may really be right but that does not discount the fact that the hobby is pushing a certain tank size for these and that is a nano. I can tell you from scouring the web about these fish that others have long term success with them in smaller systems. To discount all of these stores and hobbyists and assume the general consensus of the hobby is they need large systems is entirely wrong.

 

[Paul B]

There are only a few of you on forum sites saying it won’t work and they need even more such large/established tanks than a mandarin.

You can also keep a whale shark in a 20 gallon tank as long as his head is underwater.

I can tell you from scouring the web about these fish that others have long term success with them in smaller systems.

Long term success with that fish is about 10 years. But a 20 gallon tank should be OK.

 

[JMann]

Ahhh me as well! I feel horrible knowing I could be torturing the little one. As soon as I move out of here in a month I’m upgrading but just to a 28.

still in my defense every single website describing these fish say they can be housed in a 10-20 gallon. The fluval evo group im in has them as a reccomended fish. There are only a few of you on forum sites saying it won’t work and they need even more such large/established tanks than a mandarin. Y’all may really be right but that does not discount the fact that the hobby is pushing a certain tank size for these and that is a nano. I can tell you from scouring the web about these fish that others have long term success with them in smaller systems. To discount all of these stores and hobbyists and assume the general consensus of the hobby is they need large systems is entirely wrong.

I understand where you’re coming from. What I try to do with any topic I’m getting advice on is this: understand the source, their intent, what they have to lose or gain from giving said advice, their experience and background, etc..

That being said, if you’re coming from a place of understanding and respecting an animals natural behaviors and adaptations in the wild then you don’t care so much about the average fish store worker or aquarists opinion on certain things. Just read up on a species and observe them on videos or in person. It’s not that hard and worth a little effort/time. You should be able to tell the difference between surviving for a while and truly thriving by living as close to they do in the wild within an aquarium. Just look at a high energy dog, they do not do well being cooped up most of their waking hours. Will they live? Probably, at least for a while. However it’s way less than ideal and not too humane to alter their environment and behavior so drastically. And if you really pay attention to them it’s evident they’re out of whack. Same could be said for a Possum Wrasse in a tiny tank. Especially a full grown one who needs to cover much more ground than a juvenile.

Not to toot my own horn but I’ve been both a life long scuba/free diver who was a total nerd for marine life as well as an aquarist(worked at one of the biggest shops there is) so I’ve seen both wild and captive animals a lot. And I can tell you that most people don’t think critically enough on things like this. That’s their prerogative. I can at least appreciate that you’re on here discussing and/or asking for advice.

 

[SauceyReef]

Really I’m not trying to come off as a ignorant jerk. I want you to know I see where y’all are coming from and greatly appreciate and respect it. As a younger guy in the hobby, it is super hard to find out certain information on certain livestock. Again in my defense it’s not like half the stores or hobbyists are saying to add them in nanos and half are against it similar to mandarins, the whole community is almost in agreeance. Now again I have learned in this hobby the hobbyists general knowledge is not always right. So yes I am trying to learn from experience and see what is right.

i have a friend who’s a marine biologist and was always my partner in crime in the hobby. He claims that every fish in the hobby can get 10-50x bigger in the ocean and clearly none of these tanks are right for the fish. I think with your guys perspective which I do agree with that all reef fish have massive swimming areas and territories, and that our tanks are not the best environment for them...

but part of the beauty of the hobby in my eyes is the domestication of the wild reef inhabitants. Many of us our here for a reason outside of just enjoying ourselves.. I do this to learn and study as well as enjoy myself. I personally tried becoming a marine biologist with my friend but couldn’t pass the math.. he did!

 

[Tamberav]

I have seen possum and pygmy wrasses in nano's frequently through the years and I don't know of any that died of old age. Usually something 'happened' after a few years or the person got out of the hobby. It's always "I had one for a few years and it did great!" - okay, and then what? A few years is a young fish!

Basically I can see why people would say a 10g is not suitable since it doesn't provide enough natural hunting area. it is all how you measure success.

I think they are adorable fish and see them at my LFS often but they are not suitable for my 80g as I have other pod eating wrasses that limits foraging and the possum is obviously much shyer. I am just not positive it would get what it needs amongst my bold pod eaters. There are many things to take into consideration besides tank size.

I am hoping to keep many of my current fish until they die of old age. Fingers crossed. I don't think it is always an easy task... sometime simply because I have seen people lose entire tanks to mother nature (Texas freeze?). Some things are not always in our control.

FYI keeping a wild fish in an aquarium is not domestication. That has to do with selective breeding and generations and generations of captive conditions. I believe the only fish that have been domesticated are those bred for food.

 

[GoReefin]

I have 2 of these beauties. Had a large pod population that I had to replenish a couple times to start out until they started eating mysis shrimp with gusto. Super important to have a lot of pods before trying one of these guys. They are quit active and love cruising the rockwork. I tried keeping them together but there was immediate agression from my Tanaka's pygmy wrasse towards the yellow banded possum wrasse so I had to separate them into different nano tanks.

 

[SauceyReef]

I have seen possum and pygmy wrasses in nano's frequently through the years and I don't know of any that died of old age. Usually something 'happened' after a few years or the person got out of the hobby. It's always "I had one for a few years and it did great!" - okay, and then what? A few years is a young fish!

Basically I can see why people would say a 10g is not suitable since it doesn't provide enough natural hunting area. it is all how you measure success.

I think they are adorable fish and see them at my LFS often but they are not suitable for my 80g as I have other pod eating wrasses that limits foraging and the possum is obviously much shyer. I am just not positive it would get what it needs amongst my bold pod eaters. There are many things to take into consideration besides tank size.

I am hoping to keep many of my current fish until they die of old age. Fingers crossed. I don't think it is always an easy task... sometime simply because I have seen people lose entire tanks to mother nature (Texas freeze?). Some things are not always in our control.

FYI keeping a wild fish in an aquarium is not domestication. That has to do with selective breeding and generations and generations of captive conditions. I believe the only fish that have been domesticated are those bred for food.

I agree they really are lovely little fish and personalities. I feel like they are tough to keep for many because a big tank and the fish can easily pick on them, and a small tank and it could not be getting enough space. But I think your misinterpreting me.. You are telling me tank raised fish and coral are not an example of domestication? And yes you can argue that even putting reef livestock in tank is the start of the domestication.

 

[SauceyReef]

I have 2 of these beauties. Had a large pod population that I had to replenish a couple times to start out until they started eating mysis shrimp with gusto. Super important to have a lot of pods before trying one of these guys. They are quit active and love cruising the rockwork. I tried keeping them together but there was immediate agression from my Tanaka's pygmy wrasse towards the yellow banded possum wrasse so I had to separate them into different nano tanks.

Cool you tried both. What size tanks and how long have you had them? I’ve noticed mine ignores copepods and likes to hunt big amphipods! It’s been loving fish eggs mysis and reef frenzy as well.

 

[Tamberav]

I agree they really are lovely little fish and personalities. I feel like they are tough to keep for many because a big tank and the fish can easily pick on them, and a small tank and it could not be getting enough space. But I think your misinterpreting me.. You are telling me tank raised fish and coral are not an example of domestication? And yes you can argue that even putting reef livestock in tank is the start of the domestication.

They can thrive in large tanks easily and probably best with the right set up as Paul’s demonstrates.

Domestication is breeding generations for a purpose so and those animals are no longer wild.

A wild horse is tamed not domesticated but domestication can happen over a long period of time and breeding. We have not reached that yet for reef fish for our display tanks. Maybe clown fish?

Although some fish interact with us and learn we are a source of food. I am not sure we could even call them tamed.

 

[SauceyReef]

They can thrive in large tanks easily and probably best with the right set up as Paul’s demonstrates.

Domestication is breeding generations for a purpose so and those animals are no longer wild.

A wild horse is tamed not domesticated but domestication can happen over a long period of time and breeding. We have not reached that yet for reef fish for our display tanks. Maybe clown fish?

Although some fish interact with us and learn we are a source of food. I am not sure we could even call them tamed.

I think you are overcomplicating domestication. It’s just the process of taming an animal.