Pink Streaked Wrasse vs Orchid Dottyback

Earl Karl · Dec 4, 2018

Now I need to make a decision between these two fish. These are mainly decided based on bristle worms control. Was gonna go with a sixline, but I want something new this time as I have kept tens of these guys in many tanks.

But there are other factors that need to be considered. I already have a gold assessor in there, will one of these guys fight with each other? Especially the dottyback?

I like the pink streaked wrasse for their reef pest control, but they are so hard to get at my store. Orchid dottybacks are always at our store, but don't really have that pest control like the wrasses.

CindyKz · Dec 4, 2018

I just put a pink streaked wrasse in my tank a few weeks ago. I haven't seen him go after bristleworms but my flatworm population seems to have decreased

After a couple days hiding he is out and visible all the time. Super cool fish.

ETA: I special ordered him through my LFS, but I see them on Divers Den sometimes. You could request an in-stock alert.

Earl Karl · Dec 5, 2018

I can't special order my fish from our store, I know this because I work at the store lol. Our store gets our fish locally, we send a guy who drives out to pick up fish from local wholesalers. Whatever the wholesalers have, as long if it's healthy, he will pick it up. However, he has never seen a wholesaler carrying a pink streaked wrasse the whole time he's been working. It's also because he hasn't looked for one since no one is really interested in one. I don't like ordering fish online, no matter how reputable the company is, I like to see the fish before I spend money on it.

I really like the orchid dottyback but I like utilitarian fish. Even though I don't need coral pest control, it's something good to have and is mandatory for me.

If I can get both, that would be great, but experiencing a sixline and a springeri together, even in a 180, that was a bloody dogfight. I don't want to risk it with even the two most timid species. But again, if it's fine, I'll go for it. But I know they're going to most likely fight.

jolt · Dec 5, 2018

I've kept several pink streaks. Super cool fish. They definitely cannot be kept with aggressive fish, and they are very small. I did not have bristleworms, but I doubt one could do much bristleworm control, but flatworms, redbugs, yes!

I kept an orchid dottyback with both a pink streak and a gold assessor. The dottyback was definitely aggressive towards both and in the end was the only one left.

Foothill Corals · Dec 5, 2018

I'll throw my 2 cents in here. I have both a Gold Assessor and a Pink Streak in one of my tanks rite now. The wrasse is too small to eat Bristle worms. Both would also get beat up by an Orchid D. The Pink Streaks and Assessors are awesome fish to keep, but not with aggressive fish.

For what it is worth I personally have no issues with Bristle worms they are a great CC member.

Earl Karl · Dec 5, 2018

Ok, pink streaked wrasse it is. Best case scenario would be both, but I like my gold assessor lol.

Bristle worms are definitely not bad, unless too much is kind of worrysome. I used to have a very bad infestation. I just want something to control the population. Arrow crab and coral banded are a big no. My blood shrimp is EXTREMELY aggressive against them. I thought it would be the other way around.

Now, where to find a pink streaked wrasse...

I would go for a 4 line but I have a mandarin in a small tank.

jolt · Dec 5, 2018

Pink streaks are highly seasonal. I’ve only ever seen them in winter. Watch liveaquaria and divers den. My lfs also gets them in as “cryptic six-line wrasse”