Radiant Wrasse with Melanurus

tjsmk8 · Apr 5, 2018

Anyone have experience with these together? I currently have a Melanurus in qt (no treatment yet, just observation), but saw a Radiant in person for the first time today. Would these two get along in a standard 120 that’s relatively lightly stocked (5 fish)? They would be in a 20L for a few weeks prior to hitting the display as well.

Thanks!

evolved · Apr 5, 2018

It's a bit of a crap shoot really. QT'ing them together would help, and should allow a pretty good barometer on the risk.

Dan I · Apr 5, 2018

As said before, it's a hit or a miss. Each fish have their own personality.

tjsmk8 · Apr 5, 2018

I appreciate the responses. If I do go for it, should I give each there own sand dish in the qt? The Melanurus currently has a small Pyrex dish that it sleeps in. I would imagine it’s too small for both if there’s any risk of aggression.

evolved · Apr 5, 2018

If it's only barely big enough for one fish, then yes. But it doesn't need to be separate containers necessarily.

tjsmk8 · Apr 6, 2018

I’ll add a second container or replace the existing with a larger one. Probably going to pick up the radiant tomorrow unless better judgment takes over (not likely!). Thanks for the advice.

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2018

tjsmk8 said:
I’ll add a second container or replace the existing with a larger one. Probably going to pick up the radiant tomorrow unless better judgment takes over (not likely!). Thanks for the advice.

Better to see how they react to each other in QT, than in the DT.

Triggreef · Apr 6, 2018

I've not had issues mixing halichoerus wrasses together for the most part but most of my mixing them was in 200g. But adding them together is certainly the best option. Once you have one establish itself it can really be a problem especially if the new addition is male. Radiants seem very non aggressive in my few short attempts so I would add that first if you can't QT them together. I was never able to get a radiant through QT.

tjsmk8 · Apr 8, 2018

Well, they’re in qt together now. I haven’t noticed any aggression issues so far, but the radiant hasn’t shown any interest in the foods I’ve tried so far. Any suggestions there?

eatbreakfast · Apr 9, 2018

tjsmk8 said:
Well, they’re in qt together now. I haven’t noticed any aggression issues so far, but the radiant hasn’t shown any interest in the foods I’ve tried so far. Any suggestions there?

Mysis or reef plankton in the flow so it seems 'alive'.

maroun.c · Apr 9, 2018

I have both since 2'3 years, both at terminal adult size and Melanurus is a mating pair which usually increases aggressivity and never noticed any issues between the two.

tjsmk8 · Apr 9, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
Mysis or reef plankton in the flow so it seems 'alive'.

I’ve tried that with mysis hoping for a response, but the radiant acts like it doesn’t even see the food. I’ll keep trying. Thanks for the suggestion.