The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

alberthiel · Jul 9, 2013

Paul87 said:
39 Gallon w 20g sump. 2 Ocellaris clowns and 1 firefish.

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And that Firefish did not jump with those 2 Clowns in there if I may ask ?

evolved · Jul 9, 2013

ReefJeeper said:
Female lubbocks

Transitional male (sub male) actually. Beautiful rubrimarginatus.

fraggingfish · Jul 9, 2013

poomba said:

Nice female flame picture.
Actually Sub Male.

ReefJeeper · Jul 11, 2013

evolved said:
Transitional male (sub male) actually. Beautiful rubrimarginatus.

Thanks, How can you tell? i use kuiters book for referencing but it doesnt go into too much detail.Does stay with the male almost always. And they sleep together.

evolved · Jul 11, 2013

ReefJeeper said:
Thanks, How can you tell? i use kuiters book for referencing but it doesnt go into too much detail.Does stay with the male almost always. And they sleep together.

Easy; because females look like this:

Fishbase.org said:

The fact it is showing male coloration yet still has the tailspot makes it a transitional male.

They might always tolerate each other, but there also might well come a day the do not. If they start nipping/ripping fins, locking jaws, or one forces the other into continuous hiding, you'll need to remove one.

Arkaeus · Jul 11, 2013

Dot-Dash Flasher

Dot-Dash Flashing

Yellow-carpenters hybrid

evolved · Jul 11, 2013

Arkaeus said:
Yellow-carpenters hybrid

FWIW: not a hybrid; just a P. flavianalis (yellow fin). 1-4 dorsal filaments are acceptable.

And that's a fine example of a P. lineopunctatus; one of the most undervalued IMO.

Arkaeus · Jul 11, 2013

evolved said:
FWIW: not a hybrid; just a P. flavianalis (yellow fin). 1-4 dorsal filaments are acceptable.

And that's a fine example of a P. lineopunctatus; one of the most undervalued IMO.

Good to know about the Yellow Flasher Evolve. and yes P. lineopunctatus is my favorite flasher besides the Mccoskeri.

watchguy123 · Jul 11, 2013

ReefJeeper · Jul 11, 2013

evolved said:
Easy; because females look like this:

The fact it is showing male coloration yet still has the tailspot makes it a transitional male.

They might always tolerate each other, but there also might well come a day the do not. If they start nipping/ripping fins, locking jaws, or one forces the other into continuous hiding, you'll need to remove one.

Thanks for the clarification. i noticed she/he? was starting to color up more. So far no issues at all but I will keep an eye on them.

Xingu · Jul 11, 2013

This is my Mystery. How can you tell the sexes apart? What other wrasses could I possibly keep with it?
It is in a 6 foot, 150 gallon tank.

ReefJeeper · Jul 12, 2013

Xingu said:
This is my Mystery. How can you tell the sexes apart? What other wrasses could I possibly keep with it?
It is in a 6 foot, 150 gallon tank.

Theres no noticable differences that i know of, except a mature mystery is male and juvies are sexually undeveloped. They vary alot in agressiveness, to the point that some dont tolerate other wrasse at all. Its dependant on the fish. Personally, i keep two mysteries and a few other species of wrasse in a 95 with no issues. I added the juvenile mystery about a year after the male. Usually when you add a new wrasse to a tank with established wrasses, or an established wrasse decides to turn male, the hierarchy will reestablish itself. This may include flashing displays, and or some brief chasing for a day or two

db1317 · Jul 12, 2013

ReefJeeper said:
Usually when you add a new wrasse to a tank with established wrasses, or an established wrasse decides to turn male, the hierarchy will reestablish itself. This may include flashing displays, and or some brief chasing for a day or two

I introduced 2 cosmetus and 1fiji xmas wrasses all at the same time. The 2 cosmetus got along really well with each other in the beginning. The smallest cosmetus chased the fiji into hiding for a week. Then after a few months, the largest cosmetus did the same thing to the smallest cosmetus. After about a week of that chasing, the smallest cosmetus is now no longer being chased by the largest cosmetus and all three are co-existing. Was a new hierarchy established? If so, as long as no new halichores are added, can I expect them to continue to co-exist?

evolved · Jul 12, 2013

The Pseudocheilinus genus is not sexually dichromatic, therefore you cannot determine sex by looking at them.

Also, the Pseudocheilinus genus typically do not tolerate other wrasses in the same tank, whether they be of the same or different genera. To what degree varies with each species in the genus, but the safe approach is to not add potential victims.

Summary: your mystery could be either male or female; don't add any other wrasses.

ReefJeeper said:
This may include flashing displays, and or some brief chasing for a day or two

Or death in extreme cases.

evolved · Jul 12, 2013

db1317 said:
I introduced 2 cosmetus and 1fiji xmas wrasses all at the same time. The 2 cosmetus got along really well with each other in the beginning. The smallest cosmetus chased the fiji into hiding for a week. Then after a few months, the largest cosmetus did the same thing to the smallest cosmetus. After about a week of that chasing, the smallest cosmetus is now no longer being chased by the largest cosmetus and all three are co-existing. Was a new hierarchy established? If so, as long as no new halichores are added, can I expect them to continue to co-exist?

A new hierarchy, yes; for now. It can change as individuals age and mature. They'll probably be fine together, but be aware there's always a small chance that could change with little apparent reason.

ReefJeeper · Jul 12, 2013

Mystery wrasse have a bad reputation. They do have an edgy attitude towards other fish. Mines only ever had a problem with one wrasse, just so happened to be the most expensive ive ever bought though.. Evolved is probably right. Better safe than sorry. Psuedocheilinus are feisty little guys

evolved · Jul 12, 2013

ReefJeeper said:
Mystery wrasse have a bad reputation. They do have an edgy attitude towards other fish. Mines only ever had a problem with one wrasse, just so happened to be the most expensive ive ever bought though.. Evolved is probably right. Better safe than sorry. Psuedocheilinus are feisty little guys

In the words of Bob Fenner: "Small, but pugnacious"

buddythelion · Jul 12, 2013

Got these three wrasses again. Lost them in my last black out months ago which shattered the heater and stray electricity and temperature swung without us knowing.

But these three are gorgeous!

Here's the pics. Not the greatest, but once in the tank I'll never be able to photograph them again.

Female Rhomboid:

Male Rhomboid (check out that diamond tail):

Balteatus Wrasse:

evolved · Jul 12, 2013

watchguy123 said:

Always the show stopper: A. femininus. And peaking in is M. choati I see. I will commend you for having the fortitude to throw the Thalassoma in there however.