The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

petemichelle · Mar 11, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
If your banana wrasse is Thalassoma lutescens, then things may not get too much better for the cleaner wrasse, as Thalassoma wrasses are pretty intolerant of other wrasses. If, on the other hand, the banana wrasse is Halichoeres chrysus, then things should begin to get better.

Using a social acclimation box to introduce a new wrasse to an existing wrasse helps diffuse aggression.

First, an hr acclimation is on the long side, as it opens up the fish you are acclimating to exposure to ammonia.

Was there cover, such as pvc fittings for the wrasse to hide in? Being exposed and vulnerable is very stressful to a fish.

For leopards I recommend qt, but more than a few will put them straight into a display. It is possible to treat prazipro in the display tank, it is reefsafe.

As long as there aren't males, leopards can be kept in small groups either same species or different species.

You're going to have a hard time adding a fairy wrasse to a tank with a hogfish. Hogfish are pretty intolerant of other wrasses, so although you haven't witnessed any aggression, in the future you will.

Depending on how bad the stray voltage is, sometimes it is noticeable by putting your hand in the tank, especially if you have a cut or bite your nails. In other cases a volt meter can be used. Fish that are affected by stray current are skittish and in cases of longer exposure may develop HLLE.

If I tear my display tank with prazipro wouldn't it kill every worm in there??? Again why are the leopard wrasse more prone to internal pest than any other wrasse or fish

eatbreakfast · Mar 11, 2016

petemichelle said:
If I tear my display tank with prazipro wouldn't it kill every worm in there??? Again why are the leopard wrasse more prone to internal pest than any other wrasse or fish

Yes, but most reefers don't have too many desirable worms, just duster worms. Any fish that feeds on benthic fauna will have a propensity for internal parasites, not just leopard wrasses, but also tamarins, Halichoeres, and Pseudojuloides as far as wrasses go, as well as tangs and blennies. Internal parasites probably affect many fish, just with leopard wrasses pickiness and dietary needs they often succumb to the parasites.

petemichelle · Mar 11, 2016

If I introduce a leopard wrasse without treatment into my main display and he has an internal parasite issue will he spread it to other fish in the same tank?

eatbreakfast · Mar 11, 2016

petemichelle said:
If I introduce a leopard wrasse without treatment into my main display and he has an internal parasite issue will he spread it to other fish in the same tank?

Yes, that is a strong possibility.

Duke4Life · Mar 11, 2016

petemichelle said:
If I introduce a leopard wrasse without treatment into my main display and he has an internal parasite issue will he spread it to other fish in the same tank?

I had this happen. Added a wrasse with flukes and within 1 week everything had them, luckily you can dose prazipro to your DT.

petemichelle · Mar 11, 2016

How can you visually tell if a fish has flukes??

Duke4Life · Mar 11, 2016

petemichelle said:
How can you visually tell if a fish has flukes??

Freshwater dip, they fall off.

eatbreakfast · Mar 11, 2016

Duke4Life said:
Freshwater dip, they fall off.

There can be resilient flukes that can survive a freshwater dip. Unless there is a bad infection it can be difficult to spot.

Identifying internal parasites can be done if the fish has white, stringy feces.

Paul87 · Mar 12, 2016

What other types of wrasse would coexist with a melenurus wrasse?

Raven312 · Mar 12, 2016

I currently have a Dusky, Potters Leopard and Blue Star. Mine, being the largest of the four, chases the others around to keep them in their place but doesn't beat up on anyone (yet). I suspect that when my Dusky gets older she'll (well, she is right now) give him a run for his money.

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2016

Paul87 said:
What other types of wrasse would coexist with a melenurus wrasse?

Most fairy, flasher, leopard, and other small Halichoeres should work. Just use a social acclimation box for introduction.

Paul87 · Mar 12, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
Most fairy, flasher, leopard, and other small Halichoeres should work. Just use a social acclimation box for introduction.

Thanks! I'm debating on adding another wrasse or trying out 3 green chromis. My tank is a 40 breeder. Current stock: Orchid dottyback, melenurus wrasse, potter's angel, & Midas blenny. You think any of these options may be overstocking?

petemichelle · Mar 12, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
Most fairy, flasher, leopard, and other small Halichoeres should work. Just use a social acclimation box for introduction.

how long do you keep them in the acclimation box before letting them loose into the display tank??

evolved · Mar 12, 2016

petemichelle said:
how long do you keep them in the acclimation box before letting them loose into the display tank??

2-3 days, but it depends on interactions.
http://www.reefedition.com/acclimation-box-can-thing-really-work/

petemichelle · Mar 12, 2016

such as????

petemichelle · Mar 12, 2016

i had 1 fairy wrasse in my display tank. I put another 2 in separate acclamation boxes. 1 died in the box after 1 1/2 days, the other I released into the display after 2 days maybe 3. it's been a week and now I think it's lost. gone, bye bye. all I see is the original fairy wrasse. he was a little bigger than the other, but not dramatically. I'm going to try putting in some PVC fittings in the acclimation box next time, but what's the longest you should keep them in there? what are some signs of issues if kept too long in the box??

Duke4Life · Mar 12, 2016

petemichelle said:
i had 1 fairy wrasse in my display tank. I put another 2 in separate acclamation boxes. 1 died in the box after 1 1/2 days, the other I released into the display after 2 days maybe 3. it's been a week and now I think it's lost. gone, bye bye. all I see is the original fairy wrasse. he was a little bigger than the other, but not dramatically. I'm going to try putting in some PVC fittings in the acclimation box next time, but what's the longest you should keep them in there? what are some signs of issues if kept too long in the box??

What's the sole surviving wrasse?

petemichelle · Mar 12, 2016

sorry didn't initially see the link. read the info, it's good, answers all my questions. thanks....

Mike_J · Mar 12, 2016

Just thought I'd share a few shots of my new flame wrasse, courtesy of Picturesque Aquatics. Pictures don't do justice to his sheer beauty, but he's absolutely gorgeous!
I take horrible pictures of my tank, but the first picture is a full front tank shot of the view from my basement couch.

This is a close-up of the new flame with my crescent tail and labouti in the background.

The flame with the female rhomboid and crescent tail.

Paul87 · Mar 12, 2016

Mike_J said:
Just thought I'd share a few shots of my new flame wrasse, courtesy of Picturesque Aquatics. Pictures don't do justice to his sheer beauty, but he's absolutely gorgeous!
I take horrible pictures of my tank, but the first picture is a full front tank shot of the view from my basement couch.

This is a close-up of the new flame with my crescent tail and labouti in the background.

The flame with the female rhomboid and crescent tail.

I love it! That tank is killer too.