The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

eatbreakfast · Dec 10, 2016

miroch said:
Just about to put an order in for a Melanurus wrasse. They just came in today so once they are ready I will be ordering. I have been bugging the manager of Canadacorals for weeks to place me an order, can't wait! I have many flatworms still in the tank even after using Flatworm exit, do you guys have a Melanurus wrasse that eats flatworms?
I visited a reef store about 4 hours away last year and they had a Melanurus, I stood there watching him for at least a half hour. I wanted one ever since.

They do a good job of eating coral pests.

Husker · Dec 10, 2016

Hello experts.

I have a 40 breeder with a Melanurus and a Solorensis wrasse. I really wanted to add a yellow H. chrysus, and I know it would have been better to add him earlier as they are more peaceful. I kept him in an acclimation box for over 24 hours and saw no signs of aggression from the Melanurus. The new wrasse was eating well. Then, I decided to release him into the new tank after the Melanurus went to sleep. The new yellow wrasse swam around for a bit, ate a little, and then I watched him bury himself for bed. After 2 days he emerged when I was feeding the fish. He ate a bit, but then the Melanurus chased him until he burried in the sand. Is there anything I should do? Will he make it?

Thanks!

Mike&Terry · Dec 10, 2016

Husker said:
Hello experts.

I have a 40 breeder with a Melanurus and a Solorensis wrasse. I really wanted to add a yellow H. chrysus, and I know it would have been better to add him earlier as they are more peaceful. I kept him in an acclimation box for over 24 hours and saw no signs of aggression from the Melanurus. The new wrasse was eating well. Then, I decided to release him into the new tank after the Melanurus went to sleep. The new yellow wrasse swam around for a bit, ate a little, and then I watched him bury himself for bed. After 2 days he emerged when I was feeding the fish. He ate a bit, but then the Melanurus chased him until he burried in the sand. Is there anything I should do? Will he make it?

Thanks!

Two Halichoeres wrasses in that size tank will more than likely not work long term. You can try placing a mirror or two against the glass to distract the H. melanurus and add some extra feedings (small portions of course) short term.

Husker · Dec 10, 2016

Mike&Terry said:
Two Halichoeres wrasses in that size tank will more than likely not work long term. You can try placing a mirror or two against the glass to distract the H. melanurus and add some extra feedings (small portions of course) short term.

I was worried about this. I received some apparently bad advice before. I will see if I can catch one and take them to the LFS to save it.

Thank you for the advice!

townjas · Dec 10, 2016

Husker said:
I was worried about this. I received some apparently bad advice before. I will see if I can catch one and take them to the LFS to save it.

Thank you for the advice!

I had both of those in a 55 for over a year with no problems, but have upgraded to a larger tank since.

Paul87 · Dec 10, 2016

So how small is too small for a social acclimation box? My old one has been restricted by monti's new growth (it was large). I picked up this Betta tank (10"x 3.5"x 6") for my new blue flasher. The fish is pretty small, just don't want to add stress by being cramped. My pintail has been checking him out, but not charging. I'm thinking he won't be in the SA box long. Here is a video of the new guy in the new DIY half gallon SA box.

eatbreakfast · Dec 10, 2016

Husker said:
Hello experts.

I have a 40 breeder with a Melanurus and a Solorensis wrasse. I really wanted to add a yellow H. chrysus, and I know it would have been better to add him earlier as they are more peaceful. I kept him in an acclimation box for over 24 hours and saw no signs of aggression from the Melanurus. The new wrasse was eating well. Then, I decided to release him into the new tank after the Melanurus went to sleep. The new yellow wrasse swam around for a bit, ate a little, and then I watched him bury himself for bed. After 2 days he emerged when I was feeding the fish. He ate a bit, but then the Melanurus chased him until he burried in the sand. Is there anything I should do? Will he make it?

Thanks!

In most cases it should settle down in a couple of days. However, in some cases it never does. If that happens, then one will have to be rehomed.

eatbreakfast · Dec 10, 2016

Paul87 said:
So how small is too small for a social acclimation box? My old one has been restricted by monti's new growth (it was large). I picked up this Betta tank (10"x 3.5"x 6") for my new blue flasher. The fish is pretty small, just don't want to add stress by being cramped. My pintail has been checking him out, but not charging. I'm thinking he won't be in the SA box long. Here is a video of the new guy in the new DIY half gallon SA box.

That is more than big enough. As long as the fish can turn around it will suffice. It is a very temporary situation.

Paul87 · Dec 11, 2016

And he's free. So far, so good. The pintail does zoom by him occasionally with a little attitude, but nothing bad. He was showing no interest while in the SA box anymore.

Mike&Terry · Dec 14, 2016

H. hartzfeldii

M. choati. He's been with us for over 2.5 years and was with Kevin Kohen for 6 months before he came to us as a tiny female. That's our Labroides dimidiatus (cleaner wrasse) in the background. He's been with us for 5.5 years.

M. bipartitus male.

MCooper · Dec 14, 2016

Mike&Terry said:
H. hartzfeldii

M. choati. He's been with us for over 2.5 years and was with Kevin Kohen for 6 months before he came to us as a tiny female. That's our Labroides dimidiatus (cleaner wrasse) in the background. He's been with us for 5.5 years.

M. bipartitus male.

STUNNING! One day man, one day for me i hope

MCooper · Dec 14, 2016

Can I add a Hoevens wrasse and Labouts into my 90 gallon reef with a McCoskers in the tank already?

eatbreakfast · Dec 14, 2016

DrCooper said:
Can I add a Hoevens wrasse and Labouts into my 90 gallon reef with a McCoskers in the tank already?

They should be fine, just use an acclimation box.

MCooper · Dec 14, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
They should be fine, just use an acclimation box.

Can I put the two of them in a critter cage/acclimation box together?

eatbreakfast · Dec 14, 2016

DrCooper said:
Can I put the two of them in a critter cage/acclimation box together?

Yep.

saltyhog · Dec 14, 2016

I have ordered one of the "blue throat sail fin" fairy wrasses that have recently become available. I think I read that they are in the same complex as C. jordani. Is that true? Would that make mixing them with C. jordani in a 72x24 tank a problem? Have they been classified as a new species or are they a variant of a known species?

evolved · Dec 14, 2016

saltyhog said:
I think I read that they are in the same complex as C. jordani. Is that true?

No, rather the filamentosus complex. Closely related to tonozukai.

saltyhog said:
Would that make mixing them with C. jordani in a 72x24 tank a problem?

Eh, potentially risky...

saltyhog said:
Have they been classified as a new species or are they a variant of a known species?

Still TBD.

saltyhog · Dec 14, 2016

So are they going to be as aggressive as a filamentosus?! I can live without a C. jordani but not without other fairy wrasse. Looks like this one may have to go to a friends tank.

evolved · Dec 14, 2016

saltyhog said:
So are they going to be as aggressive as a filamentosus?!

Potentially. Likely not as bad (more like tonozukai), but certainly far from mild.

And to add to the poo-colored icing, many have reported the vividness of the coloration on the blue throat feature to fade in captivity.