The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[homer1475]

So sad to hear.

I've had several blacks die this way. Leopards in general just don't ship well.

 

[Bars]

So sad to hear.

I've had several blacks die this way. Leopards in general just don't ship well.

Yup, I was sorta expecting this outcome. I feel like sand sleeping wrasses in general just don't ship well because of the stress from not being able to dive in the sand. Sold my timorensis and chrysus to a guy with a large tank last week and the minute or so in the trap freaked them out so much already. They always seem so disoriented and on the verge of dying when my LFS gets them in as well.

Oh well... It sucks. Might try one again in a few weeks.

 

[homer1475]

This is the reason why when I buy sand sleeping wrasses, to make sure and ask the LFS when bagging them up, to put some sand in the bag with them. Most will kindly oblige me, and often ask why. When I explain the shipping stress, they often agree with me, and start sending sand sleeping wrasses home with some sand in the bag. I have personally changed 3 LFS I frequent to sending sand sleeping wrasses home with sand in the bag. Of the three, 2 have commented how much less loss that has been reported to them when shipping in this manner.

Not sure shipping in the mail with sand would help, as the boxes get tumbled around quite a bit, but bringing them home from an LFS where the bag doesn't get jostled has helped me a ton.

Might be something to consider next time you buy a sand sleeping wrasse at the LFS.

 

[i cant think]

This is the reason why when I buy sand sleeping wrasses, to make sure and ask the LFS when bagging them up, to put some sand in the bag with them. Most will kindly oblige me, and often ask why. When I explain the shipping stress, they often agree with me, and start sending sand sleeping wrasses home with some sand in the bag. I have personally changed 3 LFS I frequent to sending sand sleeping wrasses home with sand in the bag. Of the three, 2 have commented how much less loss that has been reported to them when shipping in this manner.

Not sure shipping in the mail with sand would help, as the boxes get tumbled around quite a bit, but bringing them home from an LFS where the bag doesn't get jostled has helped me a ton.

Might be something to consider next time you buy a sand sleeping wrasse at the LFS.

I may actually start doing that, every time I go into the LFS and a question is asked they turn to me (I guess my knowledge on certain fish?) so I could possibly mention it to them.

 

[homer1475]

I just noticed many years ago when I started asking for this little extra, when getting the fish home(remember I have a 2 to 4 hour drive depending on the LFS), they were much less disoriented. and much calmer, but still dive into the sand upon introduction.

 

[i cant think]

Yup, I was sorta expecting this outcome. I feel like sand sleeping wrasses in general just don't ship well because of the stress from not being able to dive in the sand. Sold my timorensis and chrysus to a guy with a large tank last week and the minute or so in the trap freaked them out so much already. They always seem so disoriented and on the verge of dying when my LFS gets them in as well.

Oh well... It sucks. Might try one again in a few weeks.

If you do try another, it may be a good idea to try and ask the LFS to add Atleast a thin layer of sand for the wrasse to hide in. I’m going to run this idea by my LFS tomorrow and see if they agree, if they do then the chances of my returning my Jade in the future if she gets too aggressive will be higher.

Heres a question for you guys:
What is/are your dream wrasse(es)?

 

[Bars]

Sand in the bag is a good idea. Never thought of that.

I usually have no problems with the 15 minute drive from the LFS to my place. It's the ones that have spent all day in the importer's bag straight to my tank. Those always dive straight in the sand and die within a few days. I doubt the importer is willing to add sand to the bags, but it's worth mentioning.

 

[homer1475]

And the aggression continues!

Black leopard came out about an hour before my main lights came on(I run 2 LED strips that act as early moonlight), and stayed out hunting the rocks. As soon as the red woke up, the chasing continues until the black is back into the sand.

As long as the black is not within eye sight of the red, he leaves her alone. Hoping the chasing subsides eventually.

 

[i cant think]

Sand in the bag is a good idea. Never thought of that.

I usually have no problems with the 15 minute drive from the LFS to my place. It's the ones that have spent all day in the importer's bag straight to my tank. Those always dive straight in the sand and die within a few days. I doubt the importer is willing to add sand to the bags, but it's worth mentioning.

If a wrasse has been in the shop for a day or less I’d usually try and reserve it for a week but not pay for it until the week is over and check that they are alive and well. I did this with my most recent addition (A month ago).

And the aggression continues!

Black leopard came out about an hour before my main lights came on(I run 2 LED strips that act as early moonlight), and stayed out hunting the rocks. As soon as the red woke up, the chasing continues until the black is back into the sand.

As long as the black is not within eye sight of the red, he leaves her alone. Hoping the chasing subsides eventually.

fingers crossed it calms down. Maybe try stick a mirror on the other side of the tank to try distract from the black leopard if you haven’t already?

 

[Labridaedicted]

Same here.

I've kept some wasses that were never supposed to be together, and completely ignore each other. Yet have kept some that should be absolutely fine together, and all heck breaks out.

Kind of like my current situation......

Red corris wrasse by all means shouldn't even look twice at a black leopard(never even looks at the melagris), but as soon as the black comes out of the sand, the red is on it.

Yeah, there's general rules but not anything that is 100%. I once had a white tail bristletooth Tang that hated all things Labrid. Didn't bother any other fish in the tank, but would harass all the wrasses relentlessly. Obviously, he had to go to the frag tank. But just goes to show that despite all our best plans, research, etc, we're still dealing with living creatures with minds of their own, so I feel like all of our posts come with an obligatory YMMV at the end

 

[i cant think]

Yeah, there's general rules but not anything that is 100%. I once had a white tail bristletooth Tang that hated all things Labrid. Didn't bother any other fish in the tank, but would harass all the wrasses relentlessly. Obviously, he had to go to the frag tank. But just goes to show that despite all our best plans, research, etc, we're still dealing with living creatures with minds of their own, so I feel like all of our posts come with an obligatory YMMV at the end

This just shows that Trial and Error is possibly the best way to go through this hobby, yes it’s not always the perfect ending we all wish for but hey you never know if you don’t try it!!

 

[homer1475]

If a wrasse has been in the shop for a day or less I’d usually try and reserve it for a week but not pay for it until the week is over and check that they are alive and well. I did this with my most recent addition (A month ago).

fingers crossed it calms down. Maybe try stick a mirror on the other side of the tank to try distract from the black leopard if you haven’t already?

I was going to try a mirror, but more for the red then the black? I would think the Red seeing it's reflection would cause it to attack the mirror? Or is my thinking wrong on that one?

 

[i cant think]

I was going to try a mirror, but more for the red then the black? I would think the Red seeing it's reflection would cause it to attack the mirror? Or is my thinking wrong on that one?

I meant to say to distract the red coris from the leopard, sorry mixed up my words then.

 

[homer1475]

I meant to say to distract the red coris from the leopard, sorry mixed up my words then.

Ok just wanted to make sure my thinking was correct. No I haven't tried it yet, but will tomorrow morning when she wakes up.

So far she gets up in the AM, I feed her, she hunts a bit before the red wakes up, then back to the sand all day.

 

[i cant think]

Ok just wanted to make sure my thinking was correct. No I haven't tried it yet, but will tomorrow morning when she wakes up.

So far she gets up in the AM, I feed her, she hunts a bit before the red wakes up, then back to the sand all day.

That’s one thing I’ve always wondered, are the true Coris wrasses sand sleepers like most of the other genera of wrasse?

 

[homer1475]

My red, the only true corris I have, definitely sleeps in the sand, and in the same spot every night.

It's how I am going to get him out if I need to.

 

[i cant think]

My red, the only true corris I have, definitely sleeps in the sand, and in the same spot every night.

It's how I am going to get him out if I need to.

Yeah, you got lucky with that! My Jade constantly sleeps in the cave that has not front entrance so it has to be completely torn to get her out when she sleeps.

 

[i cant think]

What are your dream wrasses, and why if there’s a reason?

 

[BJrReef21]

Well, with the tangs being some of the most aggressive in the family I personally wouldn’t risk it. However if you did the right steps there is a chance it could work. Here’s what I would do in order of introduction:
- Blue star leopard
- yellow “coris”
- both flashers
- naoko
- ruby longfin

I say this because I have two of the exact same species of fairy wrasse, both males in my 4’ tank with what is meant to be one of the most aggressive fairies (C. melanomarginatus). None of them fight, yes the odd flashing occurs but they never chase eachother it’s instead the Jade that keeps them in check.

After re-reading that, I’ve seen a puffer… I would ignore any wrasse that is less than 4” at max size. This includes:
- Angular flasher
- Carpenters flasher
- Possibly the naoko fairy

I cant say anything about the chart because all of my wrasses go completely against what it says, actually I think my whole stock goes against what the main “rules” of fish involve. It’s nothing about the species but instead the temperament of the fish. As I said I had a divebombing naoko that constantly swam and flashed at everything which was my favourite display. My naoko now is way calmer than the other, and it’s nothing to do with size because they both were at the same size.

All 3 of my tangs are rather docile. That can’t be said for my Yellow eye Kole tang in my 90gal system. He chases and fights with almost anything that enters the tank. Complete opposite of what is expected from these fish. So I think I should be fine with the tangs and wrasses together. The puffer is also fairly mellow and was a fish my wife wanted but probably won’t keep long term. He is still pretty small. Forgot to mention I also have A flame hawkfish. Don’t think he would be an issue either.
Is it possible to order all the wrasses I’d like to keep in the tank in 1 or 2 orders and introduce them kind of as you mention over the course of a couple weeks? Or should this be done over a few months? I am still trying to work out a good list of what I’d like to get vs what’s advisable, and I’m sure I’ll wind up somewhere in the middle. I tend to be a little risky with my choices.

 

[i cant think]

All 3 of my tangs are rather docile. That can’t be said for my Yellow eye Kole tang in my 90gal system. He chases and fights with almost anything that enters the tank. Complete opposite of what is expected from these fish. So I think I should be fine with the tangs and wrasses together. The puffer is also fairly mellow and was a fish my wife wanted but probably won’t keep long term. He is still pretty small. Forgot to mention I also have A flame hawkfish. Don’t think he would be an issue either.
Is it possible to order all the wrasses I’d like to keep in the tank in 1 or 2 orders and introduce them kind of as you mention over the course of a couple weeks? Or should this be done over a few months? I am still trying to work out a good list of what I’d like to get vs what’s advisable, and I’m sure I’ll wind up somewhere in the middle. I tend to be a little risky with my choices.

I would say you could do it just be extremely careful. Even a docile tang can make a tank become hell in a second with new fish. You’d also need to use an acclimation box but with the sand sleeping wrasse, leave a small layer of sand in the box to stop it from stressing too much.