The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

Areseebee · Mar 5, 2017

I have a wrasse related question. I would love to have a M. meleagris leopard wrasse but I would prefer it stays with female coloration, I have heard that in the home aquaria even a pair is likely to become two males at some point. Is there a trick to keeping them female?

ngoodermuth · Mar 5, 2017

Areseebee said:
I have a wrasse related question. I would love to have a M. meleagris leopard wrasse but I would prefer it stays with female coloration, I have heard that in the home aquaria even a pair is likely to become two males at some point. Is there a trick to keeping them female?

Get a tiny female so you have it longer

Wrasses don't really "pair" though, they have a dominance hierarchy. You could try a harem in a larger tank, but even then you might end up with multiple males or sub males. Not from my own experience, but I've read that the bipartis leopards are a little easier to keep in harems. I've also read that melaegris males can be a little more assertive to other leopard males and even some halichoerus wrasses. I just bought one, so I've been reading up on them quite a bit. Here's my little gal with my flame female in QT.

ngoodermuth · Mar 5, 2017

Side note, I feel like my female jordani is already starting to look a bit more "male" ish, or am I just imagining it?

rockstarta78 · Mar 6, 2017

I'm thinking of buying a fairy wrasse for my 40b. I don't have any aggressive fishes in my tank. I already ordered a yellow coris wrasse and now I'm thinking about either a flasher or fairy wrasse. I'm leaning towards fairy because I can't find a pair or mccosker's flasher. Any suggestions?

eatbreakfast · Mar 6, 2017

Areseebee said:
I have a wrasse related question. I would love to have a M. meleagris leopard wrasse but I would prefer it stays with female coloration, I have heard that in the home aquaria even a pair is likely to become two males at some point. Is there a trick to keeping them female?

Leopard wrasses are less likely to transition in aquaria than other wrasses, such as fairies, flashers, and Halichoeres wrasses. Leopards also do better in harems in large enough systems than other wrasses, so even if one did transition others would likely keep female coloration.

rockstarta78 said:
I'm thinking of buying a fairy wrasse for my 40b. I don't have any aggressive fishes in my tank. I already ordered a yellow coris wrasse and now I'm thinking about either a flasher or fairy wrasse. I'm leaning towards fairy because I can't find a pair or mccosker's flasher. Any suggestions?

Don't do a pr of flasher or fairy wrasses, especially in a 40g. Wrasses don't form bonded prs, rather gender is based on social dynamics, which include flashing and displays, but also chasing. A 40g doesn't afford much escaping space for the submissive fish. Also, in aquaria female flasher and fairy wrasses usually transition into males, even with another male present, and males are quite intolerant of each other.

Rather than getting prs of specimens, get one individual of a few different species. Most flashers except octotaenia will work, as will smaller fairies, such as the lunatus complex, lubbocki, and rubeus.

rockstarta78 · Mar 6, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Leopard wrasses are less likely to transition in aquaria than other wrasses, such as fairies, flashers, and Halichoeres wrasses. Leopards also do better in harems in large enough systems than other wrasses, so even if one did transition others would likely keep female coloration.

Don't do a pr of flasher or fairy wrasses, especially in a 40g. Wrasses don't form bonded prs, rather gender is based on social dynamics, which include flashing and displays, but also chasing. A 40g doesn't afford much escaping space for the submissive fish. Also, in aquaria female flasher and fairy wrasses usually transition into males, even with another male present, and males are quite intolerant of each other.

Rather than getting prs of specimens, get one individual of a few different species. Most flashers except octotaenia will work, as will smaller fairies, such as the lunatus complex, lubbocki, and rubeus.

Thanks a lot. This helps me a lot. I couldn't find these type of suggestions anywhere. So if I want a centerpiece for my tank, would you suggest a flasher or fairy? I need a good fish to make the tank look good.

Flashy Fins · Mar 6, 2017

Found this guy over the weekend. He might just be the flashiest flasher I've ever had. In the shop, he was flashing non-stop, and now that he's in my QT, the same remains true. Crossing the tank? Calls for a flash! Catching a piece of food? Better flash! Weird human fish creature looked at me? Flash!

I've had larger blue flashers in the past that I never saw flash. This guy is only medium size, yet determined to show me all his colors. I'm loving it!

Blade*13 · Mar 7, 2017

Just picked up these 2 this weekend! Red tail tamarin and a naoko! Will try to get better pictures later

Jstn · Mar 7, 2017

Areseebee said:
I have a wrasse related question. I would love to have a M. meleagris leopard wrasse but I would prefer it stays with female coloration, I have heard that in the home aquaria even a pair is likely to become two males at some point. Is there a trick to keeping them female?

I have a bunch of females (3 biparts 1 melagris 1 potter and 1 ornate) a male melagris who transitioned in less than a month of getting him; one day he died and with in six months I had a bipart turn male, no others showing transition nor agressive behavior.

I've had my biparts for over three years.

eatbreakfast · Mar 7, 2017

rockstarta78 said:
Thanks a lot. This helps me a lot. I couldn't find these type of suggestions anywhere. So if I want a centerpiece for my tank, would you suggest a flasher or fairy? I need a good fish to make the tank look good.

That's where personal preference comes into play. In your size tank I am partial to P. attenuatus, C. isoscoles, or C. rhomboidalis.

leahfiish · Mar 7, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
That's where personal preference comes into play. In your size tank I am partial to P. attenuatus, C. isoscoles, or C. rhomboidalis.

There are also a lot of less expensive options. I like P. Mccoskeri, C. Lubbocki (spelling?), and possom wrasses are a good option although they behave differently than fairies and flashers..

On another note, I just got a McCoskers last night. He's not even 2 inches long but ate more than 10 pieces of brine shrimp this morning. Quite an appetite.

ascheff · Mar 10, 2017

Wrasse experts, I need some Prazi advice please?

I have a wrasse in QT, that after settling in for 2 weeks and making sure it is eating really well, while dosing Paraguard for 10 days, I ran carbon for 2 days and then did a first dose of PraziPro. It went well and it continued eating. However by day 5 after the Prazi, when I was planning to do a water change and the recommended second dose of Prazi, I noticed it wasn't eating and hiding a bit more. I did the water change, but held back on the second Prazi dose. That was last week Friday. I also noticed the tank bottom was suspiciously clean, i.e. no poo, so I suspected constipation. If it was constipation, can it be caused by a die-off of intestinal parasites? I dosed Epsom salt for two days, and by Tuesday he was taking live baby brine shrimp, Wednesday live adult brine shrimp, and yesterday had some frozen again. He is also more active again.

I want to do the second dose of Prazi now, but am wondering if a second dose, 12 days after the first, will still serve the same purpose a second dose within 7 days should have achieved? Or should I rather do 2 more rounds?

eatbreakfast · Mar 10, 2017

ascheff said:
Wrasse experts, I need some Prazi advice please?

I have a wrasse in QT, that after settling in for 2 weeks and making sure it is eating really well, while dosing Paraguard for 10 days, I ran carbon for 2 days and then did a first dose of PraziPro. It went well and it continued eating. However by day 5 after the Prazi, when I was planning to do a water change and the recommended second dose of Prazi, I noticed it wasn't eating and hiding a bit more. I did the water change, but held back on the second Prazi dose. That was last week Friday. I also noticed the tank bottom was suspiciously clean, i.e. no poo, so I suspected constipation. If it was constipation, can it be caused by a die-off of intestinal parasites? I dosed Epsom salt for two days, and by Tuesday he was taking live baby brine shrimp, Wednesday live adult brine shrimp, and yesterday had some frozen again. He is also more active again.

I want to do the second dose of Prazi now, but am wondering if a second dose, 12 days after the first, will still serve the same purpose a second dose within 7 days should have achieved? Or should I rather do 2 more rounds?

The timing of the 2 doses is based on the life cycle of parasites. So to ensure they are eliminated follow the instructions.

Prazi is an appetite suppressant, so make sure it is eating well and has gained strength before starting again.

ascheff · Mar 10, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
The timing of the 2 doses is based on the life cycle of parasites. So to ensure they are eliminated follow the instructions.

Prazi is an appetite suppressant, so make sure it is eating well and has gained strength before starting again.

Thank you. I have read that Prazi could suppress appetite, but since the appetite loss only started 5 days after treatment, and also having read that Prazi is only active in the water for about 72 hours, I thought it was some sort of secondary cause. Nevertheless, I will hold back on the second treatment and give him some time to build up reserves, and then do two treatments. Thanks again.

leahfiish · Mar 10, 2017

If anybody is interested, exotic reef creations just posted an excellent list of fish that they have available including choati, lineatus, labouti, rhomboid. They have an extensive qt/conditioning procedure so their fish are super healthy, I purchased an Earmuff Wrasse from them that is doing great, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for any of those rarer wrasses.

Pandy · Mar 11, 2017

My latest additions. A trio of Halichoeres leucoxanthus. Not special in terms of rarity but a lovely little group none the less - also my Timor eyeing up the new tennants.

Halichoeres Leucoxanthus 4-3-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Skittles Popping 4-3-17 by Andy, on Flickr