The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Kyl]

Thanks guys, as always. As a side-note, my C. cyanopleura and C. lubbocki are thriving in the DT so far, no major issues with the other fish though the blue-sided gets tired of the cleaner wrasse’s attention sometimes. I have to say the lubbocks is really starting to take on a high contrast splotched pink / yellow / orange, really looks nice with a slight actinic tint to the tank. Night and day compared to when they were in QT, that’s for sure.


Making me want a larger tank for those guys now too, think I’m getting addicted to wrasses!

 

[Flameback Pair]

Would adding a Canary Wrasse and adding two unmated Yellow Banded Possum Wrasses get along in my 54G reef established for a year? Other fish being an established Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown, and some Chromis?

Do the YB Possum Wrasses dive into the sand? Should I get one bigger than the other? And would they or the Yell Canary Wrasse pose a threat to my mini-brittle stars?

 

[evolved]

Do the YB Possum Wrasses dive into the sand?

No.

Should I get one bigger than the other?

Doesn't really matter, but doesn't hurt.

And would they or the Yell Canary Wrasse pose a threat to my mini-brittle stars?

They won't. The canary could, but probably won't.

 

[Husker]

Thanks for all the help to you both. He did die, as predicted. I still appreciate all the help working through getting the new wrasses introduced and solving the aggression issues. I thought I was out of the woods when everyone was happily swimming together.

I ordered from Blue Zoo because of a sale going on which made it marginally cheaper than LA. The 7 day guarantee (over 14) ended up more than making up the difference. I emailed them a couple times regarding the fish's condition, but never heard back.

 

[Rookie J]

What size is the tank? H. marginatus gets bigger than many of the commonly kept Halichoeres species. Will there be any tankmates? Because dusky wrasses can be a little pushy. They also require a sandbed.

It's 75 gallons. 6x2. Has a sand bed area. Current fish in there are two clowns, hippo, vlamingii, purple, and sohal.

 

[linus.chan]

Thanks for all the help to you both. He did die, as predicted. I still appreciate all the help working through getting the new wrasses introduced and solving the aggression issues. I thought I was out of the woods when everyone was happily swimming together.

I ordered from Blue Zoo because of a sale going on which made it marginally cheaper than LA. The 7 day guarantee (over 14) ended up more than making up the difference. I emailed them a couple times regarding the fish's condition, but never heard back.

Are there more reliable sources out there? I am looking to pick up a isosceles, or rhomboid or lineatus as well and just trying to navigate he different sources. Had mixed luck with LA.

 

[revaltion131]

Are there more reliable sources out there? I am looking to pick up a isosceles, or rhomboid or lineatus as well and just trying to navigate he different sources. Had mixed luck with LA.

If you wait and get them from the LA Diver's Den that's by far the best route IME. I've never ordered from the the normal LA because I'd always heard mixed results. I've had excellent luck with Pacific Island Aquatics. Kevin has really taken care of me when things have gone wrong in the past and when it has worked out, it's worked out very well. There are others with great reputations but because I don't have direct experience with them I'll let people who have talk about them.

I just ordered my first wrasses in a long time and my first faires in an even longer time from Zoa Collector this week. They should be here tomorrow. I'm excited but super nervous, too. Haven't QT'd anybody in awhile and I dropped (and broke) my QT tank moving it to set it up yesterday. Tank's going to be a lot younger than I want it to be but I'll have boat loads of freshly mixed water on hand.

 

[evolved]

If you wait and get them from the LA Diver's Den that's by far the best route IME.

One of the best, IMO.

Kevin has really taken care of me

(Kevin left HI several years ago and has nothing to do with the current PIA anymore.)

from Zoa Collector

Another one of the best, IMO.

 

[revaltion131]

One of the best, IMO.

(Kevin left HI several years ago and has nothing to do with the current PIA anymore.)

Another one of the best, IMO.

I didn't know that about Kevin, thank you! I ordered clowns last time I bought from them (last summer) and I did notice a different signage on the emails but I just assumed he'd switched to signing with the business name for everything.

 

[offthehook]

Naoko is a pretty aggressive species unfortunately. Because of that, it's quite possible this won't change - and if so the McCoskeri will wither away.
Keep a close eye for now, but if things don't change in 10 days or so, you'll need to take action.
Pulling the naoko out for a week may well result in the same behavior once returned.

Using an acclimation box in the future would be advised.

@evolved Is this agressivensss towards only other wrasses or other fish in general? Was going to add one as my only wrasse and read in some post they were pretty peaceful but then others say not. If it is other wrasses then I should be fine but if it is other fish in general as well then I may reconsider. I am also considering an orange back. So one of the two. Thanks for your input.

 

[Radman73]

@evolved Is this agressivensss towards only other wrasses or other fish in general? Was going to add one as my only wrasse and read in some post they were pretty peaceful but then others say not. If it is other wrasses then I should be fine but if it is other fish in general as well then I may reconsider. I am also considering an orange back. So one of the two. Thanks for your input.

Just as an FYI, I absolutely love my orange back. Beautiful fish and has been very hardy for me making it through a couple tank transfers and a long road trip from Atlanta to Florida when we moved. Model citizen for me though I haven't mixed it with other fairy wrasses yet.

 

[evolved]

@evolved Is this agressivensss towards only other wrasses or other fish in general? Was going to add one as my only wrasse and read in some post they were pretty peaceful but then others say not. If it is other wrasses then I should be fine but if it is other fish in general as well then I may reconsider. I am also considering an orange back. So one of the two. Thanks for your input.

Mainly towards other wrasses, but sometimes can extend towards similar shaped fish as well.
The orange back is a better choice.

 

[offthehook]

Mainly towards other wrasses, but sometimes can extend towards similar shaped fish as well.
The orange back is a better choice.

Thanks! My LFS got both in today. The naoko was DOA The orange back had a cloudy eye. I struck out with both today . He did get in a tri color as well. I decided to go with a tri color as he was really vibrant and had those nice blues with bright yellow top fin. He was also pretty small which will be nice to see him mature. He is quite shy right now and has been hiding for most of the afternoon since I got him...hoping he will settle in over the next couple of days. I haven't seen a lot of them as bright as this one but then again I haven't seen any in a few years as I have been out of the hobby for a while. I really wanted the orange back but didn't want to risk it. My LFS is going to hold onto him for a few days and see if his eye clears up. It wasn't very noticeable but was also slightly swollen. It could have been a net irritation but I still didn't want to take a chance on a possible sick fish. Thanks for your help!

 

[saltyhog]

Lubbock's are great little fish. Smaller than most other fairy wrasse but while they don't ever seem to cause much problem they also stand up to other fish surprisingly well for their size.

 

[phytofish]

Yesterday I got a Vrolik’s wrasse. He swam around the aquarium for about 20 minutes (around 2pm yesterday), ate some food, and then disappeared.. I assumed that he buried himself as he may have been stressed out due to the new environment. My lights came on at 11 this morning and he still hasn’t reappeared. Is this normal?

 

[evolved]

I assumed that he buried himself

Highly likely.

My lights came on at 11 this morning and he still hasn’t reappeared. Is this normal?

Yes. It may be several days before you see him. Up to 2 weeks is not unheard of.

 

[ReefersDirect Verified Sponsor]

Adult A. Lennardi

Officially my favorite wrasse... might have to keep this one LOL​

 

[phytofish]

Highly likely.

Yes. It may be several days before you see him. Up to 2 weeks is not unheard of.

Wow.. i’m just so surprised because he seemed great for about 20 minutes!

 

[deedubz]

By no means a rare wrasse, but my second fairy(of many to come). This is Francois, who has very quickly become my favorite fish. Much more outgoing than my lubbock's wrasse. He follows me around everywhere and is constantly begging for food. I got him from LA 2 months ago as a "female." Out of curiosity, is he transitioning or terminal?

 

[offthehook]

I did not realize Lubbocks were so reclusive. I have only seen mine a couple of times since I got him yesterday and that was only when he peeked out from a rock cave to grab a piece of food, then went back into hiding. The wrasses I have had in the past have typically been front and center from day one after a few hours of settling in. He is a really pretty wrasse, hope to see him more in the coming days