What Wrasse Should I get for my 50G??

scoopsthedog · Mar 12, 2017

So many to choose from! Here are my current critters:
2 Bonded Clowns
Midas Blenny

I will be getting a Mandarin and Clown Goby at some point. Knowing the Mandarin will be eating pods I am interested in a Wrasse (or two) that:
Won't burrow in the sand (I have a ton of coral and critters on my sand bed)
Won't over compete for pods
Isn't super finicky in how to care for it / what it eats.

Thanks!

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2017

What are the dimensions of the tank?

Maybe a flasher or small fairy, such as a lubbocks.

Roy 9121 · Mar 12, 2017

I like the flasher, carpenter, or fairy wrasse. Wouldn't recommend a 6 line.

scoopsthedog · Mar 12, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
What are the dimensions of the tank?

Maybe a flasher or small fairy, such as a lubbocks.

SCA

50G square (I believe 24x24x20)

scoopsthedog · Mar 13, 2017

Roy 9121 said:
I like the flasher, carpenter, or fairy wrasse. Wouldn't recommend a 6 line.

Any advice on a specific fairy or flasher? Seems to be lots of choices. Thanks.

Roy 9121 · Mar 13, 2017

scoopsthedog said:
Any advice on a specific fairy or flasher? Seems to be lots of choices. Thanks.

I don't know a lot about them, I'd just find one you like and research it on Liveaquaria.com

ngoodermuth · Mar 14, 2017

McCosker's flasher wrasses are cool looking, smaller, and fairly easy to come by. Make sure the tank covered though, they will jump.

40B Knasty · Mar 14, 2017

I have a spotted mandarin and a yellow purple wrasse. Yes he borrows in the sand. A sand borrowing wrasse from the looks of your tank would find a nice spot to hunker down for the night. Plus you have fine sand. So that won't be a problem. Kind of plan out your fish routes. Like I have 6 fish. Give them the room they need and map it. Places for them to meet up, swim the length, places to be on their own. You got this. Flashers from what I have seen by other people's experience are the most peaceful. I did this for understanding my fishes needs.
Wrasse-yellow
Clown-orange
Grammica lined dartfish-blue
Mandarin-green
Randall's prawn goby-white
Swissguard basslet-red
Circles being friendly hangout spots.
Lines being swimming spots.

Jason mack · Mar 14, 2017

40B Knasty said:
I have a spotted mandarin and a yellow purple wrasse. Yes he borrows in the sand. A sand borrowing wrasse from the looks of your tank would find a nice spot to hunker down for the night. Plus you have fine sand. So that won't be a problem. Kind of plan out your fish routes. Like I have 6 fish. Give them the room they need and map it. Places for them to meet up, swim the length, places to be on their own. You got this. Flashers from what I have seen by other people's experience are the most peaceful. I did this for understanding my fishes needs.
Wrasse-yellow
Clown-orange
Grammica lined dartfish-blue
Mandarin-green
Randall's prawn goby-white
Swissguard basslet-red
Circles being friendly hangout spots.
Lines being swimming spots.

Nice idea !!!!

40B Knasty · Mar 14, 2017

Jason mack said:
Nice idea !!!!

Also good to do an invert mapping. For urchin, snails, conch, and shrimp. My shrimp love to hang up side down. Conch needs to be able to walk the whole bottom. Urchins do not like the sand bed. He uses the coco worm on the left to get back and forth to the glass and LR.

fabutahoun · Mar 14, 2017

There are many beautiful flasher and fairy wrasses you can add some of my favorite,
Make sure that the tank is covered completely in mesh, I had the tank covered with egg-crate and they escaped easily

Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse

40B Knasty · Mar 14, 2017

fabutahoun said:
There are many beautiful flasher and fairy wrasses you can add some of my favorite,
Make sure that the tank is covered completely in mesh, I had the tank covered with egg-crate and they escaped easily

Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse

Ruby fin and carpenter are sweet! Would that work with a yellow and purple?

fabutahoun · Mar 14, 2017

40B Knasty said:
Ruby fin and carpenter are sweet! Would that work with a yellow and purple?

I think they will be fine, there is an excellent Article about wrasses compatibility here on R2R

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.28/

4FordFamily · Mar 14, 2017

I agree on flasher or fairy - although wrasse of any kind will likely eat pods.

eatbreakfast · Mar 14, 2017

scoopsthedog said:
Any advice on a specific fairy or flasher? Seems to be lots of choices. Thanks.

Any of the flasher species, except octotaenia will work in a 50g. Stick with smaller fairy wrasse species such as the lunatus complex, rubripinnis complex, lubbocki, or rhomboidalis.

eatbreakfast · Mar 14, 2017

40B Knasty said:
Ruby fin and carpenter are sweet! Would that work with a yellow and purple?

Yes. There aren't any compatibility issues there.

scoopsthedog · Mar 14, 2017

Sweet feedback thanks! I'm gonna dig in and will report back once I've made the addition

Empress · Mar 14, 2017

Flasher/Fairy Wrasses don't burrow in the sand. They form a Cocoon around themselves to sleep in among the rockscape.

scoopsthedog · Mar 16, 2017

One more Thought - I have three smallish sexy shrimp any Wrasse that are less likely to attack / eat shrimp?

eatbreakfast · Mar 16, 2017

Fairy and small flashers are less likely to eat sexy shrimp. In most cases they will coexist, but there are rare instances where one wilp pick off a sexy shrmp.