Whip fin fairy wrasse

ZoanthidAddict · Jan 12, 2015

Anybody have experience with this fish ? I read mixed reviews about being very aggressive towards other wrasses

Current setup 75 gal
Yellow coris
Labouti
Long fin fairy
2 clowns
Tomini tang

Lots of hiding spots in rock any help would be appreciated thanks

eatbreakfast · Jan 12, 2015

They are singlehandidly the most aggressive fairy wrasse I have dealt with. IME most other instances of fairy wrasseaggression from other species are related to how long the particular fish has been dominant in the tank as well as size, as larger fairy wrasses can throw there weight around and seem more aggressive than a smaller species, This is not the case with the whipfin. They are mean from day 2 on, maybe day 1 if acclimation is not stressful. This is a fish that should not be with other wrasses.

Nevil · Jan 12, 2015

I may have found the exception but my whipfin is the most submissive skittish wrasse I have. Also have a red velvet and solarensis in my 75 currently for wrasses.

ZoanthidAddict · Jan 12, 2015

my long fin can be a ****** my other wrasses keep him in check I was thinking maybe it would balance it out but I don't want a war inside my tank lol the whip fin is such a nice looking fish too

Mike&Terry · Jan 12, 2015

ZoanthidAddict said:
my long fin can be a ****** my other wrasses keep him in check I was thinking maybe it would balance it out but I don't want a war inside my tank lol the whip fin is such a nice looking fish too

Whip Fin's are great looking fish, but do tend to be one of the more aggressive Cirrhilabrus species. If it were me, I would not risk it.

Mike&Terry · Jan 12, 2015

Nevil said:
I may have found the exception but my whipfin is the most submissive skittish wrasse I have. Also have a red velvet and solarensis in my 75 currently for wrasses.

C. rubrisquamis and C. solarensis can also be a bit aggressive as well. Order of introduction, size, species temperament, as well as individual personalities all play a role in how a group of fairy wrasses get along.

Our first rubrisquamis (Red Velvet) could be a terror at times and at one point, we had to put him in timeout for about 3 weeks in another tank. He mellowed out quite a bit once he was re-acclimated to the pack. Our current rubrisquamis (and the King of the fairies) has a very mellow temperament.