Wrasse dominance is WEIRD!

saltyhog · Dec 22, 2016

I'm starting to replenish my wrasse tank after the recent move and have 3 fish in QT right now doing TTM. They've been in for a little over a week and while there is no real aggression at all the one I would have less expected seems to be dominant.

If you had a 3.5" C. jordani, a 2.75" C. laboutei and a 2.5" P. flavianalis, which would you expect to be dominant? All are active and eating well but one is doing all the displaying and picks which PVC fitting he wants to sleep in. I would have expected the smaller flasher to be bottom of the pecking order but he's on top at the moment. It will be interesting to see if this holds especially after they get in the DT.

Deinonych · Dec 22, 2016

Yep, definitely unpredictable. I had a P. cyaneus who ruled the tank despite being the smallest of all my wrasses. Sadly, he played chicken with a powerhead and lost.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 23, 2016

Curious behavior. I guess the biggest isn't always boss.

saltyhog · Dec 23, 2016

mdbannister said:
Curious behavior. I guess the biggest isn't always boss.

My only possible explanation is that the Yellow Fin Flasher is large for his species and arrived several hours before the flame. He's "used" to being dominant. The Labout's just swims merrily along and ignores everyone else except for trying to steal food from their mouths.