Yellow wrasse experience/ bad shipper?

[OutColdCRNA]

I’m about to place my first order with Dr. Reef. On the website it states in the description that the yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus, is a bad shipper? Does anyone have any experience with having one of these fish shipped and what would help the transition to display from shipping.

 

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I’m about to place my first order with Dr. Reef. On the website it states in the description that the yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus, is a bad shipper? Does anyone have any experience with having one of these fish shipped and what would help the transition to display from shipping.

Bad shipper on a wrasse I believe could be due to many wrasses having higher oxygen needs. I always get the shipper to tell me what their salinity is and have a observation/QT tank set up with the same salinity. That way I can float the bag for temperature, then open the bag and transfer fish to a net over a 5 gallon bucket and release. This will save on a bunch of stress and no drip acclimation required.

 

[LiamPM]

Id imagine they are labelled as poor shippers because like all of the Halichoeres, genus, they bolt for the sand and hide under it when freaked out.

Theres no sand in a clear plastic bag of shipping water and they often freak out the entire journey. Its then very common for them to damage themselves (mouth) by diving into the corner of the bag looking for refuge constantly.

There isnt much you can do yourself to prepare for that type of stress except have whatever tank you have ready, with zero chance of aggression and a plenty deep sand bed - It will go straight for it.

 

[Tamberav]

Wrasse in general can be bad shippers. Some more than others. Sometimes sand sleepers injure themselves in the bag diving.

Small specimens ship better.

FisHotel QTs and ships their sand sleepers with sand which seems to work well. You can’t just pick what you want though as he tries to use better suppliers so he gets what they get. He puts up plenty of fish but fish sell out fast.

 

[i cant think]

I’m about to place my first order with Dr. Reef. On the website it states in the description that the yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus, is a bad shipper? Does anyone have any experience with having one of these fish shipped and what would help the transition to display from shipping.

Honestly, Halichoeres chrysus is one of the best shippers in this genus. If you want bad shipper then Halichoeres iridis will give you a run for the money haha.

But seriously, you should be just find with a Halichoeres chrysus as long as you follow the right protocol for introducing it into the tank. I’d recommend trying to get her into the tank as fast as you can - I personally do a 30 minute float for any of my new fish (unless I’ve bought coral with them) as it just reduces the stress a lot more.
Also, the sandbed will be the most important part to the introduction. These wrasses dart for the sand bed rather fast after introduction unless you’re lucky and have a wrasse that isn’t overly freaked out. This sandbed will be what they use to acclimate to the tank, they tend to use this to get used to the salinity from what I’ve experienced.

Also, this genus is rather known for bad shipping in general with some being worse than others (as I signalled to above when making the remark about the Iridis). This is due to there being no sand in the bag and when they look for sand they constantly swim down which can result in mouth injuries. I tend to try get my wrasses from an LFS and if it’s a sand sleeping species I tend to ask for a think layer of sand in the bag for the journey home however I am aware not everyone can do this so you will have to be prepared for anything.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

Thanks for the replies! Confirmed my suspicion. Sadly I live in an area with no decent LFS. The only one I trusted just had to shut down. So shipping is really my only option at this point.

 

[LiamPM]

Thanks for the replies! Confirmed my suspicion. Sadly I live in an area with no decent LFS. The only one I trusted just had to shut down. So shipping is really my only option at this point.

Many still do get them shipped and many dont see big issues on acclimation - I just imagine thats where the label of a poor shipper comes from and is more generic just in case because it can be a little more common than not.

Its largely down to personality and each individual - Ive had a species of Halichoeres dive bomb the bag to a point it was physically damaged and ive also had another of the exact same species be as peaceful and calm as anything in the bag - Both when purchased from a store myself - Its not just in overnight shipping, its the being in a bag in general for the most part as its natural for them to head for the sand in a blink.

Just saying - Its not only an issue for overnight shipping - Fingers crossed yours is ok if you go for it!

 

[OutColdCRNA]

pleasant email from Dr. Reef. He said they ship two yellow wrasses in case one dies there’s a backup. If both survive I would have two. My problem now is I was going to order a 6 line for my frag tank. Should I just place the order for the yellow and if both survive I can put the second in the frag tank? Or should I risk it and buy the six line and then figure it out if both yellows survive?

 

[LiamPM]

Do they do this in general, send two wrasses in case one dies? Or this is something between you, you have decided to do?

Very strange that - If they are SO not confident they wont survive the shipping that they offered to send two then they simply shouldnt ship that animal. Its a live animal, there shouldnt be a risk to need a backup involved, it isnt a battery.

Ive changed my vote - I dont think you should place an order for the wrasse at all and should wait until you can find one in a store. There are ways to accomodate for poor shipping species and adding a second incase of death just aint it.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I had asked about his designation as bad shipper and his response was they send two.

 

[i cant think]

pleasant email from Dr. Reef. He said they ship two yellow wrasses in case one dies there’s a backup. If both survive I would have two. My problem now is I was going to order a 6 line for my frag tank. Should I just place the order for the yellow and if both survive I can put the second in the frag tank? Or should I risk it and buy the six line and then figure it out if both yellows survive?

I’d leave the six line as if your frag tank is large enough then you’ll likely be able to do it long term however if your frag tank isn’t large enough then I’d recommend not taking the second as long term you’ll have to rehome one of the two wrasses.

 

[LiamPM]

Well thats crazy to me and pretty off putting.

" We know this species ships poorly so we double the chance of death when shipping" - Instead of "We do what we can, like ensureing there is a small amount of sand in the bag in shipping or crimp the corners of the shipping bag so no nose diving is too damaging".

On that alone id now avoid - Personal opinion of course.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I’d leave the six line as if your frag tank is large enough then you’ll likely be able to do it long term however if your frag tank isn’t large enough then I’d recommend not taking the second as long term you’ll have to rehome one of the two wrasses.

Frag tank is an IM 25 lagoon. The six line would be the only fish.

 

[i cant think]

Frag tank is an IM 25 lagoon. The six line would be the only fish.

I wouldn’t do the Yellow in that size tank.
I would personally ask to not have the second yellow wrasse as the two yellows will both transition to male and in the larger tank will likely fight to the death. I’d also skip a six line altogether as if you ever have to break down that tank I don’t think many would want them given their reputation. Instead I would personally go for a Pink Streaked Wrasse as these are more sought after by others so if you did have to tear down the second tank it wouldn’t be as hard to find a new home for it but also they are the much more peaceful sixline and don’t want to kill other wrasses whilst a sixline would want to and if you were to tear down the frag tank you’d likely be unlucky on adding the sixline to your other tank without risking your other wrasses.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I wouldn’t do the Yellow in that size tank.
I would personally ask to not have the second yellow wrasse as the two yellows will both transition to male and in the larger tank will likely fight to the death. I’d also skip a six line altogether as if you ever have to break down that tank I don’t think many would want them given their reputation. Instead I would personally go for a Pink Streaked Wrasse as these are more sought after by others so if you did have to tear down the second tank it wouldn’t be as hard to find a new home for it but also they are the much more peaceful sixline and don’t want to kill other wrasses whilst a sixline would want to and if you were to tear down the frag tank you’d likely be unlucky on adding the sixline to your other tank without risking your other wrasses.

Excellent idea! Thanks for your knowledge! I truly appreciate it!!

 

[Zionas]

Makes me wonder how often cyanide is still used in the collection of these guys and other wrasses considering most of them come from PH and Indo.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I had that that thought as well when researching.

Makes me wonder how often cyanide is still used in the collection of these guys and other wrasses considering most of them come from PH and Indo.