Acclimating a wrasse to a new home

[Reeferz412]

So I have a very mean flameback angel who kills anyone who goes into the tank.
I cant catch the little sucker. He is too quick and traps didn't work. Could I stick the wrasse in a submerged breeder box and let the angel get used to the wrasse being there? Or would that be no good and the angel will kill the wrasse when I release it?

 

[RJT]

Which wrasse?

 

[MikeandNicole]

The breeder box would work to see how aggressive the angel is towards the wrasse, and let you gauge when or if you should let it out. In a 46, you might just want to take the rock apart and get him out, if this is his behavior now, it will probably not change. Let him cool his heels in the sump and add your other fish so he is not defending his territory. Also, a rescape of the rock will help with the aggression. Try the mirror trick as well.

 

[Reeferz412]

Probably a yellow corisse or six line.

 

[Reeferz412]

I'll try the reaquascaping and mirror.

 

[RJT]

Good choices they will fight back. If it was a Lubbock or another small fairy that would just get killed. If you can make the wrasse larger it will help.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Six lines can be terrors on there own, probably worse than the flame back. I would go with the yellow coris if it were my tank.

 

[Reeferz412]

Alright so:

Bigger the better
No fairy wrasses
Six lines are formidable so that can be an option..

Any other species I could add? I have owned both before the angel so maybe I can change it up. I had a pencil wrasse with it and it did fine.

 

[jlafou1]

Something that has always worked well for me:

Take a large zip lock bag
Cut two small holes one above one below the zipper
Thread fishing line through and make a knot
Place zip lock bag sideway with bottom half covered in sand
Pull line taught enough to keep bag open
Leave food in for a few days for fish to become accustom to it
Sit and wait for fish to go in and yank the line and bag up!

 

[Marshall O]

Acclimation boxes work wonders. I have one from Reef Gently that is perfect for adding new wrasses.

 

[Reeferz412]

jlafou, that is an interesting suggestion never thought of a trap like that. I may end up trying it instead of cutting another liter bottle.

Marshall O, thank you for your input that puts me at ease that someone else has done this. Question, what about burrowing wrasses? I know the yellow and pencil wrasse burrow for the first couple of days... what about when acclimating?

 

[evolved]

^ Use a small container with some sand in the acclimation box, in those instances.