Aggressive Fairy Wrasses / Social Acclimation

[ggrillo]

So here's my problem. I have a moderately stocked 55g with a Solar Fairy wrasse in it (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) and was under the impression that fairy wrasses can co-exist peacefully. I've added a Ruby Head fairy (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) and the Solar immediately started attacking him. I managed to catch the new fish and have him in a critter cage floating in the tank. All day the Solar has been bumping the cage trying to get at the new fish. I think I have 3 possible solutions to this.

1. Leave the new fish in his "social Acclimation box" for a few weeks and see if the solar gets used to him.

2. Put the Solar in the box for a few weeks and let the ruby head loose in the tank to get comfortable and then release the Solar back into the tank.

3. Possibly add a 3rd fairy wrasse to the mix? Not sure on this one. I've kept african chiclids and adding more fish usually helped to even out the aggression. I know my tank / filtration would be able to handle the additional bioload without trouble.


Out of those 3 options, which do you think is best? The ruby head is in the box currently and is eating well showing no abnormal signs of stress.

Thanks for the input

 

[evolved]

Many wrasses are compatible. Some are not. It's a matter of what particular species.

Solorensis are known to be more aggressive, and don't often play well with other fairys. Couple that with the a ruby head having a close resemblance and a relatively small tank, and you have a situation that is not likely to work.

You can keep the cyanopleura in the box for a few days and see if the behavior subsides from the solorensis, but if it does not you will have to choose one fish or the other.

Also, both of those species are amongst the larger fairys, and once full grown will need more room than a 55 provides.

Best of luck.

 

[ggrillo]

Thanks, I'll give them a few more days to work it out.

Also on another note, when I had added cyanopleura, it was chased relentlessly through the tank, but once I turned the lights off, both wrasses slept next to each other under the same pile of rubble rock. As soon as the lights came back on the chase continued until I put him in the box.

 

[psofa]

Hi,
I have a 180 gal tank with 1 Scott and thinking of adding a pair of Tonga flame, a pair of Lineatus and Golden Rhomboid...is this ok? I heard that Scott will be a problem and very aggressive to others.. in that case I can take him out and replace with other three. Btw, where do you buy good wrasses? Thanks Mr. Wrasse...

 

[cantonreef]

I think you'll be ok, especially if you are going to add them all at the same time. In my experience the Scott's aren't nearly as agressive as the others you've listed, so it's probably best that it was added first.

 

[SaltWaterGuy08]

wrasse r aggressive towards them self's. I would try number 2 because so the other one wont be as stressed out

 

[snorvich]

Many wrasses are compatible. Some are not. It's a matter of what particular species.

Solorensis are known to be more aggressive, and don't often play well with other fairys. Couple that with the a ruby head having a close resemblance and a relatively small tank, and you have a situation that is not likely to work.

You can keep the cyanopleura in the box for a few days and see if the behavior subsides from the solorensis, but if it does not you will have to choose one fish or the other.

Also, both of those species are amongst the larger fairys, and once full grown will need more room than a 55 provides.

Best of luck.

I agree.

 

[snorvich]

I think you'll be ok, especially if you are going to add them all at the same time. In my experience the Scott's aren't nearly as agressive as the others you've listed, so it's probably best that it was added first.

C. scottorum, from my various experiences, is one of the most aggressive of the fairy wrasses. In general, females, by the way, are more aggressive than males in most species.