Calling All Wrasse Aficionados...

[gofor100]

Hey Guys,

Just finalizing a fish list for my upgrade (60"L X 30"W X 24"T mixed reef), and have become extremely interested in wrasses of all types, but mainly wrasses from the families: 1) Halichoeres, 2) Macropharyngodon (Leopard wrasses), 3) Cirrhilabrus (Fairy wrasses), and 4) Paracheilinus (Flasher wrasses).

To give you an idea of what other fish will be in the tank (so you can make suggestions based on the big picture and not so you can comments on the fish list):

> Regal Angelfish
> School (7) of Threadfin Anthias
> Longnose Butterflyfish
> Pair (2) of Black Ocellaris Clownfish (with host RBTA)
> Mandarin Goby/Dragonet
> Diamond Sleeper Goby
> Flame Hawkfish
> Moorish Idol
> Blue Chin Trigger

The following wrasses have caught my eye, but I'm definitely open to suggestions:

> Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
> Radiant Wrasse (Halichoeres iridis)
> Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
> Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus)
> Laboutei Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)
> Clown Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
> Yellowstreaked Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus uteovittatus)
> Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
> Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
> Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus)
> McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)

Some characteristics I'm looking for are fish that are colorful (I mainly need blues/purples/oranges), but would be open to any suggestions.

So any thoughts/input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[skibum9884]

Definitely include some Rhomboid wrasses. In my experience they are very mellow and also very pretty!

Since you mentioned purple that was one of the first that came to mind.

 

[reefjunkie42]

explore getting rid of the clowns. also anthias and wrasse feed from water column might be an issue. read rudie kuriter's book on labroids.

 

[gofor100]

Definitely include some Rhomboid wrasses. In my experience they are very mellow and also very pretty!

Since you mentioned purple that was one of the first that came to mind.

Awesome suggestion... :thumbsup: Definitely on the list. Can't believe I missed that one.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[gofor100]

explore getting rid of the clowns. also anthias and wrasse feed from water column might be an issue. read rudie kuriter's book on labroids.

Well I'll definitely consider taking advice from someone that is a self-proclaimed "wrasse junkie"... BUT, the wife is insisting we get some clowns. So I went with the some of the most mellow (in my experience) type (Ocellaris).

Not too concerned about the anthias and wrasse sharing the water column. I won't be getting all of the wrasses I list, plus, I tend to slightly overfeed which is apparently a good thing with some of the fish I intend to keep.

Any particular favorites of yours that I've missed?

Thanks,

Chad

 

[jt_milstead]

I agree about the Black and Whites. they get mean as hell, and will nip on your arms.

 

[reefjunkie42]

Well the thing is when ANY damsel fish(clowns are damsels) starts to breed, which clowns will inevetably do.. they will stake territory and push all other fish to the other side of the tank. that said if you scape correct it shouldnt be a problem. I personally would go with none of those fairys,except the lobouti as many of them are part of the blue family which lose color if not kept with a female. You should look into hood fairys, or rhomboids. I also like lineatus. I personally keep johnsoni, pyle,hooded,adornus,blateaus,lineatus, puncatus, and noakoe as well as a few other flashers.

 

[gofor100]

Well the thing is when ANY damsel fish(clowns are damsels) starts to breed, which clowns will inevetably do.. they will stake territory and push all other fish to the other side of the tank. that said if you scape correct it shouldnt be a problem. I personally would go with none of those fairys,except the lobouti as many of them are part of the blue family which lose color if not kept with a female. You should look into hood fairys, or rhomboids. I also like lineatus. I personally keep johnsoni, pyle,hooded,adornus,blateaus,lineatus, puncatus, and noakoe as well as a few other flashers.

I might be able to get her off the "Nemo-wagon"...

But great suggestions... I'll definitely have to look into the wrasses you've mentioned.

Any pics of the tank/wrasses available??? Sounds like an awesome tank!

-Chad

 

[clowntriggerfis]

I peronly love leopard wrasses and plan to make my 45 a leopard wrasse tank. My favorate one is the potters wrasse.

 

[A_Z]

my favorite fairy wrasse is the Hawaiian Flame Wrasse Terminal Male. :bigeyes:

favorite flasher: Bells

 

[gofor100]

I peronly love leopard wrasses and plan to make my 45 a leopard wrasse tank. My favorate one is the potters wrasse.

Also love the Potters... definitely a consideration if I can find a healthy one.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[gofor100]

my favorite fairy wrasse is the Hawaiian Flame Wrasse Terminal Male. :bigeyes:

favorite flasher: Bells

Will the Hawaiian Flame wrasse lose it's color without females, or does it retain it pretty well?

I'll have to look at the Bells Flasher...

Thanks for the suggestions!

-Chad

 

[pk_hk]

We recently got a melanurus wrasse and love him! Good green and blue colour, interesting to watch swimming in, out and around rocks, very cool fish to have. No problems with our other fish, eating straight away and so amazIng the way he dives into the sandbed at night.

 

[gofor100]

So do a majority of the fairy wrasses listed (i.e., Laboutei, Hooded, Rhomboid, etc.) get along when kept together (keeping in mind my tank size)?

Also, I guess the same question would apply to any Flashers and Halichoeres...

Thanks again guys! Keep the suggestions coming...

-Chad

 

[gofor100]

We recently got a melanurus wrasse and love him! Good green and blue colour, interesting to watch swimming in, out and around rocks, very cool fish to have. No problems with our other fish, eating straight away and so amazIng the way he dives into the sandbed at night.

I've been looking at those too... but I've also seen the Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus), which has similar coloration but slightly cooler (IMO). Can't really go wrong with either though.

Thanks for the suggestion!

-Chad

 

[reefjunkie42]

Im not super farmiliar on halichoeres genus but I would say if you want a bells save up! they are $1000 fish...and very rare. I believe flames keep color even when without a female, and yes those wrasses you mentioned will play well together.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, flames will keep coloration. Blue bodied wrasses tend to lose coloration without a female and yes. P. bellae are rare in the hobby because they are collected on a rebreather.

 

[gofor100]

Looks like the Flame is on the list and P. bellae is off until I win the lotto

More suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[29reef]

I wouldn't keep wrasses and anthias with a blue throat. I also think the clowns will be better suited in their own aquarium. A small 20-30 gallon tank works just fine.

As for wrasses, there are so many to choose from and for the most part they will get along with each other just fine. Just stay away from some of the more aggressive ones.

 

[gofor100]

I wouldn't keep wrasses and anthias with a blue throat. I also think the clowns will be better suited in their own aquarium. A small 20-30 gallon tank works just fine.

As for wrasses, there are so many to choose from and for the most part they will get along with each other just fine. Just stay away from some of the more aggressive ones.

Not sure if you've had a blue throat before, but from what I've read and from experiences of some local reefkeepers, it's been a model citizen with fish (although it may munch on a snail or crab here and there).

Definitely contemplating just turning my frag tank into a Frag/Anemone Tank

Now onto the wrasses... which ones are "some of the more aggressive ones"??? I guess that's the point of this whole thread... figuring out which ones I want, and which ones I don't want. :twitch:

Thanks,

Chad