Flame and Earlei issue (need advice)

[ksicard]

Hello all,

So here's the story. About 3 or 4 weeks ago my tank sprang a leak. I kept all the fish in my 2 QT and got the tank replaced. During this event my Earlei wrasse almost died, for some reason he didn't handle the transfers very well so I kept him isolated in a QT for 4 weeks. He made a full recovery and so I tried reintroducing him. He went in a acclimation box for 2 days and the whole time the flame was just hanging around the box sometimes flashing. The flame wasn't trying to attack the earl through the box he just seemed extra interested in the earl.

Before the whole tank leak my Earlei who is a 5 inch supermale was the king of the tank and always kept the flame in check and never took any crap from the flame. Now that the flame has been in the new tank without the earl the flame has become the dominant fish being a 4.5" supermale. So both wrasses are fairly large.

I let the earl out of the box after 2 days and apparently it was a mistake. The flame was just actively seeking out the earl wherever he hid and just harassed the earl in any way possible. That went on for about 4 hours and now the Earl just refuses to come out of hiding. He tried to come out this morning but the flame quickly went after him as soon as he came out.

Now I'm worried that if I dont remove the flame the earl may suffer if this continues to go on. I tried catching the flame but its just not gonna happen unless I rip out the rock which I really dont want to do and only as a last resort.

Does anyone have any hail mary's I could try to get the two to co-exsist or simple ways to catch the flame without tearing apart the whole tank? It's almost as if the flame remembers the earl beating the crap out of him and now that the earl isnt dominant hes giving him payback. I have 7 other wrasses and the flame only has this behavior with the earl. And it's not just typical wrasse behavior where they chase and flare up a little bit. He's literally not letting the earl come out what soever. As soon as the earl comes out he goes after him real quick.

And the tank is a 120g 48x24

 

[joshky]

How about putting a mirror on the side of the tank? It should take the attention off of the Earlei, it's worked for me in the past but I've never tried with fairy wrasses.

 

[d-man]

Do u have a fish trap? Should be pretty easy if the flame is that bold.

 

[d-man]

Also if you don't have one, try feeding in two spots so the earls can still eat behind the rocks. Use a turkey baster to get it back there. And do it while the others are eating on the other side of the tank

 

[ksicard]

The earl was curled up and wedged in the rocks. No way he was going to eat.

The flame is to cautious, i've been trying to do the old feed and scoop routine and hes now aware of whats going on so I don't think trapping is an option.

There's bee a turn of events. The flame is somewhat claming down now that the earl has been in the tank a few days. The earl is finally making some appearances but the flame doesn't let him out for long. But none the less I think I'm clear of any mortality as long as the earl starts eating which im going to attempt shortly. The flame is just being so nasty to him. I'm a happy camper knowing i shouldn't have to rip my tank apart to get the flame out. I may have been over worrying, mainly because the earl is my prized fish with him being a 5 almost 6" super male.

 

[joshky]

Seriously try a mirror, you may get the Earlei eating quicker which is never a bad thing. Hope it works out for you, glad to hear aggression has started to mellow out some.

 

[Marshall O]

Fyi, this happened because once the Earl's was removed, the Flame took over the tank as the dominant male. Even though the Earl's used to be the dominate one, and is larger, that makes no difference. The same would happen if you removed the Flame and reintroduced after a couple weeks. The Earl's would be the dominate one, and go after the "new" Flame.

Best way to handle this is to introduce both at the same times obviously. An acclimation box is extremely helpful, but does not always work with every fish. When I go to add a new Fairy Wrasse to my tank, I get a female/juvenile. The dominate male in the tank will not be threatened at all by the much younger, smaller Wrasse. I have used this with many Fairy Wrasses, including a Flame and Earl's.

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[ksicard]

Fyi, this happened because once the Earl's was removed, the Flame took over the tank as the dominant male. Even though the Earl's used to be the dominate one, and is larger, that makes no difference. The same would happen if you removed the Flame and reintroduced after a couple weeks. The Earl's would be the dominate one, and go after the "new" Flame.

Best way to handle this is to introduce both at the same times obviously. An acclimation box is extremely helpful, but does not always work with every fish. When I go to add a new Fairy Wrasse to my tank, I get a female/juvenile. The dominate male in the tank will not be threatened at all by the much younger, smaller Wrasse. I have used this with many Fairy Wrasses, including a Flame and Earl's.

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I understand how it happened, I reiterated that in my OP. It wasn't possible for me to reintroduce the fairies at the same time. When my tank busted a leak the Earlei almost died from not handling the transfer from the DT to QT very well. I had no choice but to keep him isolated in QT so he could get healthy again.

And I did use an acclimation box but as you stated it doesn't always work out that way.

I'm actually really happy now since the Flame is finally letting the Earl come out. The earl is eating and now swimming around the tank. The Flame still likes to pick on him more so then everyone else but I think I'm out of the woods on this one.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

[Marshall O]

My post was more so for others to refer to, but I guess it didn't read that way. My apologies. I have seen many people yet to just add a new male fairy wrasse into a tank with other male(s), and then wonder why that doesn't work out. This obviously wasn't your case due to your tank leak. Either way, I'm very glad the Earl's is back to normal!

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