Flame Wrasse Harem Questions

[IFbettas]

Hey everyone. I really want to add a harem of C. jordani to my 180g reef, but want to make sure I get it right. First, I'll list the current tank inhabitants:

Condei Wrasse Male
Lineopunctatus Flasher Male
Cebu Pylei Wrasse Male
Mystery Wrasse (still a little guy)
Sunburst Anthias
(2) Mated Banggai Cardinals
(2) Mated Ocellaris clowns

What I want to have is 1 male and at least 3 females. One of the major reasons why I want a harem is so I can see their social interaction and watch the male court the females. Will the other wrasses that I already have disrupt the social interaction of the flames or keep the male too busy to flash for the females? Do you think the male flame will still be able to keep control of the females or will having other male fairy wrasses present mess that up? I don't want to end up with a group of flame wrasses who don't interact at all.

I've also read several threads on here where people had the females in their harem convert to males over time. Is there anything I can do to try and prevent that?

Any other tips I should know before I attempt this? Thanks.

 

[IFbettas]

Anyone?

 

[aquaph8]

I too think a harem of flames would be cool. I think its probably do able but doing a social acclimation would be in your favor. I've heard the Pylei can be rather aggresive.

 

[d-man]

i think the pylei, condei, and mystery (when big) may be pretty brutal group with the flames.

 

[Dejavu]

I had a harem of 5 for for sometime. First off if you think there all going to stay together (school), they won't. Mine all interacted to together, but most of the time they were spread out over the tank. IMO it very hard to have only one male. In most cases, as mine was too, you will end up with a sub-male in wait... it's only natural.

 

[IFbettas]

My pylei isn't too aggressive, but he is the dominant wrasse in the tank. The condei and mystery have been very peaceful so far. I'm thinking about taking the pylei out while the flames are getting adjusted and then I'd add him back after a few weeks. Any thoughts?

If the other wrasses end up being too aggressive with the flames I could move them to another tank.

 

[Dejavu]

Flame are pretty aggressive wrasses, I think once settled in they will hold there own .

 

[IFbettas]

I had a harem of 5 for for sometime. First off if you think there all going to stay together (school), they won't. Mine all interacted to together, but most of the time they were spread out over the tank. IMO it very hard to have only one male. In most cases, as mine was too, you will end up with a sub-male in wait... it's only natural.

I'm not expecting them to stay together, but I want them to interact with each other. I'm hoping the male would display to the females somewhat regularly too. Did your male tolerate the sub-male. Do you think I'll probably end up with a dominant male, a sub-male, and the rest will stay females?

 

[ccampbell57]

I have 3 females and one supermale and they get along just fine. I am planning on adding 2-4 more females. Great fish and whenyou have a male that is pushing 5" like mine you will not be sorry.

 

[IFbettas]

Flame are pretty aggressive wrasses, I think once settled in they will hold there own .

That's good to hear!

 

[albano]

I have over 20 wrasses in my 450g DT, including pylie and mystery, without problems. I would say the most aggressive is a Naokae that is no where near the biggest.
Anyway, the main point is that less than a year ago, I had 1M and 4F flames, and within a few months, I had 3M, 1F, and 1 starting to change to M, but went back to a large F...I am now hoping the largest M will become a supermale. The 3 males and lg. F are always together...the smaller F is usually at the other end of the tank.
BTW, my pylie, naokoae, and rosefascia all display for the F flames.

Video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuvhYs8vH90
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[IFbettas]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to order a pair today, and then in a few weeks I'll add 2-3 more females.

 

[snorvich]

i think the pylei, condei, and mystery (when big) may be pretty brutal group with the flames.

That has been my experience as well.

 

[IFbettas]

Steve, do you know if mystery wrasses get progressively more aggressive with age? My hope was that by starting with a small one (about 1.5") that it would not be so aggressive. The mystery is currently at the bottom of the totem pole, so I'm not worried about it going after the flames at this point. Of course, this could change as time goes on.

I'm willing to remove any of the other wrasses who give the flames a hard time.

 

[d-man]

usually the mystery wrasses do get more aggressive with age. There are a lot of people who have had no prob for a long time then one day, BAM! they become terrors.