Flame wrasse in captivity?

[tangov5559]

What's the longest you guys have had your flame wrasse? from what I'v read, it seems to me they usually pass after a couple of years....

 

[Shoryureppa]

I'm not sure if there is enough study done on the life expectancy of this fish. Brad Syphus might have a better idea as I think his were quite a few years old

 

[tangov5559]

yeah, it seems like they only last about 2-3 years average...i was just wondering why..

 

[evolved]

Usually user error, unfortunately.

If all was well and nothing went awry, I suspect a lifespan of 8-10 years is more on par.

Also note when you purchase adults, you don't know how old they might already be.

 

[38bill]

Usually user error, unfortunately.

If all was well and nothing went awry, I suspect a lifespan of 8-10 years is more on par.

Also note when you purchase adults, you don't know how old they might already be.

Plus 1, and you have to feed them and I dont mean once every three or so days.

 

[Ambition]

Usually user error, unfortunately.

If all was well and nothing went awry, I suspect a lifespan of 8-10 years is more on par.

Also note when you purchase adults, you don't know how old they might already be.

Plus 1, and you have to feed them and I dont mean once every three or so days.

Agreed with the above. I have found with wrasses in general, feeding upwards of three times per day kept them healthy and looking good.

I'd venture to say that some may die prematurely because I see them offered as pairs, trios, etc. and the females often turn male resulting in one of the males dieing.

 

[SDguy]

So any non user error actual experiences?

 

[yalpal]

Agreed with the above. I have found with wrasses in general, feeding upwards of three times per day kept them healthy and looking good.

I'd venture to say that some may die prematurely because I see them offered as pairs, trios, etc. and the females often turn male resulting in one of the males dieing.

Completely agree with this. When I bought my first "pair" of Flame Wrasses, they were doing well in quarantine, and then all of the sudden the "female" turned on the male. If I remember correctly I was treating them for flukes, and the female must have known the male was vulnerable.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Plus 1, and you have to feed them and I dont mean once every three or so days.

Yeah, I think there has been so much written about over-feeding that many (maybe more than many) tanks are under-fed. Many fish can live on what they get, but never thrive. There is a big difference and shorter lifespan is often the result. IMO & IME, of course.

On the subject: I had a pair of these beautiful fish pre-Katrina and I don't have my notes. I remember both croaked within the 1st year and had no idea why. We're thinking of another pair soon, my wife loves them. I knew the diver and just wrote it off to "one of those things". Probably not enough garlic.

 

[Shoryureppa]

I feed mine twice a day sometimes 3 times wit a mixture of mysis, blackworms and omega brine. The males display more when are well fed I noticed. The males though are a bit tougher to adapt IME.

 

[SDguy]

So any non user error actual experiences?

Just thought I'd repeat...

I ask because I had miserable success with these fish... and believe me feeding was not the issue.

The best I did with a fairy wrasse (pretty much the only other species I kept... once I tried a "sunset" pylei that jumped through a hole) was a lubbocks for a bit over 5 years.

So I'd really like to hear about the longevity of these wrasses in captivity....

 

[indyjaco]

I had 2 female flames for about a month. Ordered them from PIA and both started eating on day 1. They would always eat Mysis and pellets like my two other wrasses. One lasted about 3 weeks then stopped eating then disappeared the next day the 2nd did the same thing about 2 weeks later.

 

[tangov5559]

I had my flame for about 1 year. Just stopped eating one day and it eventually passed. No reason at all.

 

[emoore]

I have 3 flame wrasses for about a year now. I had a Lubboks wrasse for about 3 years before he disappeared. They seem harder to keep alive long. You don't hear many stories about long lived wrasses.

 

[emoore]

Double post

 

[Joe0813]

do you guys think the same for mystery wrasse

 

[tangov5559]

do you guys think the same for mystery wrasse

No experience with these.... Sorry

 

[rssjsb]

do you guys think the same for mystery wrasse

Mysteries are not fairy wrasses. They're in the same family as sixlines, so they don't have the same issues. They will jump like most wrasses, but I've never heard reports that they just stop eating and disappear.

The main issue with them is that they tend to get mean as they age, and often start eating inverts.

 

[CIGARSC351W]

I purchased 2 small female Flames 4 months ago. The larger of the two has started to change to a male. There both eating like pigs and seem to get alone well. I feed small amounts of mysis, bloodworms and omega brine 3 times a day.

 

[albano]

Out of the 30 wrasses in my DT, 20 are fairy or flashers. Some are over 2 yrs in my care, 2 are over 3yrs.
I have lost 2 out of 4 Flames... Both times it was the biggest/oldest male.

I, personally, prefer to buy the cheaper female wrasses...they always turn male, and most of the males seem to display for any type of female (they get that from me), so pairs/harems don't seem to be required