Flame Wrasse Trio

[Lacktaters]

I introduced three flame wrasses (one supermale and two females) to my system about two months ago. One of the females seems to swim around with the male a lot more than the other. The one that keeps to herself is now missing her tail...went outta town for a couple days and it looks like something chewed it off. There are no aggressive fish in the tank. I haven't seen the other female wrasse picking on her, but suspect that she is the culprit. Do you think this is the case or should I suspect some sort of parasite like flukes?

 

[reefjunkie42]

It sounds like a bully, most likely one of the wrasses. Watch the tank in the evening, I'd be it's the supermale

 

[evolved]

Flames are notorious for transitioning to male in captivity, regardless if there's other males present.

I'm willing to bet the lone "female" (sub-male) has been scuffling with your male.

 

[Lacktaters]

I've been watching the tank in the evenings. I haven't noticed any wrasse on wrasse violence. In fact I haven't seen any violence at all. The tank inhabitants are a pair of false percs, a potter's angel, a randall's goby, a sailfin blenny, and the trio of flames. Yesterday I noticed the supermale now has a slightly mangled looking tail. The tremendous size difference between the male and either of the other female flames makes me doubt either is challenging him for his throne. Parasites? How can I be sure?

 

[euod]

I also noticed mine had the same issue lately and then saw my cleaner wrasses nipping on their tails. I would suspect something else is nipping at them than a infection or parasite.

 

[evolved]

Nipped fins is almost always due to another fish.