Flasher Wrasse Questions

[L98-Z]

I currently have a 180 gallon, but will eventually be setting up my 300. When I do, I was thinking about removing my sixline and replace it with some flasher wrasses.

I'm under the impression that normally you have 1 male, and multiple females. Assuming their of the same species.

If I were to say... buy (5) of these: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+329&pcatid=329

would one become the male and others female? Or are they born into their sex and would fight?

I'm only familiar with the way clowns work in this situtation.

 

[revaltion131]

You could buy 5 females and one would turn into the male. There would probaly be aggression between the females while they decided who would be the dominant one. Wrasses are born as females and will stay that way until there is no male present. At that point, the dominant female in the group/area will change into a male.

On a side note, I'd find a different source to buy from, at least with that species. I'm not saying that LA is a bad source in general, I just would not pay $50 for a juvenile fish that goes for half that in my area.

 

[L98-Z]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15168151#post15168151 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by revaltion131
You could buy 5 females and one would turn into the male. There would probaly be aggression between the females while they decided who would be the dominant one. Wrasses are born as females and will stay that way until there is no male present. At that point, the dominant female in the group/area will change into a male.

On a side note, I'd find a different source to buy from, at least with that species. I'm not saying that LA is a bad source in general, I just would not pay $50 for a juvenile fish that goes for half that in my area.

Understandable, I was just using that fish/fish store as a reference. So they're born as females and one becomes the male. So just avoid buying males and let one of them become the male.

Sounds easy enough.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, a single male will emerge from a group of females. If possible, buy femaIes of differing sizes. I disagree about finding another source. LFS virtually never offer 14 day guarantees and generally bring in males rather than juveniles since juveniles are drabber in coloration. It has been my experience that Drs. Foster and Smith offer top quality fish. For those of us who want fish that will last rather than cheap fish, that source is world class. You might check out my signature line . . .

 

[L98-Z]

Thanks,
What's the rules on mixing the various reef safe wrasses?

 

[snorvich]

There are some I will not attempt because they are too aggressive e.g. Cirrhilabrus Scottorum and Cirrhilabrus roseafascia. They just do not work. In addition to acclimation, I always SOCIALLY acclimate new wrasses by floating them in a breeders cup hooked to the side of the tank with suction cups. This tends to diffuse aggression towards newcomers. And I ONLY buy fairy wrasses from LA Divers Den. If you want to try harems with fairy wrasses, it is important that the females be of differing sizes as there is a hierarchy among the females initially based on size. Oh, and by the way six lines do NOT do well with fairy or flasher wrasses. Of the dottybacks, only orchid will tolerate them.

 

[snorvich]

I forgot two things. Flashers and Fairies will jump and require a closed top or a top with 1/4 inch holes (NOT egg crate). Those that are predominantly blue lose the most coloration absent a female, those that are predominantly red lose the least coloration absent a female.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15169677#post15169677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Of the dottybacks, only orchid will tolerate them.

Gonna disagree here, IME there are several other Pseudochromis that will typically do fine and leave flasher and fairy wrasses alone. Springeri and Sankeyi to name a couple of the more common ones...

 

[snorvich]

Possibly true. I have not tried those two but since my fairy wrasses are pretty expensive, I would hesitate to experiment. Orchids do fine.

 

[WLachnit]

Steve, Do you QT your wrasses from Divers Den? Or do they go straight into one of your DT?