Flasher Wrasse Selection & Acclimation

[aleithol]

I have a 150gal mixed reef DT -- only a couple of clowns, Midas Blenny and a Firefish, with various corals & CUC thus far. I'm taking it slow, as all my inhabitants are placed in one of my two 20gal QTs for at least 30 days before going into the DT.

Will be ready for new fish into QT this week. Considering getting into wrasses. Am looking at red fairy and flame amongst others. I can find males and females of each, but not from the same supplier. If you were me starting out with my first wrasses, would you go for a male and female of same type, or multiple males of different types? ...and if the former, which I'm leaning towards, would you see it as a problem for me to add the male then the female a few weeks later, or vice versa? My concern being the fish I'm finding seem to be 2.5-3" each, and with a 20 gal QT, seems like I'd be pushing having both in there at the same time -- or am I too conservative -- even with every-other week water changes, a protein skimmer, and small HOB filter with bio media and carbon (switched out of course if QT needs to become a hospital tank). I for sure don't want to stress-out my fish while in QT.

Appreciate views from wrasse lovers out there. THANKS in advance.

 

[aleithol]

...sorry, just found the Let Them Flash thread. I have no excuse as to why I didn't see it before posting -- except that I didn't for some unknown reason. Apologies. Making my way through that very long and helpful thread now...

 

[eatbreakfast]

I advocate getting all males from multiple species as they are more colorful than females and will display at other males as they would to a female. The male/female relationship is based on dominant/ submissive roles and isnt a truly bonded pr as in certain other varieties of fish. In some cases what is sold as a female is actually an immature male and there could be serious aggression in this case. And often timesf emales transition into males even in the company of a male.

 

[aleithol]

Thanks. Just read the entire flash thread -- lots of useful info there. Appreciate your suggestion. That's what I'll do. Now the hard part -- deciding who is first!