Got a few questions about the Rhomboid Wrasse?

[EthanHawaii]

Hi there, I'm thinking about purchasing a rhomboid wrasse for my tank. Just a few questions here before I commit to the big purchase.


First question: I have a hoeven's wrasse in my tank, will these two fish be fine with each other?.

Second question: if I get a female instead of a male (LFS can order the female for much cheaper) would it eventually turn into a male?

Third question: How hearty are these fish? My LFS said they could give me a great deal if I ordered it and collected it as soon as the fish shipment arrived at their store. But they would bare no responsibility on how it survives after I take it home from the fresh shipment. What do you think the chances of it surviving is after I take it home?


My tank is a 55 gallon reef
with 2 clowns a yellow watchman goby and a hoeven's wrasse.

Thank you very much,
Ethan

 

[scuzy]

Here is my two cent. The female I have is super tiny. It may change to a male but not definite if you only have one female. My male is like 4x the size of the female.

 

[redwingrob40]

Ethan the rhomboid should get along fine with the hoevens. whenever introducing a new wrasse to the system it is recommended to use a social acclimation box. If you buy a female it will most likely transition to male, it may take some time though. As for survivability these fish are pretty hardy, a lot is going to depend on how the fish did during shipping, if it was shipped well and is a healthy specimen then you should be fine. Definitely QT the new gal and do a couple of rounds of prazi before adding to the DT. FWIW I like buying smaller females and and letting them transition...

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hi there, I'm thinking about purchasing a rhomboid wrasse for my tank. Just a few questions here before I commit to the big purchase.


First question: I have a hoeven's wrasse in my tank, will these two fish be fine with each other?.

Second question: if I get a female instead of a male (LFS can order the female for much cheaper) would it eventually turn into a male?

Third question: How hearty are these fish? My LFS said they could give me a great deal if I ordered it and collected it as soon as the fish shipment arrived at their store. But they would bare no responsibility on how it survives after I take it home from the fresh shipment. What do you think the chances of it surviving is after I take it home?


My tank is a 55 gallon reef
with 2 clowns a yellow watchman goby and a hoeven's wrasse.

Thank you very much,
Ethan

Let's take your concerns in order.
1. There shouldn't be much of an issue between the hoevan's and the rhomboid, but ising a social acclimation box for introduction is a good idea.

2. In most cases a female fairy wrasse will transition into a male, regardless of whether there is another one present.

3. Rhomboid wrasses aren't too delicate. They are prone to flukes when they first arrive, but that is easily remedied with prazipro. I personally prefer to pick up fish before it gets into an LFS system, one less hub and acclimation for it to go through.

 

[d-man]

Like TJ said, they aren't that delicate. The problem that occurs as well as flukes can be improper decompression during collection that can lead to swim bladder disease= death,

As far as transition goes, I'm in the minority here with my personal experience. I've had many females of many wrasse that never have changed even after 1-3yrs within my systems. Including flames, which people almost always experience a transition. But not me, lol.
Maybe it's due to size of my system or what. Somewhat a blessing, cuz now I have pairs and harems, but also can be a pita if my male happens to die.

Get it in bag, and prazipro it after it begins to eat well. Do 2-3 full 7 day treatments on her, then enjoy

 

[EthanHawaii]

Thanks everyone,
I don't have a QT so I would have to setup one, my biggest question is how would I go about cycling the QT?

This would be my last fish and the QT would only be up and running for a couple of weeks, so the QT tank will be super simple and as cheap as possible, would a used 10 gallon tank and used filter be ok?

I read that you should keep a filter sponge in the DT for about two weeks and then when you setup the QT you would use the sponge that is in the DT for the filter media in the QT and use the DT's water so it will be instantly cycled. And i'm guessing that the wrasse needs 2-3 inches of sand in the QT to bury in at night?

Ethan.

 

[evolved]

This would be my last fish and the QT would only be up and running for a couple of weeks, so the QT tank will be super simple and as cheap as possible, would a used 10 gallon tank and used filter be ok?

I read that you should keep a filter sponge in the DT for about two weeks and then when you setup the QT you would use the sponge that is in the DT for the filter media in the QT and use the DT's water so it will be instantly cycled.

Yup; that's all it really takes.

And i'm guessing that the wrasse needs 2-3 inches of sand in the QT to bury in at night?

Nope; Cirrhilabrus wrasses do not need sand - they sleep in a mucus cocoon.

 

[EthanHawaii]

Just a few more questions about setting up a QT.

how long should I wait for the QT to cycle?

Would putting some PVC pipes in the QT to give the wrasse some places to hide/make a mucus cocoon be a good idea?

If both wrasses turn into males do I run into any risk of them fighting to the death?
Sorry I realize that last question I sorta already asked in my first post but I just want to be certain I'm not going to run into any issues.


Thanks again for all the help!

 

[d-man]

How are you going to QT? Just PP?
I use some of tank water and a piece of live rock with pvc pipe as well. 2 small fish you will be fine. Use ammonia badge to keep eye on it.
Rhomboids are fairly docile so if they turn male I doubt you will have much issue unless the tank is small. But you never know with wrasses

 

[EthanHawaii]

How are you going to QT? Just PP?
I use some of tank water and a piece of live rock with pvc pipe as well. 2 small fish you will be fine. Use ammonia badge to keep eye on it.
Rhomboids are fairly docile so if they turn male I doubt you will have much issue unless the tank is small. But you never know with wrasses

Ok thanks, Pretty soon I'm going to order the ammonia badge and the prazipro.
How long do you let the QT cycle? What is PP?

thanks,

Ethan.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Just a few more questions about setting up a QT.

how long should I wait for the QT to cycle?

Would putting some PVC pipes in the QT to give the wrasse some places to hide/make a mucus cocoon be a good idea?

If both wrasses turn into males do I run into any risk of them fighting to the death?
Sorry I realize that last question I sorta already asked in my first post but I just want to be certain I'm not going to run into any issues.


Thanks again for all the help!

I have no experience with Rhomboid Wrasses, but can answer some of your questions.

If you throw a filter pad into your tank for two weeks, it will have plenty of bacteria on it for your Qt to cycle. It's basically instant. I usually wait a day just to be sure all the water passes through the pad, and then add a little ammonia, and see if it's gone in 24 hours. If so, you can add the wrasse to the Qt.
Pvc is required/.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Ok thanks, Pretty soon I'm going to order the ammonia badge and the prazipro.
How long do you let the QT cycle? What is PP?

thanks,

Ethan.

You answered your own question.

PP=PraziPro

 

[EthanHawaii]

Ok, I'm going to use a sponge from my DT filter for the filter media for the QT filter.

I'm washing a hang on the back filter and the aquarium with vinegar and then rubbing alcohol, will the aquarium silicone have side effects with the rubbing alcohol?
I'm washing the filter and aquarium with rubbing alcohol because the filter was used in my african dwarf frog tank, and the previous owner of the aquarium used it temporarily to keep rats.

Do I need to add ammonia if I use the DT water for the QT water?

PP/pazipro, got it!

Thank you,
Ethan

 

[EthanHawaii]

I set the tank up a few hours ago, here are some pics.

NOTE: I'm going to add the heater PVC pipes and ammonia alert soon.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Ok, I'm going to use a sponge from my DT filter for the filter media for the QT filter.

I'm washing a hang on the back filter and the aquarium with vinegar and then rubbing alcohol, will the aquarium silicone have side effects with the rubbing alcohol?
I'm washing the filter and aquarium with rubbing alcohol because the filter was used in my african dwarf frog tank, and the previous owner of the aquarium used it temporarily to keep rats.

Do I need to add ammonia if I use the DT water for the QT water?

PP/pazipro, got it!

Thank you,
Ethan

I'd use water that's made fresh. Very little nitrifying bacteria is in the water column, so you're basically just using water that has elevated nitrates in it for no reason.. I wouldn't use the used tank water IMO

 

[EthanHawaii]

Ok, good to know for next time.