Help! Strange Flasher Wrasse Behavior

[moonyrat]

Hey guys,

I have added a melanurus wrasse last night, this morning both my flashers have come to hiding and refuse to come out. The flashers have been in the tank for over 2 months and always out and eat like pigs. Is it normal for them to be scared of the new fish? What should I do? I don't want them to stress out. The tank is 65 gal with tons of live rocks

 

[bluecoyote79]

Beautiful pair there. Have you seen the new wrasse chasing after them? My halichoeres wants to be the king of the wrasses and would briefly chase my large Linespot wrasse on occasion. I never saw any signs of them actually contacting each other and they worked it out after a few weeks and stopped the chasing. Wrasses can be overly dramatic, so if there is a change to their environment, they may make a big deal about it for a couple of days.

I would let them settle in for another day or so unless you see outright aggression. Frozen fish eggs work great for keeping them fed in the mean time. They'll usually still eat that even if they are pouting. Are there spaces in your live rock for them to hide?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would certainly be interested to know if there was any chasing of the melanurus to the flashers or perhaps if another fish in the tank was making displays towards the new melanurus and that in someway affected the flashers.

In my own tank the Halichoeres species tend to ignore the fairy and flasher wrasses, but in the past have seen an established Halichoeres go after new fairy and flasher wrasses, but for a newly introduced one to go after an established one is a bit bizarre.

 

[moonyrat]

I just saw the melanurus chased the female back to the chaeto....male havent moved from the hideout yet.:sad2: I would hate to catch him from the tank.....

I would certainly be interested to know if there was any chasing of the melanurus to the flashers or perhaps if another fish in the tank was making displays towards the new melanurus and that in someway affected the flashers.

In my own tank the Halichoeres species tend to ignore the fairy and flasher wrasses, but in the past have seen an established Halichoeres go after new fairy and flasher wrasses, but for a newly introduced one to go after an established one is a bit bizarre.

 

[bluecoyote79]

I have my fingers crossed. My halichoeres and flashes get along fine now, but the halichoeres does want to be top dog. Keep everyone fed and see want happens in a few days.

 

[moonyrat]

I have my fingers crossed. My halichoeres and flashes get along fine now, but the halichoeres does want to be top dog. Keep everyone fed and see want happens in a few days.

Just feed the tank haven't see the pair of flasher come out eating at all.....

 

[bluecoyote79]

You can try a fish trap for the melanurus and then use an acclimation box. I'd probably wait a day or two and see if things improve. A male/female pair of McCoskers are hard to come by so if that didn't work, I'd keep them and rheum the melanurus. If you want to try a Halichoeres, I'd suggest the Biocellatus (red-lined). I think the similar Christmas wrasse is prettier, but the red-lined is very peaceful.

 

[d-man]

Melanurus can be real mean. I would have put him in an acclimation box first to allow all wrasses to see each other and relax for a week prior to releasing him.
Unfortuneatly I believe you'll need to catch one of them(the me langurs would be my recommendation).
Good luck

 

[slief]

If you want to catch the Melanurus easily, get a small trap and stick a mirror to the backside. He will see himself in the mirror and go into the trap to attach himself.

 

[brett559]

I had to remove my melanarus a few weeks ago, and I caught him with an acrylic trap in just a few minutes. Put some nori in and he went right in.

 

[piusma]

Mine has killed numerous wrasses and other fish in my tank. He's very aggressive and always chase any new fish I put into the tank. I pretty much gave up on any small fish that can't fend for themselves in my tank.

 

[moonyrat]

This is getting sad, in the day time the pair of flashers crawl under chaetos and only able to feed after the melanurus went to sleep :hmm5:

 

[moonyrat]

little update, the flasher pair will come out to eat at around 9 pm when the bully went to sleep....-__________-

 

[bat21]

I feel bad for those flashers. They look so scared . I know the melanarus is a beautiful fish but maybe trade him in for a fairy wrasse instead? There are some very cool ones that aren't mean.

 

[bluecoyote79]

If you need a trap, maybe someone local to you has one you could borrow. They're not a whole of money though if you had to buy one. You're really lucky to have male/female pair of flasher wrasses, they're hard to come by. I'd definitely be looking out for them and ditch the melanurus right away at this point.

 

[bluecoyote79]

Any updates?

 

[moonyrat]

Any updates?

Thx for asking.The flashers are coming out more often now and after the melanrus went to bed. I will defiantly get a separation cup next time

 

[bluecoyote79]

Good to hear