I just never knew....

[Redhaloangel]

I just never knew how much i would actually like the fairy wrasses and wrasses!!
I got to say that my favorate fish is my cleaner wrasse, and now i also got a red head fairy wrasse.. and i just never knew how much i actutally like them i thought id be liking my purple tang the most.. but....... yep i like the wrasses.. lol

what is your favorate wrasse?

( i got the wrasse instead of a trigger from a earlier post..) - but i also got a small puffer (blue spot puffer) and now is he every pretty!!

 

[DustyReefer]

Good choice getting the wrasse! Coming from a fellow wrasse junkie of course. As to what wrasse is my favorite, I'd say I have a special fondness towards leopards in particular. Although I've been eyeballing getting a pair of eightline flashers for quite some time...

 

[MellowReefer]

My first and only wrasse was an exquisite fairy wrasse from LA and it was very weak looking and died a few weeks later It was so cute, I was really bummed. Then I read that they don't ship well, and have a lower survival rate after shipping than many other fish. Maybe I'll look for wrasses that have been at my LFS for a few weeks.

One of my LFS has a solar wrasse I am thinking of picking up (LA calls these "red head solon fairy wrasse).

I hear wrasses do best if fed several times a day, and I wonder if just 5:00pm and 9:00pm would be okay? The tank is dark in the morning and I'm rushing to get out the door.

 

[pgammon]

I went back and forth trying to decide if I wanted a fairy wrasse. I was in my LFS last week and they had a really nice Lubbocks Wrasse, so I brought him home. I wonder why I waited, he's colorful, active and now one of my favorites. I hope to add another one day!

 

[jt_milstead]

Wraases are some of my favorites, I currently have a Whipfin Fairy male, African Leopard female, and Scotts Fairy in my 190. I love their coloration, and how they swim.

 

[DustyReefer]

My first and only wrasse was an exquisite fairy wrasse from LA and it was very weak looking and died a few weeks later It was so cute, I was really bummed. Then I read that they don't ship well, and have a lower survival rate after shipping than many other fish. Maybe I'll look for wrasses that have been at my LFS for a few weeks.

One of my LFS has a solar wrasse I am thinking of picking up (LA calls these "red head solon fairy wrasse).

I hear wrasses do best if fed several times a day, and I wonder if just 5:00pm and 9:00pm would be okay? The tank is dark in the morning and I'm rushing to get out the door.

Some wrasse species don't fair too well with shipping(leopards being notoriously bad). So I usually wait till the fish has been in the store for around a week before I pick it up. Make sure it looks healthy, and is eating well. The solar wrasse is a good option, I have one as well. They are pretty hardy, but be warned if you want to add another wrasse after him they don't take too kindly to them. Also twice a day should be fine, especially in an established tank. I usually feed an upwards of 4 times a day in small amounts, but it's probably not necessary.

 

[MellowReefer]

Some wrasse species don't fair too well with shipping(leopards being notoriously bad). So I usually wait till the fish has been in the store for around a week before I pick it up. Make sure it looks healthy, and is eating well. The solar wrasse is a good option, I have one as well. They are pretty hardy, but be warned if you want to add another wrasse after him they don't take too kindly to them. Also twice a day should be fine, especially in an established tank. I usually feed an upwards of 4 times a day in small amounts, but it's probably not necessary.

Thanks! That's good to know. Do you know if it will tolerate another (different) wrasse added at the same time? (they'd have to go through a 30g QT together first before going to a 125g) And is this a wrasse that will keep vibrant color without having females in the tank?

 

[DustyReefer]

Added at the same time in QT there shouldn't be too much of a problem especially if they're roughly the same size, or if the solar is smaller. Just make sure they have places to hide if one gets a little aggressive. I have mine in my tank with two other wrasses, and he shows no aggression to either of them, but does give newcomers some problems. I do however know that their color will fade some after an extended period of time without a female. Also I know the females aren't as easy to come by as you'd think. But even when they're full adults and have lost some of their color they're quite beautiful, and still come highly recommended.

 

[DustyReefer]

Added at the same time in QT there shouldn't be too much of a problem especially if they're roughly the same size, or if the solar is smaller. Just make sure they have places to hide if one gets a little aggressive. I have mine in my tank with two other wrasses, and he shows no aggression to either of them, but does give newcomers some problems. I do however know that their color will fade some after an extended period of time without a female. Also I know the females aren't as easy to come by as you'd think. But even when they're full adults and have lost some of their color they're quite beautiful, and still come highly recommended.

 

[MellowReefer]

Gives newcomers some problems? You mean all newcomers, or just other wrasses? I will be adding a few fish later if I add the solar wrasse now. I'm thinking a starry blenny, dartfish, chalk bass, or prawn goby. This is a 125g.

 

[DustyReefer]

I don't see any problem with the fish you listed, but I added a mystery wrasse and it didn't end well unfortunately. Also I added a trio of anthias and he showed some aggression, but it was only for about a day before he stopped. Then again a 125 is a bit bigger than my 90 so you might not have any problems at all.

 

[MellowReefer]

Great, thanks Dusty.

 

[cordell]

I have a Solon Fairy Wrasse too and really like it... it's actually my second since my first one managed to squeeze between my mesh guard and the hood, landing on the floor! Great colors though.... he likes to hide in the rocks a lot, but does come out plenty, and definitely is a little pig.

I tried to keep a 6-line wrasse in the same tank, and that did not work out well at all. The two of them were nipping at each other all the time, so the 6-line had to move out, then the solon fairy jumped out of the tank.. go figure.

I also have a Yellow Coris Wrasse and really like him too. He stays out in the middle of the tank more often and gives a nice yellow color since I won't have a yellow tang, and my Yellow Watchman Goby hides in his cave all the time with his shrimp and firefish buddies..

Wrasses FTW!

 

[DustyReefer]

I have a Solon Fairy Wrasse too and really like it... it's actually my second since my first one managed to squeeze between my mesh guard and the hood, landing on the floor! Great colors though.... he likes to hide in the rocks a lot, but does come out plenty, and definitely is a little pig.

I tried to keep a 6-line wrasse in the same tank, and that did not work out well at all. The two of them were nipping at each other all the time, so the 6-line had to move out, then the solon fairy jumped out of the tank.. go figure.

I also have a Yellow Coris Wrasse and really like him too. He stays out in the middle of the tank more often and gives a nice yellow color since I won't have a yellow tang, and my Yellow Watchman Goby hides in his cave all the time with his shrimp and firefish buddies..

Wrasses FTW!

You bring up a point I failed to mention about the solorensis fairy!!! They are jumpers, and if I didn't have a canopy mine would have ended up on the floor numerous times(probably jumps out of the water almost every other day). He just gets startled sometimes if I surprise him and freaks out, So a glass top or canopy is a must.

 

[cordell]

The one that got out made it through a gap between my canopy and some gutter guard I had placed alongside the back to keep any jumpers from getting out. The gap is about 7 inches above water and only about 1 inch wide down the length of the canopy.

I'm not sure how many attempts it took him to pull it off, but he sure found his way through that gap somehow. Bad thing is when he landed, he must have flopped around and gotten under some wires behind the stand, so I couldn't see him until I finally got back there 2 days later and moved things around. And there he was!

I think most wrasses act like this, so it was no surprise. I'm ashamed to say I haven't closed that gap up yet. That might be this weekend's project now that it's on my mind...

 

[Fretfreak13]

McCoskers Flasher Wrasse, all the way! Best little fish I've ever had. <3

 

[MellowReefer]

Yes, I have read so many sad posts about wrasses jumping through tiny holes. That is so strange – are they trying to escape?? I have an acrylic tank so it’s mostly covered except the finger holes and powerhead cord holes, which I will cover with plastic gutter guard.

 

[MellowReefer]

Yes, I have read so many sad posts about wrasses jumping through tiny holes. That is so strange "“ are they trying to escape?? I have an acrylic tank so it's mostly covered except the finger holes and powerhead cord holes, which I will cover with plastic gutter guard.

 

[Redhaloangel]

i have a glass like top that covered the whole top so no jumping out for me! i also added two more wrasses.. i was told they are fairy Lubbocks.. but i dont know i see pictures of them and they dont look like mine...
they look like this: Filamented Flasher Wrasse
and they are mainly pink with faint lines in them and one is turning male and starting to get the spikes in the fins on top! soo excited to see when bigger and full grown!

i was wondering if i could add another wrasse or am i done for my tank? lol i have 9 fish in that tank now.. 1 big (purple tang) and all the rest either 6 inches when full grown or smaller..

 

[DustyReefer]

i have a glass like top that covered the whole top so no jumping out for me! i also added two more wrasses.. i was told they are fairy Lubbocks.. but i dont know i see pictures of them and they dont look like mine...
they look like this: Filamented Flasher Wrasse
and they are mainly pink with faint lines in them and one is turning male and starting to get the spikes in the fins on top! soo excited to see when bigger and full grown!

i was wondering if i could add another wrasse or am i done for my tank? lol i have 9 fish in that tank now.. 1 big (purple tang) and all the rest either 6 inches when full grown or smaller..

I'd say your done for now haha. 4 wrasses in a 75 is quite a bit, so once they become established in there the likelihood of the newcomer getting harassed is quite high. Also if you want a positive ID on your wrasses post some pictures. There are quite a few wrasse experts lurking this forum that can ID it for you. It is common for fairy and flasher wrasses to get mis-labeled at the store, so you are probably right it could be a different species than advertised.