mccosker's flasher wrasse harem

[super stooge]

hello everyone.

I am planning the stocking list for my future 180 display and would like to get a mccosker's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri). in my research ive read that they do best when introduced as a harem. so onto my questions

1. is there anything wrong with keeping a single mccoskers?

2. in your opinions what constitutes a harem? 1 male and 2 or 3 females? i would like to keep the harem small as i do not want to crowd my tank and stress my bio load

3. is there any downside or special considerations to make in keeping them as a harem? for example will the male exhibit increased aggression towards other fish etc.?

thank you for your time

 

[JuliusJames]

Bump. Would also like to know

 

[Yogre]

mccosker's flasher wrasse harem

I can only speak to your first question. I've had a solo McCosker's wrasse in my 215 for the better part of a year now. He's without question the fattest fish in the tank

None of my other fish pay him any mind, and at feeding time even though he's the smallest he's quick enough he always gets his share.

I think the downside to him being the only wrasse is I don't ever see any flashing behavior, and I don't think he's as colorful as he could be.

 

[snorvich]

hello everyone.

I am planning the stocking list for my future 180 display and would like to get a mccosker's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri). in my research ive read that they do best when introduced as a harem. so onto my questions

1. is there anything wrong with keeping a single mccoskers?

No problems

2. in your opinions what constitutes a harem? 1 male and 2 or 3 females? i would like to keep the harem small as i do not want to crowd my tank and stress my bio load

A male and 2 females is terrific

3. is there any downside or special considerations to make in keeping them as a harem? for example will the male exhibit increased aggression towards other fish etc.?

No downsides. Upsides are nuptial colors during courting

thank you for your time

You are most welcome

 

[super stooge]

thank you very much snorvich and yogre

juliusjames, i hope the information was helpful to you aswell

now for the hard part.. finding them:beachbum:

 

[bradleyj]

 

[super stooge]

gorgeous bradleyj! thank you for sharing

 

[Yogre]

Bradleyj,

Those are beautiful shots.

Makes me want to find a couple of friends for my solo guy.

 

[Salty Scott]

hey bradleyj, i have been looking for a mcCosker wrasse pair for a long time and i saw the pic which just makes me want them even more, so im just curious as to where you got them...did u have to order them online

 

[JuliusJames]

Bradley, That's too funny. Those fish look just like mine. I have a rhomboid and just bought 3 McCoskers today. Got it from a lfs and they were all male in a 40 gallon. They get along so well and inseparable so I had to buy them. It's pretty cool because one of the McCoskers and my Naokoa keeps flashing each other.

Bradley, are your trio all males?

And have anyone heard or seen a trio of males coexist?

 

[dixiedog]

Tagging along. I would have thought those males would kill each other.

I have a solo male. He's not as colorful as those. He flashes occasionally when he's excited about something, but not real often.

Maybe I should get him some "tail"?:lmao:

Sorry, I couldn't stop myself.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Anyone know where to find female McCosker's? None of my LFS get them in and they are supposedly hard to find at the wholesalers.

 

[LukFox]

Anyone know where to find female McCosker's? None of my LFS get them in and they are supposedly hard to find at the wholesalers.

Maybe ask LiveAquaria when they'll be getting more in. I got mine from their Diver's Den. McCosker's females are near impossible to find local for me, too. The LFSs here only get males on the lists.

 

[bradleyj]

gorgeous bradleyj! thank you for sharing

Thank you.

Bradleyj,

Those are beautiful shots.

Makes me want to find a couple of friends for my solo guy.

I'll tell you what, It's alot more fun watching 3 instead of one.

hey bradleyj, i have been looking for a mcCosker wrasse pair for a long time and i saw the pic which just makes me want them even more, so im just curious as to where you got them...did u have to order them online

I got mine from my LFS.
He brings them in every week cheap.

 

[bradleyj]

Bradley, That's too funny. Those fish look just like mine. I have a rhomboid and just bought 3 McCoskers today. Got it from a lfs and they were all male in a 40 gallon. They get along so well and inseparable so I had to buy them. It's pretty cool because one of the McCoskers and my Naokoa keeps flashing each other.

Bradley, are your trio all males?

And have anyone heard or seen a trio of males coexist?

That's awesome!
I actually have 3 mckoskers and 3 rhomboids, all living together happily so far (Knock on wood)
I also have a male Attenatus flasher who is double the size of the Mckoskers.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Bradley

Is yor trio of male McCosker's in the 225?

 

[Chooch1]

Brad,

How long have you had the flashers together and do they continually flash at each other? I'm just wondering if the eventually become habituated to each other and would eventually stop displaying. Awesome display you have as usual.

 

[bradleyj]

Bradley

Is yor trio of male McCosker's in the 225?

Yes they are.

Brad,

How long have you had the flashers together and do they continually flash at each other? I'm just wondering if the eventually become habituated to each other and would eventually stop displaying. Awesome display you have as usual.

I've had them for a few months together. Once I changed my netting to 1/4 inch. I was able to keep flashers. They do display at each other, but not as much as when they were strangers to one another.

 

[mjoener]

I have only kept the one male by himself.
I have seen females in one of my LFS, but they did not look good.
They said they could get more but my little guy flashes quite a bit and the females are so drab

 

[Myka]

I hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping in on this thread...

I have a 90 with a Blue Assessor, 2 Pearly Jawfish, Sharknose Goby, and a Hector's Goby. I want to add a pair of McCosker's, but I think the tank might be too small (definitely too small for a trio), and maybe the male would give a single female too much attention? Would I be better off just adding a single male?