Would it be possible to mix Cirrhilabrus exquisitus from two different regions, say Vanuatan and Maldives? Can't seem to find any information online as to yeh or nay? I'm thinking there may be a problem with introducing two males, but at the same time there is the thinking the genetic makeup may be like say Ventralis Anthias, and thus different species [************]. I'd be interested in peoples thoughts.
Mixing Cirrhilabrus exquisitus?
- Thread starter locuus
- Start date
reefjunkie42
Wrasse junkie
id say no.
I bought 2 medium size males from the Maldives and put them in the DT together. They have adjusted with one becoming dominate. The dominate one chases the other on occasion, but no biting or other problems. This keeps the dominate one on its toes and flashing around the tank. I was surprised how nice he looks.
Reefing Newbie
New member
I would say if anything, go two females of one. Sometimes that doesn't even work and both end up being males. Depends on how big your tank is though.
Overboard
Premium Member
I have a Maldives male that looked very nice at first. He was alone for several weeks and then I picked up another exquisite off DD that was advertised as a female from Fiji. It was clearly a female when I added it to the DT, but it was about 1/2 inch longer than the original male. It quickly became a male and the dominant fish. The first male lost the intensity of its coloration. They get along fairly well, but there is still some chasing with the fish from Fiji clearly dominant. I don't think I would intentionally put two males together and intend to pull one of the two I have currently.
reefjunkie42
Wrasse junkie
Gridled fairies are aggressive btw. Hope the trio works out for you
38bill
Member
I would not try more than one male Exquisite wrasse in a tank.
FYI:I had to pull my male Girdled because he became so aggressive and within a few months the female Girdled changed to male. I just had to pull it because it was worse than the first male.
Both times the main issue was between them and my male Exquisite wrasse. They just hated each other. I thought it was maybe just the personality of the first male but when the female turned it started all over again. The Girdled wrasse had no issues at all with the Exquisite when it was female.
Well that pretty much destroys my plan for Wrasse combo for this tank
Thanks for the heads up. Had no idea Girdled were so aggressive.Would you say they are more aggressive than Scotts? (The male i had before was very aggressive to one of the females I had and when solo very territorial.)
Thanks again people!
Reefing Newbie
New member
I have only had my pylei females for a couple of weeks but they hardly fight. I don't know how it will be later though. Try looking into lubbock's fairy wrasses. They are fairly peaceful from what I have heard.
reefjunkie42
Wrasse junkie
luddocks are not peaceful..maybe at first but when setteled in can be aggressive as well. IMO wrasse aggression has to do with the shapes of the head, /complex it comes from. By in large all wrasses are wusses, but some dont like eachother at all, and that is were the aggression comes in. for example many say pylie are very aggressive, but i think often times aggression is mistaken for "displaying". Now of course when a fish is descaleing another fish and you can see it, there is a problem, but when fish are courting it is a much different story. In the end research will set you free. Read read read read read and read some more. then you will be better informed as to what fish should be skipped, and what ones shouldnt. I wanted gridled wrasse so bad, until i got one. Great looking fish, just the tude is nothing short of vicious. I think it has something to do about the "blue" complex. seems like "blues" are related, and therefore fight for dominance.
elegance coral
They call me EC
Not my video. Just an example of what can happen with two male exquisite wrasses in the same tank.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XsmDSaZQcFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XsmDSaZQcFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
nonstopfishies
Member
Looks like a no go to me. If you really want to try it, I would do as someone else said and get 2 females.
On a separate note, that tank is amazing. Do you know where any info on it is?
