mystery wrasses

jelwyoming

jelwyoming

JELWYOMING
I was fortunate enough to acquire 2 mystery wrasse. One is about 2" and the other is about 2.5" Like some other wrasse, will one become a male and the smaller stay a female? So far, they show no aggression towards each other, and in fact, swim togethr fairly often. That would be really neat if they paired off.
Any of you with mystery wrasse able to let me know more about their habits. It seems like they are the ideal reef fish so far.
 
I have a lone MW in my reef - he's the oldest fish I own. Been with me since I started the tank 2.5 years ago. Very hardy fish.

I love him, but he is abusive towards any other wrasses or similar shaped fish that are the same size or smaller than he is. He has driven a Candycane Hogfish to jump out of the tank (through 1/2" eggcrate) and beaten up on a Solar wrasse horribly. I think he has just gotten to think of the tank (a 180 gallon) as his territory and defends it as such.
 
That's interesting and good to know. So far, my pair of MW's are very shy. I added a velvet multicolor wrasse to the tank this week end (he was larger) and the MW's never even took notice. I won't be adding any more to that tank, so hopefully, I won't have to deal with your type of problem for a while.
 
I put a top on just to be careful. But so far no sign of jumping at all. In fact they stay on the lower portion of the tank.
 
The first night I had mine he found his way into the overflow - I've kept the tank covered ever since.

I think the aggression is due to his idea that the tank is now his territory and he does not like to share with new fish. This is pretty typical of his family - they are a close relative to the 6-lines who show this same pattern after they have established themselves.

Lets see some pics!
 
there is a pair at a local store by me but I have just one. jmping is what I would be worried about with a pair. One might drive the other to jump. when I first got my MW I had to take my tank apart to catch a 6line wrasse. great fish though love the activity and was shy for the first week or so. now he eats anything.
 
While I only have one, about 2", and he shares a Nano Cube with two small Firefish, they're the best of friends. Always out and about. They've been together for about 6 months. Eats like a slob.
 
Neat!
Mine are somewhat the same, though, one is staying more hidden now that they've adapted a bit. One is becoming more dominate and chasing the other some. I hope that doesn't get worse. Great and pretty fish though!
 
Well, an expensive lesson learned; When I got home from work last night, I found that my smaller MW had pecked the weak larger one to death and pushed him to my GBTA (my kids watched!) and the GBTA was spitting up the bones when I checked!
Lesson...don't try two of the same or simular wrasses unless they're already paired. I thought that I could since it had worked with my clowns; not here!
Oooooch!
 
I was recently at my LFS and they had a known pair of mystery wrasses. I do believe they must be collected as such. Not sure if they can pair up afterwards. This is true with many fish, as their respective territories on a reef are much larger than can be provided in captivity. Sorry about your loss, though. Beautiful fish.
 
MW are usually quite mellow, but its not uncommon to see aggression when they become settled in thier tank. Its very difficlt to determine if they are a "TRUE" pair, or if they just got stuck together somewhere along the chain of custody. Sometimes sellers do this to make an easy sell or justify marking it up. As far as I know it is quite difficult to id sex in this speices, especially when they are not fully mature adults. Just becasue you find them under the same coral head in the wild doesnt mean they are paired either. I collect several wrasses of the same genus and they cluster together in rubble when pursued. There is no reliable way of telling if they paired up or ran under the same rock to hide.
 
Thanks for letting me know about that. I used to dive in Hawaii years ago. I guess I 'd seen that too and took the risk. To late now.
Where do you do most of your collecting?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7847180#post7847180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jelwyoming
Thanks for letting me know about that. I used to dive in Hawaii years ago. I guess I 'd seen that too and took the risk. To late now.
Where do you do most of your collecting?
Click to expand...

I collect just about anywhere the weather permits. Mostly around Oahu. Did you dive for tropical fish or recreational?
 
I've heard that you need 3 (juviniles) for them to not show agression. Then the most dominant will be established and the others will become the "harem". WIth just two, it is a constant fight.
 
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