Scott's Fairy Wrasse aggression

markster33139

markster33139

New member
I have a Scott's about 3.5 inches, and I wanted to add a Solorensis/Red Headed Solon Fairy Wrasse. Anyone think this is a bad idea, I use to have a Bicolor Dwarf Angel that behaved really aggressively towards this wrasse until I removed it, so I don't know if that is any indicator of it's demeanor.
 
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Without knowing your tank size then yes its a bad idea. The coloration, body shape, and that it is in the same "food niche" as the Scott's can be a big problem unless you have a large tank (120 gallon+).

Ways around it would be to feed heavily, remove the Scott's to a QT tank and put the Solar in "first" so it has a chance to establish itself, and/or rearrange the rockscape in the tank so that the Scott's thinks he's in a "new" reef and has no territory to defend.
 
Better odds with such a large tank but... The Scott's is one mean fish. As to catching, try the don't feed for 3 days then bottle trap. Works every time for me. I take a 1 liter Aqua Fina bottle, cut it at the point where the top tappers out to the size of the actual bottle body, invert it so the "mouth" is inside the bottle body (fish go in but can't go out), and put it in the tank with food in it. Fish go in but they can't get out.
 
I do not agree that a Scott's (C. scottorum) will allow C. solorensis to live in the same tank, even a 150 gallon. I had to remove a pair because of their aggression.
 
snorvich said:
I do not agree that a Scott's (C. scottorum) will allow C. solorensis to live in the same tank, even a 150 gallon. I had to remove a pair because of their aggression.
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Sorry about that. I should have been more clear. I don't give it very good odds either. However the risk does decrease slightly in a larger tank, if they are about the same size and if the Scott's is reintroduced after the Solar has a chance to establish itself.

All that said though and with experience with both fish I would not give the Solorensis much chance for the reasons I cited in my original post.

In summary: A bad idea. Best to either settle on the Scott's and deal with the aggression that will come with it towards all the other fish in the tank or find a home for the Scott's and select other wrasse.
 
Both of those fish are on the aggressive side for fairies so, as Steve said, I wouldn't do it. I have a Solorensis on my tank that I want out...he chases other fairies and right now his target is my Red Velvet.
 
You have found the Solorensis to be aggressive? Interesting. My experience with them has been they were no the docile side when compared to Rhomboid, Velvet, Flame, and Mystery's... At one point I had all five in one tank including two super males (Velvet and Rhomboid). The only way I could keep aggression down was to feed heavily. I was stupid to do that. I won't be making that mistake again. Good to know. Thank you.
 
Urchinhead said:
You have found the Solorensis to be aggressive? Interesting. My experience with them has been they were no the docile side when compared to Rhomboid, Velvet, Flame, and Mystery's... At one point I had all five in one tank including two super males (Velvet and Rhomboid). The only way I could keep aggression down was to feed heavily. I was stupid to do that. I won't be making that mistake again. Good to know. Thank you.
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Mystery should never be kept in the same tank as fairies and flashers in the first place.
 
btkrausen said:
Both of those fish are on the aggressive side for fairies so, as Steve said, I wouldn't do it. I have a Solorensis on my tank that I want out...he chases other fairies and right now his target is my Red Velvet.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree that C. solorensis can also be aggressive. Not as much as C. scottorum. or C. roseafascia. Mystery wrasses are are not really compatible with fairy or flasher wrasses nor are most dottybacks/pseudochromis (except P. fridmani) Oh, and in case you are wondering, tank size was a 240.
 
Mine was much smaller than that Steve. Like I said. I was stupid and won't make that mistake again. :) Fortunately it worked out for me and no one killed/bullied anyone else. I took the tank down and all of the wrasse went to Vivid. Several are in the 1,000 gallon show tank that Vivid has (had last I checked).

I was worried initially because there were already large fairy wrasse in that tank but I kept checking back and after a few days of hiding everyone was doing ok so again I guess I was lucky and dodged a bad case of the stupids.

That said I am curious as to why Mystery are bad matches for Fairy's? I ask because I would like to educate myself.
 
I've no personal experience with a mystery, but I've read in many places that they will beat down a fairy/flasher wrasse and likely kill them.
 
I did'nt realize that Solorensis are also potentially aggressive. I guess I will just keep the Scott's by himself. He is beautiful, and a model tankmate, it just kinda sucks that I can't add anymore wrasses. What I really, really wanted to add was the Hawaiian Flame Wrasse, but I guess that is also out of the question. For future reference will my odds be better if I add the Flame with the Solorensis, if I happen to somehow remove the Scotts? Are the Flame's known for the same levels of aggression?
 
If its any help, I just spent 1.5 hours tearing apart my 220 to catch my Solorensis and a small angel that has developed some type of growth. He has been chasing my Red Velvet to the point where he was dead this morning. He's only been in the DT for a few days, maybe 4-5.
 
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