Vrolik's Wrasse Compatibility

J

JamesH831

New member
I've been considering a Vrolik's Wrasse (Halichoeres Chrysotaenia) as my last fish addition. My main concern is weather or not its going to live peacefully with my mandarin. I've heard of other wrasses (thinking 6 line) killing mandarins and because of similar coloration, I'm afraid there's going to be a problem. Is anyone keeping both in the same tank? If so, for how long and what size tank? Thanks in advance for your reply.

Tank details:
75g mixed reef ( about a year and a half old) 48x18x20
115# LR. 2" sand bed
Inhabitants:
2 occ clownfish
1 Kole Tank
1 Midas Blenny
1 Green Mandarin
Astraea, nassarus, and cerith snails
1 Red Fromia Star Fish
1 GBTA
1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Fire Shrimp
 
I've kept and am keeping several species of Halichoeres wrasses. I find them to be excellent tank mates toward almost all fish. Larger ones can be a problem with smails and crabs but only when the get larger. I think the Vrolik's would likely ignore your Mandarin but may eat some of the micro fauna but if your tank is productive it should not be a problem. A refugium would help the situation.
 
Chooch1 said:
I've kept and am keeping several species of Halichoeres wrasses. I find them to be excellent tank mates toward almost all fish. Larger ones can be a problem with smails and crabs but only when the get larger. I think the Vrolik's would likely ignore your Mandarin but may eat some of the micro fauna but if your tank is productive it should not be a problem. A refugium would help the situation.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the input! I am aware my snails will likely become collateral damage and I have a personal vendetta with crabs so I don't have any. I should have mentioned that I do have a refugium for pod culturing and trained the mandarin (in quarantine ) to eat frozen foods. Competition for food is a concern and the mandarin will be monitored closely. I do that now anyways, considering their dismal survival rate.

Anyone else care to share?
 
I have an extremely well behaved Vrolik's in a 125 FOWLR, but I don't have anything as timid as a mandarin in my system.

They are very beautiful, extremely hardy, and will eat anything.
 
skraj011 said:
I have an extremely well behaved Vrolik's in a 125 FOWLR, but I don't have anything as timid as a mandarin in my system.

They are very beautiful, extremely hardy, and will eat anything.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting. I haven't seen one in person but I hear the same about their beauty. I haven't really read/ heard much about their aggression toward similar colored fish. I've spent so much time trying to give the mandarin the best chances for long term success. I don't want to jeopardize that for my personal preference in fish selection.

Anyone else? I'm looking for lots of feedback so I can make an informed decision. Thank you so far.
 
JamesH831 said:
I've been considering a Vrolik's Wrasse (Halichoeres Chrysotaenia) as my last fish addition. My main concern is weather or not its going to live peacefully with my mandarin. I've heard of other wrasses (thinking 6 line) killing mandarins and because of similar coloration, I'm afraid there's going to be a problem. Is anyone keeping both in the same tank? If so, for how long and what size tank? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...

Anyone else have some insight?
Here's a preview of my lame wrasse jokes to come if I dont get anymore replys.

Knock knock...
Who's there?
Am I wrasse...
Am I wrasse who?
Am I wrasseking for trouble by combining a halichores chrysotaenia with a mandarin?

Alright. I told you the jokes were lame. You could put a stop to it if you reply. Thanks.
 
I would avoid it if I were you. They are nice active fish that isn't exactly aggressive but very bold. It also competes with your mandarin for pods. You'll not have a chance to target feed your mandarin because your wrasse is going to steal everything while you're trying yo feed. If you like the wrasse so much, be expected to loose your mandarin.

One thing that I never knew was mixing active fish with reclusive fish. I have a blue spotted jawfish that I have kept for over 2 years that is having a hard time competing for food with my wrasses or tangs (zero aggression). When I try to target feed it, everyone start invading it's burrow causing it to move it's burrow every few days. It was a big lesson for future stocking plans.
 
piusma said:
I would avoid it if I were you. They are nice active fish that isn't exactly aggressive but very bold. It also competes with your mandarin for pods. You'll not have a chance to target feed your mandarin because your wrasse is going to steal everything while you're trying yo feed. If you like the wrasse so much, be expected to loose your mandarin.

One thing that I never knew was mixing active fish with reclusive fish. I have a blue spotted jawfish that I have kept for over 2 years that is having a hard time competing for food with my wrasses or tangs (zero aggression). When I try to target feed it, everyone start invading it's burrow causing it to move it's burrow every few days. It was a big lesson for future stocking plans.
Click to expand...

Not exactly the answer I was hoping for but it will definitely help with my decision making. Thanks for the input steve.

I'm still wondering if anyone has put these two fish together sucessfully. I figure if they were such a bad combination, I would have been able to find out about it in my research. Even so, I haven't seen anything about thesr two fish being kept together either. Surely I'm not the only person on the planet who wants to put a Vrolik's wrasse with a mandarin right?
 
A Vrolik's Wrasse and a Green Mandarin swim into a bar...
The bar tender takes one look at them and says: What are you fish doing in a bar!?"
The fish both reply: What is your bar doing in the ocean!?"

So is there anyone who has kept or is currently keeping both fish? Really would like some first hand feedback. Thanks.
 
JamesH831 said:
I've been considering a Vrolik's Wrasse (Halichoeres Chrysotaenia) as my last fish addition. My main concern is weather or not its going to live peacefully with my mandarin. I've heard of other wrasses (thinking 6 line) killing mandarins and because of similar coloration, I'm afraid there's going to be a problem. Is anyone keeping both in the same tank? If so, for how long and what size tank? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...

Bump with another crummy joke...

What do you call a Halochores Crysotaenia wearing tights, standing in a ring?...

A Wrasseler!
 
No one else? Alright. I guess I'll let this thread die off. Thanks to those who replied. Your information is greatly appreciated.
 
They are pretty fish and peaceful. I had a bluehead wrasse with my mandarin and he ignored it, and blueheads are more aggressive than Halichoeres. Like others have said though, once the wrasse came to the scene, the microfauna population plummeted. You may need to restock your tank with pods frequently.
 
FWIW, I've decided against adding the Vrolik's or any other fish, for that matter. I'm fairly happy with the fish I have now and they all get along nicely. The Kole Tang may have to be rehomed when it gets bigger though. No problems yet but its only half size now. After seeing this guy in action for the last 9 months, it doesn't seem like a 4ft tank is really going to be big enough, long term.
 
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