Which Fairy Wrasses Are Aggressive

[Reefing Newbie]

I have been going through my stock list and seeing other threads on fairy wrasses. Every once in awhile I will see that someone comments on how the particular or one of the particular fairy wrasses being discussed is aggressive, or tend to be. How aggressive is aggressive for a fairy wrasse? Also, which fairy wrasses should I stay away from? I was told that laboutei can be aggressive, and I don't want one bad apple(known risk one) to cause trouble in what I want to be a semi-peaceful tank. Personally I plan on keeping laboutei, rhomboid, and orangeback or exquisite(more likely exquisite to get a greenish fish in the mix). TIA

 

[nonimmigrant]

I have been going through my stock list and seeing other threads on fairy wrasses. Every once in awhile I will see that someone comments on how the particular or one of the particular fairy wrasses being discussed is aggressive, or tend to be. How aggressive is aggressive for a fairy wrasse? Also, which fairy wrasses should I stay away from? I was told that laboutei can be aggressive, and I don't want one bad apple(known risk one) to cause trouble in what I want to be a semi-peaceful tank. Personally I plan on keeping laboutei, rhomboid, and orangeback or exquisite(more likely exquisite to get a greenish fish in the mix). TIA

My female filamentosis is a PIA to newcomers of similar size but she calms down after a few days. Males are a bit more aggressive.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I do recall being told filamentosis and rubriventralis were aggressive as well as scottorum. I just want some more heads up on more that I haven't heard about so I don't fall in love with it only to find they are aggressive.

 

[reefjunkie42]

are we talking about p. filimentious? if so it is a flasher and pretty docile compared to scottorum.

 

[reefjunkie42]

I personally would skip the lobouti, and pick something other than an orange back. I like the esquisited, but only the african variant. If I were you Id get a nice pair off DD of a pylei, I love mine, and hes not aggressive, he just shows off for his girl every night. IMO hes one of the only fairies that i have had that didnt try to change sexes after being purchased as a pair. It really depends on your price point as well. some faries are more exp than others. Right now PIA has a pair of johnsoni for 350. 2 females and 1 will surly change. IDK whatever you do good luck. keep us posted.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I do like the pylei fairy wrasses and would love to buy two females. I have seen two females on DD recently, too bad I wasn't ready for them. I may do four fairy wrasses, a pair of pylei and a pair of johsoni or exquisites. I do like the coloration of the supre male laboutei though. My LFS has a super male laboutei in a 180 DT with a pair of johnsoni that I really like. Although the laboutei isn't out very much.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Any more fairy wrasses I should stay away from?

 

[rsl3]

I would pass on the Lobouti. p. filimentious in my experiance has always become aggressive over time at least in my experiances. This is my third one and for the first few months they are fine but all of a sudden they become very aggressive. My current one loves to challenge my Male lyretil anthia which is twice his side and occasional even goes after my 7 inch naso!

 

[Reefing Newbie]

So the laboutei are aggressive? It just seems odd being that the super male in my LFS's display is shy, hardly ever see him unless I sit there for awhile. Are lineatus aggressive or peaceful? I kind of want one.

 

[aznepydna]

So the laboutei are aggressive? It just seems odd being that the super male in my LFS's display is shy, hardly ever see him unless I sit there for awhile. Are lineatus aggressive or peaceful? I kind of want one.

Mine is not psycho aggressive but it is the boss of the tank and lets all newcomers know it. It does settle down once a pecking order is established.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Thanks, I may do one then. Rhomboid, pylei, and a lineatus or jordani. Hmm, this is gonna be a tough call on my part!

 

[buddythelion]

I've actually stayed away from pylei and scotts because of the horror stories I've heard. Naokae's fairy wrasse was also a terror from a few threads too. Roseafascia is supposedly the hell offspring of a Scott's and a Pylei. But this is from what I read.

With expensive wrasses like you're planning on I wouldn't risk it without a backup plan to try and remove one of them. I had a trio of rhomboids and 2 male lineatus with no problem. The larger rhomboid and lineatus would flash at each other for fun, but nothing serious.

I have flame, rhomboid, lineatus, red margin, and bathyphilus living peacefully in my tank. Definitely try to get a bathyphilus. By far my favorite!

From my experience smaller is better when buying wrasses or try to buy one that is already acclimated to the aquarium life as wrasses tend to be more sensitive.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I would like a trio of rhomboids, I think that would be interesting. A lineatus(will buy female for cost if possible), and an exquisite pair? I am really trying to stay with blue, green, or purple fairy wrasses because of my plan to have 5 resplendents in my tank which will be a lot of pink orange redish color. Trying to balance it out. I saw a video with anthias(I think lyretails) that had a few yellow tail damsels and the damsels made the anthias really stand out!