Which female scotts fairy wrasse

[Just Jim]

I got a pair of scotts fairy wrasse and the female died. I'm going to replace it, but don't know the difference between the Fiji, Vanuatu, Australian. Live aquaria and other sites only picture the males. Fiji is the cheapest, so if there's not a big difference I'd just get that.

 

[albano]

You need to remember that the female should eventually turn male...so which one do you want as a male. Personally I prefer Cook Island or Vanuatu, but it's your call!

 

[Just Jim]

Huh? Why would the female turn male if there's already a male in the tank?

 

[albano]

Huh? Why would the female turn male if there's already a male in the tank?

IME, (I have ~40 wrasses now) basically all fairy/flasher wrasses turn male, pairs or not...which is why I usually purchase the much cheaper females.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Pairs of wrasses usually do end up being 2 males, one of which chases the other to hiding and often times death. If these are the only 2 wrasses it is possible to maintain the male/female dynamic, but wrasses dont behave as a true pair like angels, butterflies, and clownfish behave, rather the roles are determied by aggression and displays of dominance to maintain their scial position.


That being said scotts fairies have a reputation for being aggressive toward other fairy wrasses, so I personally would be reluctant to add another scotts to an existing male.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Pairs of wrasses usually do end up being 2 males, one of which chases the other to hiding and often times death. If these are the only 2 wrasses it is possible to maintain the male/female dynamic, but wrasses dont behave as a true pair like angels, butterflies, and clownfish behave, rather the roles are determied by aggression and displays of dominance to maintain their scial position.


That being said scotts fairies have a reputation for being aggressive toward other fairy wrasses, so I personally would be reluctant to add another scotts to an existing male.

Well said.

 

[Just Jim]

Crazy. Never knew this

 

[Just Jim]

I was thinking about getting a pair of flame wrasses for another tank. Should I just get the male?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I was thinking about getting a pair of flame wrasses for another tank. Should I just get the male?

Either the male or the female, either way you will likely end up with a male. Buying a male costs nore, but no waiting for it to transition, buying a fecosts less, but waiting for the best colors.

 

[albano]

Either the male or the female, either way you will likely end up with a male. Buying a male costs more, but no waiting for it to transition, buying a female costs less, but waiting for the best colors.

+1... Large changing female could be 1/2 the price of a full male...and will probably live longer

 

[MIKE NY]

half the enjoyment of this hobby, for me, is to watch small female/ juvi colored wrasses turn male.....about a year my Richmonds is turning and now just waiting on my Rhomboid... however, it doesn't seem to apply for my Leopards and Tamarins in which one dominant male is keeping all the other species from turning...

 

[Just Jim]

I've had leopards for years. Made the poor assumption that all wrasses followed suite.

 

[snorvich]

Either the male or the female, either way you will likely end up with a male. Buying a male costs nore, but no waiting for it to transition, buying a fecosts less, but waiting for the best colors.

I agree. Quickest way would be to purchase 2 female flame wrasses of different sizes. You will end up with a pair rather quickly. For the OP, I doubt that an established male Scott's will allow a female Scott's to be introduced.

 

[evolved]

I've had leopards for years. Made the poor assumption that all wrasses followed suite.

It's very much genus dependent; leopards are a bit different in this arena.

 

[Just Jim]

Interesting follow up. I have the wrasse pictured below. I noticed on live aquaria that it's the female red head Solon fairy wrasse. I didn't realize this, but it's adult sized and female. How come it didn't turn male, and what would happen if I added a male at this point?

 

[albano]

Interesting follow up. I have the wrasse pictured below. I noticed on live aquaria that it's the female red head Solon fairy wrasse. I didn't realize this, but it's adult sized and female. How come it didn't turn male, and what would happen if I added a male at this point?

Even more interesting...Live Aquaria is WRONG...it not a Solon, and it's not Female

 

[Just Jim]

U sure? I've had it for a while now. It's def not changing, lol

 

[triggreef]

Its an orange back. They have been selling them on DD lately too I noticed.

Look at the long ventral fins = male

 

[albano]

Its an orange back. They have been selling them on DD lately too I noticed.

Look at the long ventral fins = male

I don't think it's an orange back, I believe it's a variation of cyanopleura

 

[eatbreakfast]

It is a male C. cf. cyanopleura, closely related to C. cyanopleura and C. aurantidorsalis, it has been sold as female solorensis for years, but the reason an earlier poster's has not transitioned into a male solorensis is because it is already a male, just not a solorensis.