Wrasse Aggression

[Syntax1325]

I have a 125 gallon reef with the following fish in order of introduction to the system:

1 False Perc
1 Fire Fish
1 Blue Spot Goby
1 Solon Wrasse
1 Kole Tang
1 Fox Face
3 Red spot cardinals
3 Lyretail Anthias (1 male, 2 female)
1 Line Spot Wrasse

Everyone has been getting along fine until I lost a McCoskers Wrasse that got stuck in the overflow on top of the gate valve a couple weeks ago... I've tried replacing the McCoskers and lost a couple from DD, didn't make it 2 days, didn't handle the shipping well. Anyway, I purchased a 2.25" line spot Wrasse from DD and it has been in the tank for about 10 days. It hides constantly, on the few occasions it has tried to venture around, it is disoriented (hasn't had time to swim in open water) and is viciously pursued by my Solon Wrasse. I did not anticipate any aggression since my Solon has been very passive up to this point. I have been able to target feed the Line Spot so it is at least eating. I did not use an acclimation box, my wife acclimated the Line Spot and put it in the tank because I was at work.

Anyone have any advice? Will the aggression subside? I tried putting a mirror on the outside of the tank but the Solon really does not give it much attention. The Solon Wrasse is about 3.5 inches.

 

[3FordFamily]

Add more than one wrasse at a time.

I have a mccoskers, Solon, lubbocks, Scotts (Cook Islands), exquisite (Maldives) wrasses. Zero aggression. Adding them in groups of 3's helps.

In the same tank I also have a red striped christmas, lime green, yellow coris, Vroliks male, and a leopard wrasse female.

I just ordered a regular christmas, filamented flasher and another leopard wrasse. I won't add one wrasse at a time. If I had aggressive flasher/fairies, I would add 2-3 fairies at a time.

Starting about 55 seconds is my wrasse tank. My Scotts decided to hide for the video.
http://youtu.be/8yhFjJEKpGY

 

[Syntax1325]

I should of been more clear... I added the line spot with a McCoskers but the McCoskers died two days after being put in the tank.

 

[d-man]

I've had that happen a few times before. Unfortuneatly for my fish they usually starved and or jumped.
Since the last time I always use an acclimation box, no matter what!
Try to get a few more wrasses and use the box. Hopefully the line spot will come out more when the new arrivals are being watched by then Solon. There is a good chance that after a few days(I try to do a week) in the box the Solon will leave them alone and line spot will be ok.

 

[brett559]

I'm going through a similar issue. I've had a Melanarus wrasse for a while. I added a red head Solon and didn't notice any aggression. I recently swapped the Solon for an Orange-back and now my melanarus is really going after the Orange-back. He chases the Orange and while I don't see any overt aggression, the orange's back fin is all nipped up. Hope he mellows out eventually. The orange is eating fine, though.

 

[eatbreakfast]

At this point, unless you can catch one of the wrasses adding more to diffuse aggression and to distract the solon is the best course of action.

As stated before a social acclimation box really does relieve a lot of these issues.

 

[evolved]

At this point, unless you can catch one of the wrasses adding more to diffuse aggression and to distract the solon is the best course of action.

As stated before a social acclimation box really does relieve a lot of these issues.

Fully agree.
Always use an acclimation box when adding wrasses.

 

[Syntax1325]

What are the chances that the Solon Wrasse will eventually get used to the Line Spot? I'm still able to target feed to Line Spot so he is remaining nourished even though he is hiding.

I've got a small Lamarck Angel and a cleaner Wrasse in QT, they won't be ready for the display until after a course of prazipro and Cupramine. I hope the Line Spot can hang on, it's a really nice looking fish.

 

[3FordFamily]

What are the chances that the Solon Wrasse will eventually get used to the Line Spot? I'm still able to target feed to Line Spot so he is remaining nourished even though he is hiding.

I've got a small Lamarck Angel and a cleaner Wrasse in QT, they won't be ready for the display until after a course of prazipro and Cupramine. I hope the Line Spot can hang on, it's a really nice looking fish.

Feed it well and in time it may work out. Over the years I've never come across an aggressive Solon wrasse.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Any wrasse can continue to show aggression toward another closely related species. Even though the solon and line spot are in different Genera they are still closely related. Adding a cleaner wrasse may not diffuse the aggression as it is not that closely related toward the other two species.

For the most part C. solorensis is not terribly aggressive, but there are always exceptions. Hopefully things will get better, though if it hasnt improved by now it may not ever get better.

 

[evolved]

though if it hasnt improved by now it may not ever get better.

Agree again

 

[Syntax1325]

I had a fortuitous event happen two weeks ago, my very shy line spot took a ride down the bean animal water slide and ended up in my sump. I left him there for a week while a modified a critter carrier to use as a social acclimation box. The line spot has been in the box for a week and is doing very well. The first few days he hid in the piece of pvc I put in there and would not eat. The Solor wrasse showed very aggressive behavior towards him, charging the box. A couple days later the Solor shows very little interest in the linespot, and the linespot is swimming around almost all day and is eating well.

I have a Lamarck and a cleaner wrasse in qt at the moment, I think I'll release all three fish into the display in the evening once the other two fish are finished with with their qt period, about one more week. Thoughts?