New Wrasse Suggestions

J

JamesB

I had a Wardley's wrasse for over 7 years, but he died in October. He was very active (a dither fish) and obviously, extremely healthy. I did not notice him bothering any of my corals (a SPS, a couple LPS, and various mushrooms and zoathids).

Anyway, I'm thinking it's time for new wrasse. I have 3 medium yellow tangs, a larger Regal tang, a mean coral beauty, a mean saddleback clown, and a couple of other more docile fish. I've tried fairy wrasses in the past, but the other inhabitants seem too aggressive.

Considering color, availability, cost, etc., what type of wrasse would you choose?

Later, James.
 
Fairy wrasses are beautiful, but I've had two fairy wrasses (one was a Scotts, the other was a flame or fire wrasse) over the years and both seemed very intimidated by the other fish and would not eat. I reached the conclusion that this behavior was typical of fairy wrasses, but it may very well have been my inexperience. Have you had better luck with fairy wrasses in a tank with other active feeders?

Later, James
 
How big is your tank? You could probably get away with adding a large fairy wrasse at this point but you are right they can be timid. Some species are more so then others. I added my current fairy wrasse as one of my last fish. I was very worried about it. They beat him up pretty good but he hung in there and now bullies some of the other fish. I think the reason for my success is because he came out of another persons tank and I QT him for a long time.

I recommend adding a radiant wrasse. They are similar to the yellow coris wrasse in temperment. I just added one of these to my tank. He gets picked on but is hanging in there. They can be a little expensive. Here is a picture of one.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1872&articleid=1920

I also like the four line wrasse. Here is a picture of a four line wrasse.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/blpick0708984linewr.htm
 
I think the Cirrhilabrus solorensis or the Solar Fairy wrasse is a great fish. But I they can be intimidated by some fish. Mine is scared of my Flame Angel.
Fortunatly the angel leaves him alone 90% of the time. I added my first Solar to tank with a Six Line wrasse. That was a big mistake, the six line would have killed the Solar if I had not caught the Six Line.
 
If you want vibrant wrasses. My favorite but one of the most expensive and prolly the hardest to get is the Mystery wrasse
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/mysterywrasse/
Or a Lineatus Fairy wrasse
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/lineatusfairywrasse/
Laboutei Wrasse
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/labouteifairywrasse/
Scotts Wrasse which there are many variations but all very beautiful.
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/scottsfairywrasse/
http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassereefsafe/scottsfairywrasseaustralian/

I have had everyone of these guys. Along with a few others. They are all jumpers. And will hold their ground to the tangs and the coral beauty as well if acclimated correctly. I had to get mine use to my lighting and make sure you introduce them with the lights off. It is very important with these fish. They are very colorful and very active. They are some of the expensive ones. And before adding one of the higher priced fish try adding like a fairy wrasse a solar or a flasher. They are relatively cheaper then the ones I listed above.

These fish I do not recommend buying online. It is best to see them in person and make sure they are in good condition before buying. Some will hide in the rock when first added to your tank and cocoon themselves till they adapt. Not eating and stressing you out. So you want to make sure you get a healthy fish from the get go. Also the mystery wrasse is probably the hardest and most vulnerable of them all. I have been keeping these fish and are by far my favorite fish in my reefs along with rare anthias.
 
I find the Leopard Wrasse to be stunningly beautiful, as well as this one:

http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/wrassealsoseehogfish/redcoriswrasseadult/
 
I say solar as well, i keep mine with an aggressive coral beauty as well as flame hawkfish. Just an FYI, they're quite jumpers, i've had to save him twice now....
 
I "had" a wonderful Xmastree Wrasse that I loved...
Very pretty, hardy and got along with all in the tank, no probs with my PBT. He was pretty safe, did not bother shrimps, etc and was not a jumper..but was a hunter. Eat any worm he saw and apparently was eating my flatworms that i didnt know I had.
He was big when I got him...and hardly grew in my tank, ate great. For the last few yrs he started to get a little curve, hump. I figured he was a old fish that came to his end...or at least im hope so.

Im considering getting another, but do admit I love that leopard wrasse too.

I just cant get a jumper...hate the egg crate on a tank.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I went with the solar fairy from Aquatic Trading. I hope all goes well with it.

Thanks, James.
 
Quick - how do you decide if you've made a good choice??? Here are few items on the checklist:

1. The wife comes in and says "Ooooh, you got a new fish"
2. The daughter (a senior in high school who doesn't need her dad) comes in and says "Oooooh, you got a new fish.
3. During the first feeding, the wrasse floats around like the Red Baron, waiting to swoop in on the scraps. And, he's fast and quick and aggressive enough to get the large pieces.
4. He chased the coral beauty away from his newly adopted hole!

After day one, the solar fairy was a good choice.

Thanks all, James.
 
Good luck with him and you made a great choice. Watch him and you will notice over time he is very aware and will respond to you. I know we tend to judge animals on a human basis, but I think they are very smart fish.
 
My favorite! I'd really love a pair but I have asked tons of places and no one has even seen a female collected. the males do tend tro dull out a little over time but they are truly awesome fish!
 
Ok, an update.

Day two was no different than day one. Life was good.

However, Day three - I came in from work this afternoon and I don't see the solar hanging out. After 5 minutes of looking, I finally spot him holed up in a different location. His gills are pulsing rapidly, color a little pale.

Corals are looking great, other fish are feeding and looking great, mushrooms are fully expanded, shrimp are active - in general, the rest of the tank looks as good as it gets.

I test the water parameters - pH is fine, calcium a little low (what a surprise!).

I add a little food to see if I can get him caught up in the feeding frenzy, but no change.


If the fish looks good and has been in the LFS for several days, I don't quarantine first.

My acclimation procedure - float in the sump in darkness for about an hour to get temperatures equal. Supplement the water in the bag with about 1/4 volume of tank water. After 30 minutes, remove about 1/3 of the water in the bag and replace with tank water. Repeat twice more. Turn off lights in the display tank and add wrasse to the display.

What's up??
 
I moved him a little to get a better view. There are no signs of excess mucus, no obvious parasites. The eyes move to follow my movements, but they don't look particularly alert. I don't have much hope at the moment. The other fish seemed to have accepted the wrasse as just another cruiser - the tank's big enough. He found a niche in the feeding frenzy (for 2 days) and there are plenty of pods for him to munch on.

It's really frustrating. I'm not in this hobby to kill fish and throw away $$. The other fish in the tank are at least 6 yrs old. I still have 2 of the original 6 damsels I used to cycle my first salt tank in 1996.

Just venting, James.
 
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