The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[jkcoral]

I'm also curious, since I have a pair now, if they always trend to male resulting in a transition or if some live their full lives as females. @jkcoral how long have you had your pair?

They are too cute to think of as deadly murder beasts!

I added the small female to my male back in April, so 8 or 9 months they’ve been together. So far I’ve not seen any indications of her transitioning, and no changes in behavior, she’s always tied to his hip or somewhere close by. I was interested in the opportunity to watch and learn from their little dynamic over time given the relative lack of knowledge about these little guys. Maybe now that she’s beefed up and healthy, a transition could come, or maybe they are just more likely to stay in that pair dynamic than other wrasse. It be interesting to see.

I’ve also really wanted to watch and learn about group dynamics of possum wrasses. But my possum went full warlord on the other and had almost killed it in less than 48 hours and I had to move it to my dad. I don’t know if it’s just because my possum turned out to be a gangster or not, but I’d like to try again some day.

 

[Slocke]

Going to nerd out for a second

I feel like evetunally the Halichoeres genus will be spilt. It seems like genetic research into the genus shows that the genus is a bit of a mess with many more closely related to other wrasse then their own genus. Also just the anatomical differences between the species are far more varied than most. I was watching the 3 in my reef tank. The radiant, H iridis is completely different in shape to the timor, H timorenesis and the dusky, H marginatus with the first having a torpedo shape and the latter a much flatter shape. Also the latter two definitely feel more threatened by each other than they do the radiant. They will puff up when they see eachother which is quite the sight as my dusky is an incredible fish with its fins fully out (of course it never does it when I have the camera ready).

 

[JoJosReef]

Going to nerd out for a second

I feel like evetunally the Halichoeres genus will be spilt. It seems like genetic research into the genus shows that the genus is a bit of a mess with many more closely related to other wrasse then their own genus. Also just the anatomical differences between the species are far more varied than most. I was watching the 3 in my reef tank. The radiant, H iridis is completely different in shape to the timor, H timorenesis and the dusky, H marginatus with the first having a torpedo shape and the latter a much flatter shape. Also the latter two definitely feel more threatened by each other than they do the radiant. They will puff up when they see eachother which is quite the sight as my dusky is an incredible fish with its fins fully out (of course it never does it when I have the camera ready).

Any phylogenetic trees you can cut and paste over? I guess I could search, but then I'd have to be away from R2R for a min...

 

[Slocke]

Any phylogenetic trees you can cut and paste over? I guess I could search, but then I'd have to be away from R2R for a min...

Here you go. Complete messe of trees!

 

[JoJosReef]

Here you go. Complete messe of trees!

That's an interesting spread. Still amazed that Wetmorella is so closely related to Cheilinus!

 

[code4]

Thanks for all the ideas. The current wrasse is a Melanarus Wrasse. And it is in quarantine (20 gallon) eating and doing well. Not a true quarantine, sand and rocks. Willing to medicate if needed in this tank. Fully cycled also.

I am hoping to add them all at the same time. Now to start looking for a few more. If you have a favorite please steer me that way. I may add coral eventually to this tank.

Thanks,
Shelley

 

[Slocke]

Thanks for all the ideas. The current wrasse is a Melanarus Wrasse. And it is in quarantine (20 gallon) eating and doing well. Not a true quarantine, sand and rocks. Willing to medicate if needed in this tank. Fully cycled also.

I am hoping to add them all at the same time. Now to start looking for a few more. If you have a favorite please steer me that way. I may add coral eventually to this tank.

Thanks,
Shelley

Melanarus are one of the more aggressive Halichoeres but still a good choice. I suggest flasher and fairy wrasse as the best combo. For fairies exquisite, ruby longfin, naoko, pintail, Lubbock, are all awesome choices. As for flashers any will work.
Maybe a leopard wrasse too.

 

[Trixter227]

6 ft tank? Time to start living vicariously!

All the wrasses. All of them.

Seriously, I would try out an Anampses, a Halichoeres, a leopard and a few fairies/flashers.

I am currently working on something close! 10 wrasse planned. Not sure if i will have leopards yet. But for sure a mix of 10 Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres, and Paracheilinus

 

[JoJosReef]

I am currently working on something close! 10 wrasse planned. Not sure if i will have leopards yet. But for sure a mix of 10 Cirrhilabrus, Halichoeres, and Paracheilinus

If you find a healthy leopard that's awake and eating, that's a great addition! They seem to be super hardy once they're in and eating.

 

[AZReef13]

I just add a Cirrhilabrus johnsoni Very small Female, she is hiding at the moment. Once out I will try like I always do to get photos.

 

[code4]

Melanarus are one of the more aggressive Halichoeres but still a good choice. I suggest flasher and fairy wrasse as the best combo. For fairies exquisite, ruby longfin, naoko, pintail, Lubbock, are all awesome choices. As for flashers any will work.
Maybe a leopard wrasse too.

I should have checked here first. I really don't like aggression. So only one from each group would be best? Let me start checking them out. This is fun.

Shelley

 

[Slocke]

I should have checked here first. I really don't like aggression. So only one from each group would be best? Let me start checking them out. This is fun.

Shelley

You can have more than one but it is easier to add from a different genera. For example I have 3 Halichoeres and 3 fairies in my 5’ tank and though there is no fighting there is sometimes minor squabbles between them. With fairies the “Wrasse Guy” made this helpful chart to help people mix them:

 

[tbrown]

I should have checked here first. I really don't like aggression. So only one from each group would be best? Let me start checking them out. This is fun.

Shelley

That's a general rule of thumb. My Mel is fairly non-aggressive. He spends all day staring at himself in the glass reflection. This could all change once he fully transitions. I also don't have a ton of "boisterous" fish but there's enough chasing between the Tomini, Starry, and Lawnmower.

 

[code4]

You can have more than one but it is easier to add from a different genera. For example I have 3 Halichoeres and 3 fairies in my 5’ tank and though there is no fighting there is sometimes minor squabbles between them. With fairies the “Wrasse Guy” made this helpful chart to help people mix them:

Oh my. This is a lot of hard earned information. Thanks all. I better get studying.

Shelley

 

[Slocke]

Since it involves wrasse who wants to see the secret to a free at home skin care treatment.

 

[JoJosReef]

Since it involves wrasse who wants to see the secret to a free at home skin care treatment.

There you go. That cleaner wrasse needs to put on some weight anyways.

 

[Slocke]

There you go. That cleaner wrasse needs to put on some weight anyways.

She’s grown so much!! She was like a grain of rice when I got her!

 

[Trixter227]

If you find a healthy leopard that's awake and eating, that's a great addition! They seem to be super hardy once they're in and eating.

Never kept one! They seem interesting and i plan on having refugium and algea scrubber. So hopefully pods can keep up

 

[JoJosReef]

Never kept one! They seem interesting and i plan on having refugium and algea scrubber. So hopefully pods can keep up

Mine hunts nonstop, but also eats everything. So I imagine as long as you don't have pod-dependent fish like scooters or mandarins, then you'll be fine.

 

[clownfishmama]

I love me some wrasse's, so I want to see everyone's wrasse pictures! Please share!

I've been practicing my fish taking.. Snapped a decent one of my Naoko Wrasse, still need to polish up on my skills though!

Edit:

Forgot my earmuff! Colors since this picture have really improved!

Such beautiful fish! Love the quality