With bare bottom, I would stick to fairy and flasher wrasses. At that size, there are many options for all sorts of budgets. Note that fairies and flashers in groups all tend to transition to males, and males of the same species kill each other in Thunderdome match-ups, or so I've been told. Probably best to stick to one per species.
So what I'm hearing is that if I get a group I'm going to end up with more tanks.......
Gorgeous. But how will they do without sand? I might be willing to accept the eating of clean up crew in the right conditionsVivien. My favorite
Leopards (like viviens), tamarins, pencils, coris wrasses and others sleep in sand and use the sand as their safe haven, so bare bottom, while possible, might not lead to healthy/happy fish. May lead to injury if they get spooked and dive into the non-existent sand
My Possum more than holds his own in a busy 5' 100 gallon with a bunch of fairies, anthias, a dottyback, 4 different Halichoeres, a pencil, a dwarf angel, clowns, cardinals, butterflies, blennies, a tilefish, and a couple different gobies. Out all the time, eats right with the rest of them. Just look for a more outgoing one at the store.Leopards (like viviens), tamarins, pencils, coris wrasses and others sleep in sand and use the sand as their safe haven, so bare bottom, while possible, might not lead to healthy/happy fish. May lead to injury if they get spooked and dive into the non-existent sand
Cirrhilabrus (fairies), Paracheilinus (flashers), Pseudocheilinus (e.g., six-line, mystery, etc., generally can become territorial), Pseudocheilinops (pink streak wrasses, adorable but shy and need peaceful tank mates), and Wetmorella (possums, similar to pink streaks in tank needs) are all wrasses that sleep in mucus cocoons in the rockwork. Cleaner wrasses too, I think. They would be good for a bare bottom tank, although pinkies and possums might get lost in a large tank like that.
Good guide to picking out fairies:
And Halichoeres. You forget the big one.
Otherwisewrasses and others sleep in sand and use the sand as their safe haven, so bare bottom, while possible, might not lead to healthy/happy fish. May lead to injury if they get spooked and dive into the non-existent sand
Cirrhilabrus (fairies), Paracheilinus (flashers), Pseudocheilinus (e.g., six-line, mystery, etc., generally can become territorial), Pseudocheilinops (pink streak wrasses, adorable but shy and need peaceful tank mates), and Wetmorella (possums, similar to pink streaks in tank needs) are all wrasses that sleep in mucus cocoons in the rockwork. Cleaner wrasses too, I think. They would be good for a bare bottom tank, although pinkies and possums might get lost in a large tank like that.
Good guide to picking out fairies:
He said Coris...And Halichoeres. You forget the big one.
Otherwise
@tbrown since you're local. What's your go to lfs for wrasses?
They need sand. I didn’t see bare botyom in your description. I had a bare bottom for years but will never go without sand now. Excludes so many nice wrasses. I would consider 1-2 inches of fiji pink in your build.
I've never done a bare bottom. I'm very much in the planning phases right now. I've got a line on a nice 150 on fb marketplace but until my oldest moves out in 7 months (college) I don't have a space for the tank. Plenty of time to change my mind
Petco... Depends. I like Aquarium Arts and LE Corals. I've got some stuff at Aquaholics. Honestly my Melanurus and Leucoxanthus are both from Petco at 59th. I got a Carpenter's at Aquarium Arts and I got my Leopard at LE Corals. Petco on Northern has had a couple of McCoskers I've almost grabbed and Petco in Avondale and Goodyear have had Chrysus. Aquaholics often has Flashers and Fairies but they're mostly out of my price range.
That's true. @jkcoral has a famous possum that takes no scheisse!
Thank you. The Petco on Northern is down the street so I'll keep an eye out there. LE is a favorite so I'll have to drop by next time I am over there
I've got a H. Melanurus, an H. Leucoxanthus, and an M. Meleagris in my 70... Probably not a good idea to follow my example though.
They've got great sales. I got my Macropharyngodon Meleagris for $40 at LE.
I see no problem. Have both of those on my list. The brunneus might be a bit on the wimpy side, so make sure everyone is nice.
