All About Reef Safe Wrasses

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by evolved, Sep 12, 2011.

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  1. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Mixing Halichoeres usually works, but I have had some be incompatible with others. I'd say my success rate there has been about 70%. Species doesn't seem to matter; it's just the individual attitude of any given specimen.

    I'd probably move the goni. The melanurus might be a little confused, but I doubt it'd bring any significant stress.
     
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  3. rayh

    rayh Plankton

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    Great Article!

    I recently spotted a Cirrhilabrus Laboutei in a local store. I have had great luck with fish from this store. They quarantine and buy their fish from good distributors. I have observed the wrasse on two different occasions. Both times it came out of hiding to eat only to return to hiding.

    After reading your great post it confirms the fact that these wrasses are pretty rare in the trade. I have always appreciated wrasses especially the fairy wrasses for their beauty.

    I would love to bring this wrasse home but not sure of the fact that the wrasse is always hiding given that they have had it for 3 weeks. Boy this fish is hard to pass up, while expensive 199.00 it's worth it.

    Is the fact that it ate on both occasions enough of a measurement of quality, despite the hiding.

    Now to my current 150 Gallon coral reef setup. I have what I would describe as a fairly peaceful tank. Admittedly things can get a little frenzied during feeding but in general a peaceful tank. No fin nipping or the like.

    The two fish that might upset the wrasse is the hipo tang and kole tang they are just very active, especially during feeding. What do you think could this wrasse thrive in this set up. Do you have any other recommendations for fairy wrasses my favorite genus.
     
  4. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Hello,

    Glad you found the info useful :)

    As to the labouti, mostly everything you have to say about it sounds quite good. The only small concern I have is why it seems to be hiding in the tank at the store. However, wrasses will hide for a few reasons: something else in the tank is forcing them into hiding, they're the only fish in the tank and therefore become a bit jumpy/skiddish, or it's simply your presence near the tank which has frightened him. Regardless, it all has to do with them being frightened in one way or another.

    Besides this, all sounds well. As far as making him an addition to your tank, I see no concern with a Hippo and Kole tang, so long as neither one is rather aggressive. Their activity in the tank is fine; that should actually make a wrasse more active as well.

    The labouti's are somewhat rare in the trade, but not nearly as rare as some other species. I'd estimate there's a few hundred labouti's which make it to the states each year. $200 is a fair price, btw, so long as it's a decent size (3" or more).

    Good luck.
     
  5. rayh

    rayh Plankton

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    thanks!

    Thanks for the quick response. Can you recommend a few more fairy wrasses that could thrive in this setup. Have you had any luck ordering fairy wrasses online? If so where? Have you always acquired your wrasses in the LFS?

    thanks for all the valuable information.

    -ray
     
  6. Atticus818

    Atticus818 Eyelash Blennie

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    I'll let evolved handle the fish suggestions, but Divers Den is where its at for rare wrasses. You can get them through your LFS also, but depending on your location they may never even see some of the rarer in trade fish.

    You can definitely order a decent selection of fairies online with a high success rate, as for specifics on which fish ship hard, it is usually just the Macropharyngodon and Anampses genuses, with a few exceptions.
     
  7. rayh

    rayh Plankton

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    thanks for the tip on Divers Den!
     
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  9. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    I have had good luck with a couple online vendors, as well as my favorite 2 LFS.

    I will only buy online via WYSIWYG sales, so this basically leaves me with Diver's Den (as mentioned) and Pacific Island Aquatics.

    As for additional fairys, you have quite a few choices that would be just fine. There's only a handful of fairys that don't mix well with other fairys; the mostly all go fine together. Your choices are much more limited by availability and how much you're willing to pay. :)
     
  10. rayh

    rayh Plankton

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    Thanks for all the great info evolved. Great stuff!
     
  11. LittleFishy

    LittleFishy Astrea Snail

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    Thanks for the great advice! We are currently picking our first Wrasse and I needed this information :) I am torn between a fairy (Lineatus) or a flasher (Carpenter or McCosker's). Any preferences? Trying to get as much color as possible.

    Looking forward to being a Wrasse owner!
     
  12. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    I'm glad you found the info useful :)

    Preference? Of course, but the limiting factor here is budget. You're comparing a ~$50 fish to a ~$300 fish. :p

    The more colorful, the more expensive. The BEST lineatus' I've seen will be priced around $350. Sure, you can find smaller juvi's or females close to the $200 mark, but they're quite drab in contrast to the males.

    However, you can find fanstaically colored McCosker (or Carpenter) males near the $60 mark. It's much harder to find an exceptional Carpenter's over a McCosker's.

    It's really a matter of what you want to spend, what you can find, and how patient your willing to be. :)