All About Reef Safe Wrasses

Registered here just to ask a couple questions, great write up Evolved

It looks to me like you fully approve of multiple Flashers in a system, Id like to get a second and third to accompany my Linespot? Possibly P. Carpenteri and P. Mccoskeri?

And as my final showpiece fish down the road Id really like a Rhomboid or a Lineatus... What are your thoughts on one of these two going into a 36x36x27?

 

Welcome!

Assuming the tank is large enough, yes. And reading ahead, I presume this would be in the 150? If so, both of those would be fine. Using an acclimation box when mixing wrasses, as outlined, is advised however. That'll cut a lot of potential aggression and curb problems before they even start.

Lacking a little in terms of swimming space, but I would be comfortable with one of those. The rhomboid might be a better choice, as they don't get quite as large as the lineatus. Again I'll stress the acclimation box part.

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

Evolved,

First let me say thank you for such a good initial write up and the continuing follow up posts. I have been using it for quite a while now but I too finally registered on 3reef to post a question to you.

I have a 40 Breeder (36x18x17) reef that I am looking to add one more wrasse to. I know this is about the smallest length tank you would recommend and I have tried to stick to the smallest of wrasses for it. I currently have a C. Lubboki & P. Mccoskeri and would like to find one last wrasse addition as my final fish for this system.

I have narrowed it down to the list below in hopes you could let me know if these will be acceptable possibilities. There are two that are not on your list but I have found them online so I figured I would ask.

I was thinking of:
C. Flavidorsalis
C. Tonozukai
P. Angulatus
P. Carpenteri
P. Cyaneus
P. Flavianalis
P. Lineopunctatus

I don't want to make any ill advised purchases so if one (or all) would be a bad idea please let me know. I do have a Reef Gently Acclimate box to place the new arrival for a few days so everyone can get to know each other.

The current stock list of that tank is as follows:
C. Lubboki
P. Mccoskeri
Amphiprion Ocellatis (Black and White Clownfish) x2
Valenciennea Puellaris (Diamond Watchman Goby)
Gramma Loreto (Royal Gramma Basslet)
Synchiropus Splendidus (Green Mandarin)

The total system volume is around 100 gallons including the Upper Refugium and Sump.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer and for the great thread thus far.

 

Thank you for the compliments, and welcome.

Yeah, and given what you have it stocked with, one more should be okay from a compatibility standpoint.

As for your choices:

Good; put that to use!

Best of luck; thanks again.

 

Perfect, thank you very much sir!

 

Evolved, as always, thanks for your help.
I'm a little stumped and I wonder if you can shed some wisdom for me?

My cleaner shrimp have disappeared. Ok... Fine.
I had an aiptasia outbreak so I introduced 4 peppermint shrimp. Never saw them again... Hhhmmmm....
Added 5 more peppermints. Never saw them again... Ok, something's going on here.
Got 4 more peppermints and added them one at a time while watching carefully.... The Labouti took a swipe at it and missed... Then never went back.
Then... Uh oh... Over came the Rhomboid. Yup, sucked it right down.

Is it possible that my Rhomboid is eating my shrimp? I love shrimp!!!

Here are the possible suspects...
Rhomboid - Terminal Male
Labouti - Super Male
Flame - Super male and female (transitioning to sub male)
Lineatus - Super Male
Scott's - Male
McCoskers (doubtful)

Thoughts?
I specifically chose these particular species because I thought they were invert safe.

Thanks again... I love shrimp and I'm bummed that somebody found a taste for them.

 

All of them could honestly.

 

How big are the shrimp when you add them? I would say if you saw the Rhomboid eat one, then he is not a suspect...guilty as charged.

 

My lineatus is free! she spent over a week in her box, I let her out today and none of the other 4 wrasse even looked at her sideways. Well, my juvenile iridis is hanging close. She even took some pellets right away. I'll leave the box in there for a couple more days until she is fully comfortable.