All About Reef Safe Wrasses

Well, Evolved, you've got enough here to write up a short book on the subject! Excellent advice, and I thank you wholeheartedly! Will use this as my go-to resource from now onwards with respect to reef wrasse. Great reference to have!

Best!
Phil

 

Thank you for the kind words Phil.

 

Evolved, that was an excellent write up. I'm looking to add a few wrasse over the summer. I'm looking to find as much advice and information as possible. I have a 120g tank with 150-160lbs rock and 80lbs sand. I'm willing to add more sand if needed, too. I have a huge 'pod population that stays up due to my huge refugium. My current stock list is a Majestic angel, powder blue, 2 true percs, 2 blue damsels, and a Lawnmower blenny. I'm growing to trade the powder blue in on a yellow eye kole tang and a Sailfin tang. My friend is going to take my angel and I plan to get either a coral beauty or lemon peel. I'm looking for 2-3 that will get along with each other and my tank mates. I've narrowed my list down to this: Pink-Streaked Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia), Linespot Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus lineopunctatus), Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus)(pair), Clown Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis), Royal Pencil Wrasse (Pseudojuloides severnsi), Sea Grass Wrasse (Novaculichthys macrolepidotus), Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)(pair), Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis), Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri). This is to give you an idea of all the styles and ones I like. I love pairs and they often swim together. I would love to have differing colors, looks, and patterns.

 

No need for any more sand or rock, for wrasses.

Really, any of those you've named would be fine. I'd tend to avoid the pencil, however.

It's also worth noting wrasse "pairs" are not bonded, but simply the female submissive to the male. You shouldn't expect them to stay near each other.

I'm glad you found this writeup useful.

 

Thank you for your response. I don't plan to have them next to each other all the time. I just like the interaction between pairs. I'd also love the chance for them to mate, but I know that is highly unlikely. Do you know if any of them are more aggressive than the others? Will they get along with my blue damsels?

 

There's notes regarding any known aggression, in general, for each species in the first post. Bear in mind, that's a general note; ultimately it depends on the individual attitude of the animal you end up with.

The wrasses won't bother the damsels, but the question is, will the damsels bother the wrasses? Best to use an acclimation box to answer that question.

 

I was just referred to this site and topic by a friend that knows I love wrasses and that first entry is such a great resource! I'll be reading the rest this evening.

Right now I have a Naoko's Fairy, a Pink Margin Fairy, a Canary (which I'll never refer to as a Yellow Coris again) and a Black-Backed Tamarin. I found the Black-Backed Tamarin in a local store and having never seen one, I had to do some quick research on my phone to find out if it would be a good addition to my tank. I recently lost a Richmond's and plan to replace it and hope to add a Golden Rhomboid and Flame. A Lineatus was on my list until I read on here that they don't play well with Pink Margins. I'm a bit disappointed as I probably would've held off on the PM had I known, but it's a pretty spectacular male so I'm going to stick with it.

I have a 180g and the only other fish are a Tailspot Blenny, Yellow Watchman Goby and Randall's Goby. I also plan to add a Blue Spot Jawfish.

Editing to remove question about adding other wrasses as I just read Evolved's tank thread. I'm anxious to add more, including some flashers.

Thank you!

 

what is the fish pictured in your avatar?

 

It's a Richmond's. I just recently lost mine and am on the lookout for a new one.

 

Hello, and thanks for the complements.

The Naoko might be pretty hostile towards new additions; you'll need to ensure you use an acclimation box for every new wrasse you wish to add to the tank.

Adding females are fine, but note any female fairy or flasher will eventually transition to male amongst the others in your system. You certainly have enough room to add quite a few more; a few flashers included.