Carpenter Wrasse is evil

So along with Travis45, I bought a carpenter's flasher wrasse yesterday, along with a royal gramma. The wrasse is completely chill with every fish in the tank except that gramma, he absolutely hates him. They both went in yesterday at the same time, after the same acclimation. Any ideas what is going on? Should I be concerned yet?

Thanks!

 

What's the specific problem? Chasing or nipping? Unless it's an all out bruha right now, chasing is nothing to worry about yet. Let them settle in and work out their own space unless someone is getting hurt.

Unless your tank is too small. How big?

 

Yeah that would help to know. It is not surprising, especially if a smaller tank. I would guess that the RGB is starting it though, they are more territorial and the wrasse will tend to swim in the same areas. If not too bad, give it a few days to see if they mellow out. Sometimes they will be more aggressive until they work out their boundaries.

 

My flasher wrasse picks on my firefish like crazy.....I have no idea why. Might just be one of those things for you, but hopefully in a few days they will settle down. Could be someone trying to become dominate and establish territory.

 

75 gallon. And it's basically chasing and the occasional nip before the gramma just jams back into his cave. Thanks!

 

Give the wrasse another target for now. Put up a full length mirror on one side of the tank. It sounds silly, but it often works to divert aggression. Eventually, they'll learn to cohabitat, but you may need that mirror for a week or two.

Only other choice is to catch the wrasse at night (if you know where it sleeps) and give him a forced time up to let the gramma establish itself.

 

my lunar wrasse picks at my old clam, and eats all my snails and small crabs

 

They should work it out in a few days hopefully.....

 

I would not recommend the mirror for a flasher wrasse. They can stress easy, and this might be more than enough to push him over the edge. Just give it a few days as-is.

Yup, sounds like a wrasse of the Thalassoma genus. Usual behavior. Very different from the Paracheilinus genus.

 

I had considered that, thanks for the idea

I hope so man, both being peaceful I had not anticipated this. Even Austin told me it was gonna be fine. I really like that gramma, so I might be driving back out to your place to grab that trap again LOL.