golden rhomboid wrasse

[Joel A]

Just looking for a few answers to questions i have about them. Most stunning fish i think i've ever personally seen, and there's no doubt that i want one in my next system. A few things concern me though.. the main question being hardiness. I'm a fairly experienced fish keeper, and i'm not nervous about keeping more delicate fishes, but i also don't want a fish that is completely hit or miss in captivity. Other than the occasional jumper does this fish have a high mortality rate in captivity? Asking for obvious reasons.. as it's not a cheap fish. Also, do they have special feeding requirements/ and or are they picky eaters?

Another thing i'm wondering is if a female is needed for a supermale to keep his colors? I understand it never hurts, but is it recommended a lot with these fish like other fairy wrasses (like the scott's fairy wrasse for instance?).

Last thing i'm wondering here.. if i buy a harem of females (3), will one of them turn male? Females are obviously cheaper so if buying 2 or 3 fishes it would be cool if i could just buy females and have one change over for me..? If this is true of these fish, how long would a transformation take?

[wrasseguy2]

you can buy females if you can try to get different sizes but one should turn into a male..don't know how long it would take to turn that is never the same..i find them to be pretty hardy and once acclimated..you will need a top because they jump!!!what other fish do you have in your tank?

[zemuron114]

Rhomboids are relatively good aquarium fish. the MAIN thing to be concerned about is decompression issues. sometimes they are brought up to fast and can get internal bloating. Also, i highly recommend QT with prazi pro for any fairy wrasse as they are highly susceptible to internal parasites.

3-5 females would be nice. But to get a true supermale you are going to need some luck! They are a true rarity!

[roktsintst]

I just got 3 female Rhomboids in. The supplier held them for 2 weeks for me and in that time the larger one has changed already. He is still definitly a sub adult male, but htere is an obvious difference between himand his two ladies already!!!

They will spend the next 7 weeks in QT, and even w/ no lights on my qt tank, the male, even though not full male, is incredible to look at!!!

So, my suggestion would be to add a harem of Females and let the size difference sort them out!

Good luck!

[Joel A]

you can buy females if you can try to get different sizes but one should turn into a male..don't know how long it would take to turn that is never the same..i find them to be pretty hardy and once acclimated..you will need a top because they jump!!!what other fish do you have in your tank?

yes, i'm aware they jump.. my new set-up with have a mesh top ;). As far as other fish not many at the moment, i have a Blue hippo and 2 clowns that i will be transferring to the new tank from my current set-up, but that's it. The rhomboids wont be the only new fish i'll be adding to the new tank though. I assume they should be ok with fast active tank mates like tangs and possibly other wrasses? Nothing aggressive though, all reef fishes.


Rhomboids are relatively good aquarium fish. the MAIN thing to be concerned about is decompression issues. sometimes they are brought up to fast and can get internal bloating. Also, i highly recommend QT with prazi pro for any fairy wrasse as they are highly susceptible to internal parasites.

3-5 females would be nice. But to get a true supermale you are going to need some luck! They are a true rarity!

Yeah, maybe i'll get lucky =). Who am I talking to by the way, are you in the Boston Reefers?

I just got 3 female Rhomboids in. The supplier held them for 2 weeks for me and in that time the larger one has changed already. He is still definitly a sub adult male, but htere is an obvious difference between himand his two ladies already!!!

They will spend the next 7 weeks in QT, and even w/ no lights on my qt tank, the male, even though not full male, is incredible to look at!!!

So, my suggestion would be to add a harem of Females and let the size difference sort them out!

Good luck!

Cool! Yeah, I think that's what i'll do..

[bullitr]

I am in the process of getting 5 from my supplier hopefully just one supermale if not I have to sell the sub male right to prevent aggression?

Thanks in advance

[Reefing Newbie]

3-5 females would be nice. But to get a true supermale you are going to need some luck! They are a true rarity!

The supermale will take a lot of luck and time to get if not purchasing. My LFS has a small supermale laboutei, I asked if they purchased it as a supermale. They said they just put a male in and 3 years later, they have a supermale.

[albano]

They don't get my vote as the easiest fish to acclimate/survive... you have to make sure you get a healthy fish from supplier...I'd definitely go with multiple females...IMO...they (wrasses) always change , some quickly, even without other females

Supermale is not worth worrying about...my guess is that a large %age of people (NOT referring to anyone on this thread) that say they have a supermale...have a very nice MALE