fairy wrasses

[winkkle]

Got a 120 and was wondering how many fairy/flasher wrasses people would add to this setup. I currently have a red fairy and a lightning wrasse.

[reefjunkie42]

im not farmiliar with those names, could you provide a scientific name please?

[winkkle]

Lightning Wrasse (Halichoeres cyanocephalus)
Redfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis)

[reefjunkie42]

redfins are aggressive i believe. you might want to reconsider stocking list before continue. im pming you a link

[winkkle]

Well in your sig u have a 200 gal wrasse dominated tank. Which species, prefer common name, Do u keep. So far there has been little to no aggression in my tank. The redfin puffed up for the first couple days now he leaves the new guy alone.

[reefjunkie42]

that is because he is the only cirrhibraus in there. I keep a trio of johnsoni(not common) a pyle pair, I love these guys eventhough he is non stop forcing the female to spawn. I also keep a pair of cirrhilabrus bathyphilus which i love, great color and demeanor. A naoko's fairy lone male, which I would not reccomend if you're keeping it with other fairys. I also have a lineatus, i also have a pair of cirrhilabrus balteatus and a pair of cirrhilabrus adornus. I also have a cirrhilabrus punctus and a leopard wrasse. I have found the species from australia are harder to maintain as I lost both my lobouti and super male lineatus. I also enjoy flasher wrasse, closely related to fairy wrasse. I'd stay away from a scottorum fairy, 6 line or mystery(although the last 2 arent fairy or flasher)

[winkkle]

so basically your saying u can keep more of them as long as their paired or trio?

[reefjunkie42]

no u can mix species. just be sure that they are compatible

[reefjunkie42]

and the red fin is aggressive...:beer:

[snorvich]

that is because he is the only cirrhibraus in there. I keep a trio of johnsoni(not common) a pyle pair, I love these guys eventhough he is non stop forcing the female to spawn. I also keep a pair of cirrhilabrus bathyphilus which i love, great color and demeanor. A naoko's fairy lone male, which I would not reccomend if you're keeping it with other fairys. I also have a lineatus, i also have a pair of cirrhilabrus balteatus and a pair of cirrhilabrus adornus. I also have a cirrhilabrus punctus and a leopard wrasse. I have found the species from australia are harder to maintain as I lost both my lobouti and super male lineatus. I also enjoy flasher wrasse, closely related to fairy wrasse. I'd stay away from a scottorum fairy, 6 line or mystery(although the last 2 arent fairy or flasher)

My experience is similar with the exception of not finding australian fish to be more difficult. I would not recommend naoko and especially not Scott's. Sixlines and mystery wrasses generally do not do well with fairy or flasher wrasses.

[reefjunkie42]

the only reason why i say aussie is harder IMO is I lost both aussie male wrasse, lobouti and lineatus. Still have the female lineatus though, probably was just a fluke but I didnt know what happened. eating 1 day, dead the next. With both of them. And they were with more sensitive angels in 1 tank and johnsoni wrasses in the other.

[aquaph8]

My rubripinnis hasn't been too aggressive.

[reefjunkie42]

I think its when well established and with other fairys.

[winkkle]

Yea mine isnt hasnt done anything more than puff up at him. Anyway, would u say yay or nay to a hooded fairy or a carpenters?

[reefjunkie42]

id say yay to hooded, nay to carpenters. I think there are nicer flashers out there, red tail, royal or even mccroski. a little reach: P. cynus a struggle: P. Bellae

[aandfsoccr04]

What are the primary differences between carpenters and mccoskers? Why do you say yes to one and no to another?

[reefjunkie42]

Well i believe mccroski ws discovered later..cant recall for sure w/o book handy. and that and i like the aqua green metallic look of of the mc when flashing. That and coupled with the black tail on the carpenter, I dont know i just think hes a nicer fish. Id personally go with a blue, red tail, line spot and mccroski in that order.

[snorvich]

McCoskers equal single spike on the dorsal fin whereas Carpenters equal multiple spikes. McCoskers (1977) and Carpenters (1981) have identical behaviors. P. bellae is exceptionally rare in the trade as it is normally collected on rebreather.

[aquaph8]

PIA has a pair coming up on their site tonight.