Reef safe wrasse for 32g display

[Greaser9999]

Hey all,

So I completed my tank transfer/upgrade over the weekend. I would really likd to add some kind of wrasse to my display and jeep going in circles with this. I understand that my tank is still borderline small for flashers or carpenters, but at the same time I've read of people who have housed these in tanks of my size for a while with no issues. Length of the tank is 36in., so I figured that in itself gives me some kind of advantage. Looking for personal feedback experience of people who have successfully house these type of wrasses in smaller tanks with minimal to no issues. Trying to figure out which ones can be more manageable in smaller tanks temporarily. Eventually i will be upgrading to about a 75g, but that won't be for another 3 years or so. Any feedback is appreciated. This is more to figure out if i want to take a risk and which wrasse would actually be appropriate if I do so. Not a fan of the Pygmy wrasses, so trying to go a different route.

 

[drexel]

McCoskers might be an option, but I would caution against getting flashers or fairies for this size tank, as they really do need the room to dart around. My experience has been that these wrasses usually suffer in smaller tanks, most likely from spinal injuries running into the glass when they get spooked by something. Wrasses are all wild caught, so finding a really small one that would grow for a couple years is pretty hard. H. chrysus (yellow wrasse) are fun to watch and would be okay in an established tank that size, but probably better in something bigger. Pink streaked are fun, but kinda cryptic like pygmy wrasses.
What about a captive bred dottyback? Fridmani, springeri and sankeyi are all fun to watch and less aggressive than their wild caught counterparts. Fanged blennies are another mid-water fish that are fun to watch and most are captive bred as well.
I did have a 6-line in my nano system during the 90's that was a model citizen, but it's not common for them to behave like this (for very long).

 

[Greaser9999]

I had a horrible experience with a bicolor dotty some years back. He was in a 75g, so tank size wasn't the issue. Turned into a complete bastard and started tormenting the rest of my tank mates. I tried catching him and destroyed my aquascape, and even then I was unable to get him. I didn't see him for a good 5-6 months after that incident. Thought he was dead, and biy was i wrong lol When he finally came out, he had gone albino from hiding for so long with no lighting I guess. Well once he came out again, he wasted no time terrorizing my fish again. Destroyed my rock work a second time and finally caught his ass!! Lol would never go with a dottyback again, scarred for life on those. If anything, I'd go with a royal gramma instead. If I end up changing my mind on the wrasse, I might op for that and a midas blenny. Don't plan on adding more than 2 more fish as I already have 5 at the moment. Pair of clowns, firefish, tailspot blenny & watchman goby.

McCoskers might be an option, but I would caution against getting flashers or fairies for this size tank, as they really do need the room to dart around. My experience has been that these wrasses usually suffer in smaller tanks, most likely from spinal injuries running into the glass when they get spooked by something. Wrasses are all wild caught, so finding a really small one that would grow for a couple years is pretty hard. H. chrysus (yellow wrasse) are fun to watch and would be okay in an established tank that size, but probably better in something bigger. Pink streaked are fun, but kinda cryptic like pygmy wrasses.
What about a captive bred dottyback? Fridmani, springeri and sankeyi are all fun to watch and less aggressive than their wild caught counterparts. Fanged blennies are another mid-water fish that are fun to watch and most are captive bred as well.
I did have a 6-line in my nano system during the 90's that was a model citizen, but it's not common for them to behave like this (for very long).

 

[Xaznkewlguyx]

Possum wrasse gets my vote, cool personality. Perfect for that size. Had one in mine but noticed it disappeared few months ago.

 

[drexel]

I had a horrible experience with a bicolor dotty some years back. He was in a 75g, so tank size wasn't the issue. Turned into a complete bastard and started tormenting the rest of my tank mates. I tried catching him and destroyed my aquascape, and even then I was unable to get him. I didn't see him for a good 5-6 months after that incident. Thought he was dead, and biy was i wrong lol When he finally came out, he had gone albino from hiding for so long with no lighting I guess. Well once he came out again, he wasted no time terrorizing my fish again. Destroyed my rock work a second time and finally caught his ass!! Lol would never go with a dottyback again, scarred for life on those. If anything, I'd go with a royal gramma instead. If I end up changing my mind on the wrasse, I might op for that and a midas blenny. Don't plan on adding more than 2 more fish as I already have 5 at the moment. Pair of clowns, firefish, tailspot blenny & watchman goby.

P. diadema are complete dicks, so I’m not surprised and the reason I didn’t included them on the list. Wetmorella is a super cool genus, just 3 species and always fun to watch. They’re not flashy, but once established, cool in their own right.

 

[joeoliver]

I love the naoko and agree they are very active. mine hangs out on the right half of my tank with a leboute wrasse with no issues so far. however, all my other fish, including 3 other wrasses, are big and I have a 4ft tank.

sound advice from everyone who has shared their thoughts but my guess is you're going to try. lol if things go bad, you'll end up tearing your tank down again to catch it. if it works out, you'll end up with a really cool fish. my leboute is a good looking fish too and not as active as the naoko but @Dooly said the leboute he had was a menace so personality is another factor to consider or maybe it's just because my leboute was the last fish I added and he's put on check by the other fish?

reef factory in Placentia tends to have a lot of these wrasses. that's where I've gotten them. I also work with a wholesaler so you can lmk too.

 

[Greaser9999]

P. diadema are complete dicks, so I’m not surprised and the reason I didn’t included them on the list. Wetmorella is a super cool genus, just 3 species and always fun to watch. They’re not flashy, but once established, cool in their own right.

I love the naoko and agree they are very active. mine hangs out on the right half of my tank with a leboute wrasse with no issues so far. however, all my other fish, including 3 other wrasses, are big and I have a 4ft tank.

sound advice from everyone who has shared their thoughts but my guess is you're going to try. lol if things go bad, you'll end up tearing your tank down again to catch it. if it works out, you'll end up with a really cool fish. my leboute is a good looking fish too and not as active as the naoko but @Dooly said the leboute he had was a menace so personality is another factor to consider or maybe it's just because my leboute was the last fish I added and he's put on check by the other fish?

reef factory in Placentia tends to have a lot of these wrasses. that's where I've gotten them. I also work with a wholesaler so

Not fully committed yet. Very tempted, but i know I'm borderline out of range. Been in rhe hobby long enough to know better, which is why I'm asking. I'd rather hear from local reefers personal experiences versus reading other blogs online.

 

[joeoliver]

I hear you. we're lucky in so many ways. our group of reefers are on another level. very knowledgeable group and so supportive.

my pink streaked wrasse (thanks to dooly) and possum wrasse (reef factory) are also very cool fish. a lot more cryptic but definitely a safer option and once they're comfortable (especially if you feed them), they come out a bit more.

 

[laverda]

No matter which you chose you need a lid as the are definatly jumpers.

 

[Greaser9999]

No matter which you chose you need a lid as the are definatly jumpers.

Innovative marine tanks come with lid, so I'm good on that count.

 

[Greaser9999]

After giving this some thought, there's a good chance I may end up going with a pink streaked wrasse if anything. I think its probably the nicer looking one out of all the nano tank wrasses. I just got this tank going and would hate to have to destroy my rock work to catch an unwanted guest.

 

[JojosReef]

Innovative marine tanks come with lid, so I'm good on that count.

Wrasses can shoot right through that IM lid. I know this for sure. I have no idea why they don't use smaller mesh.

For a 36" tank, I think you can go with a splendid pintail fairy (Cirrhilabrus isosceles), which is on the lower side of active fairy wrasses--not like a naoko that would most likely bang its head on the glass. A C. lubbocki would also be a good candidate. For flashers, I think you are right to wait until you have a 75g tank.

RE: sand sleepers, a very small leopard wrasse may be fine for a year or two, but 3 years might be pushing it. Mine definitely liked moving up from an IM 40L to the 83g 4ft tank. A yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) would probably be OK in there. You can also try a pencil wrasse. Pseudojuloides splendens is a very pretty wrasse (absolutely a jumper, small mesh necessary) or P. severnsi, which is even more stunning.

Don't knock a pair of pink streak wrasses (make sure juvenile pair or male/female pair). In the right tank, they will flourish and be very cute/personable.

 

[Greaser9999]

Wrasses can shoot right through that IM lid. I know this for sure. I have no idea why they don't use smaller mesh.

For a 36" tank, I think you can go with a splendid pintail fairy (Cirrhilabrus isosceles), which is on the lower side of active fairy wrasses--not like a naoko that would most likely bang its head on the glass. A C. lubbocki would also be a good candidate. For flashers, I think you are right to wait until you have a 75g tank.

RE: sand sleepers, a very small leopard wrasse may be fine for a year or two, but 3 years might be pushing it. Mine definitely liked moving up from an IM 40L to the 83g 4ft tank. A yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) would probably be OK in there. You can also try a pencil wrasse. Pseudojuloides splendens is a very pretty wrasse (absolutely a jumper, small mesh necessary) or P. severnsi, which is even more stunning.

Don't knock a pair of pink streak wrasses (make sure juvenile pair or male/female pair). In the right tank, they will flourish and be very cute/personable.

Thanks for the great feedback!! Everyone for that matter.

I was doing some research earlier today and ran into the ruby longfin fairy wrasse. I like everything about it, size, coloration, seems like a veey peaceful fish. Have any feedback on those by chance? Lol

 

[drexel]

So this is the go to site for all things wrasses. Hunter really did his homework and created a compatibility chart.
The Wrasse Guy
You can’t go wrong with the pink streaked, they’re super cool.

 

[Greaser9999]

So this is the go to site for all things wrasses. Hunter really did his homework and created a compatibility chart.
The Wrasse Guy
You can’t go wrong with the pink streaked, they’re super cool.

Thanks for sharing. Like that chart he provides on there, very detailed information

 

[JojosReef]

So this is the go to site for all things wrasses. Hunter really did his homework and created a compatibility chart.
The Wrasse Guy
You can’t go wrong with the pink streaked, they’re super cool.

Also my go-to. See his other pages, also. He has great information on many of the common species for reef tanks.

 

[JojosReef]

Thanks for the great feedback!! Everyone for that matter.

I was doing some research earlier today and ran into the ruby longfin fairy wrasse. I like everything about it, size, coloration, seems like a veey peaceful fish. Have any feedback on those by chance? Lol

One of my failed attempts. Never got one to arrive alive. Known to be a bit more mellow than a Naoko. Might do for a 36" tank, but would be better in a 4ft+ (henceforth, all fairy wrasses would be better in 4ft+). I tried multiple times to get one for my IM 40L (~36"L), so I can't say it's a bad choice.