Mixing wrasses

[Ryan]

How are fairy wrasses? I recently purchased a McCosker and want to add 3 or 4 more in a 75G. Was also thinking of adding a trio of Blue Flashers.

I had this McCosker in a tank with the Blue FLasher at work and they were fine for days, then I bought the McCosker. Maybe it was just these 2 fish I am not sure.

If a 75 wont work for the 2 species or even for the small group of McCoskers what would be the recomended size? 150G?

[edikpok]

I found that if you add several wrasses at the same time while they are still small, they grow to tolerate each other.... but don't add more later. Yellow coris ar quite peaceful too...

[justinl]

There's a few things you can do to reduce the chance of carpet surfing. stick with peaceful species like most Halichoeres; research compatability of fairy wrasses if you add more (they can be jerks to each other depending on colour); stay away from genus Thalasoma. Give them space in a big tank.

In the end though, ALL wrasses are prone to jumping. maybe not now or for several years, but the statistics work against you if you don't have a canopy or tank lid. imo, no wrasse tank should ever be without some kind of protection against carpet surfing.

[my2rotties]

I second this, my Banana wrasse would kill anything that looks like him easily. He still gets in a rage over fish he lives with and chases them into the rock work for no apparent reason at all. I have seen him bite other fish and he tears off chunks. If he sees something in the rock work, he will bite off chunks of rocks to get at it... pretty nasty predator.

I love him though, even though he is a wrassehole.

Originally Posted by justinl

stay away from genus Thalasoma. Give them space in a big tank.