flasher wrasse

[Ross]

I'm looking into getting a couple flasher wrasses for my 30g. Everything i have read about them says they do best with a male and a couple females. Does anyone know how to tell the difference between males and females? Are they like clownfish in that they can change sex?

[cpreefguy]

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between males and females?

Just wait until they flash you, then you should be able to tell

[cpreefguy]

I dunno, which flasher wrasse are you talking about? There are a few different kinds...

[Ross]

I like the red flasher. Theres alot out there though and all of them are pretty cool.

[FireWater]

I checked into it after we talked. Mine is the filamented flasher fin fairy wrasse ( think I got that right). I was told that they do not do well in a group except in a large tank (>125g). You could then do a harem group of one male and several females. Not sure if the info I got is 100% correct, so keep checking with others also.

[Ross]

Everything i have read says they do well in groups...but I read that females are not collected very often because they are not near as pretty as the males...so i think i'll just go with 1 male.

[apedroza]

Yeah females are very hard to come by. I was looking for female carpenter wrasses for my male but could never ind one. Now that he bailed on me I don't have to worry anymore :(

[FireWater]

Ross, I just called about 5 different places and got some info. Females are available and yes you can put more than one together(1 male and several females) as they live naturally in the wild this way. The one you saw in my tank is a female I believe based on what I have been seeing. Either that or he is a wimpy male. I was told the males have the brighter and bigger fins. Four different places told me you could do this in as little as 30gln's

[aggie4231]

firewater, what places did you contact, and did any have pair or harems?

[FireWater]

Aggie, the places I contacted were web sellers. Not sure about the rules on posting non-sponsor names.

[Darth-Tater]

Ah man they worst thing they can do to you for posting non sponser info is.....well nothing. We talk and buy from reeftopia all of the time, Marine depot etc. I say go for it. :lol

Dt

[FireWater]

I just did not want the virtual web hand smack. I contacted vividaquariums.com, saltwaterfish.com, and marinecenter.com. Saltwater said they usually have groups in stock. It could be a gamble if all they wanted was a sell though. I say try locally first then send your $ out of town. If anyone would know how to get some it should be Ross. I just wanted to get my 0.02 cents in on if they could be kept together.

[Bill S]

I'd jump in if FA wants to see if they can order some pairs. Will I need to cover my 215?

Seems like right now, none of the wholesalers has stock, so no one has fish! I'm waiting on an Achilles to come in at FA - they are holding a small - really, tiny - Sohol for me. Don't want to add the Sohol and THEN add the Achilles. B

[Ross]

I checked on the wholesale list, they do have flasher wrasses but they dont specify males vs. females, so i think we would probably end up with a bunch of males.