McCosker's Flasher Wrasse - need to be in group? - Aquarium Advice

bpeitzke · 05-15-2008, 04:07 PM

I've been trying to find a male McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, and am on the "email me" list for one with a couple of online sellers. But I noticed this description on MarineDepot's site:

>>McCosker`s Flasher Wrasses are happiest in schools ... Will school with chromis and other schooling fish. The males will flash their beautiful fins as they attract females. Best kept with one male and 3 or more females<<

Anyone know whether a single male will do OK, or should I consider getting a couple of females too. Might be pushing the stock limit for my 65-gal tank.

TIA

Bob

cmor1701d · 05-15-2008, 05:10 PM

One will be fine. It just won't flash as much. Then again if you need to overstock it will probably be stressed and not flash as much...

bpeitzke · 05-15-2008, 05:20 PM

Thanks, Cmor.

Now if I can just find one ...

- Bob

**roka64** · 05-15-2008, 05:58 PM

psst....
Vivid Aquariums - Buy Online - Fish Store in Los Angeles - Buy McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) - Size: 1.75"-2.5"
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse - Paracheilinus mccoskeri
Mccosker's Fairy Wrasse | Wrasses & Hogfish | Saltwater Fish | Aquarium Livestock - ThatPetPlace.com
Those sites (with the exception of vivid) I have ordered from, never ordered from vivid.
Thatpetplace doesn't have them, sorry about that....

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · 05-15-2008, 11:14 PM

The link I posted from WWM in your other thread has this to say.

"These fishes are hardier than they appear, most are bumped off by jumping out, being kept improperly; as lone males (they live in harems in the wild), with not-peaceful-enough tankmates, without adequate habitat, or sufficient "planktonic" food."

Just something to think about. Doesn't really say it will kill them tho.

austinsdad · 05-15-2008, 11:22 PM

If you have the room, the 2 females and male would do great. But as said, they might jump.

IMO, having a flasher wrasse without someone to flash for (females) isn't worth the trouble or expense.

Dave66 · 05-16-2008, 04:01 AM

I keep a group of 18 of their close cousins: Paracheilinus filamentosus - the filament wrasse, in an 8x4 reef tank. Got suckered into them by the red-haired goddess

, but have to say in a group they are stunning and entertaining fish. The male does his happy boogie dance for the females every evening and they've even spawned a few times, to the joy of the corals and lots of skimmer cleaning for me. Very hardy fish, too; started eating within a day of arrival.
Reason they have a reputation as a jumper is because they are startled by the instant on/instant off of aquarium lights. Usually within an hour of lights out they go over the 'wall'. If you have the lights on a dawn to dusk cycle you shouldn't have any problem with them jumping, but use a cover anyway just in case.
If you've have room, getting a male with three or more females and you'll have a beautiful show. They are little fish, as well, so the bioload is negligible in a well-established tank of decent size.

Dave

bpeitzke · 05-16-2008, 03:26 PM

Now I'm concerned about getting a single male, and intrigued about the idea of a harem, but not sure I have the room. Our 65-gal tank has lots of LR abounding in hiding places, and it's a 3' wide tall tank, so lots of open water too. But I'm worried about overcrowding. Only large fish now are the 4"+ tang & the 4" maroon clown. the blenny & the pseudochromis are small. Think 3 wrasse would put us in trouble?

Also, what's this I've heard about insufficient plankton food for these wrasse?

TIA

Bob

mandown123 · 05-16-2008, 04:20 PM

i dont think it would be trouble. it seems like a good amount of fish. how much LR do you have?

I have a canary wrasse and he doesnt ever seem interested in the plankton. my clowns love the stuff they eat zooplank like its popcorn but the wrasse just looks at them like "what the heck are they eating?"

not sure if this variety is different though?

bpeitzke · 05-16-2008, 05:03 PM

We have all the LR that will reasonably fit in our 36"x18"x24"(?) tank. Don't know total weight, as we bought it piece by piece and didn't save the weights. I think we're on the high end of LR stock for a tank this size. Lots of nooks & crannies, and our fish seem to enjoy swimming thru/around it all. The blenny rests on two favorite rocks, and sleeps in one of two favorite holes that just fit him.

Mabye we'll try a trio of one male + two female McCosker's if I can find them. A LFS (Vivid) has males but said they weren't sure about females. We'll prob visit them tomorrow.

05-15-2008, 04:07 PM	#1
bpeitzke Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA, USA Posts: 130	McCosker's Flasher Wrasse - need to be in group? I've been trying to find a male McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, and am on the "email me" list for one with a couple of online sellers. But I noticed this description on MarineDepot's site: >>McCosker`s Flasher Wrasses are happiest in schools ... Will school with chromis and other schooling fish. The males will flash their beautiful fins as they attract females. Best kept with one male and 3 or more females<< Anyone know whether a single male will do OK, or should I consider getting a couple of females too. Might be pushing the stock limit for my 65-gal tank. TIA Bob

05-15-2008, 05:10 PM	#2
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,927 Images: 43	One will be fine. It just won't flash as much. Then again if you need to overstock it will probably be stressed and not flash as much... __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

05-15-2008, 05:20 PM	#3
bpeitzke Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA, USA Posts: 130	Wrasse - one male OK alone Thanks, Cmor. Now if I can just find one ... - Bob

05-15-2008, 11:14 PM	#5
Wizzard~Of~Ozz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,015 Images: 2	The link I posted from WWM in your other thread has this to say. "These fishes are hardier than they appear, most are bumped off by jumping out, being kept improperly; as lone males (they live in harems in the wild), with not-peaceful-enough tankmates, without adequate habitat, or sufficient "planktonic" food." Just something to think about. Doesn't really say it will kill them tho. __________________ 120 Gal SW, 150lbs Prem. Fiji, 23Gal Sump, 2x250w 15K MH, 4x65w Actinic 3 x Halichoeres Chrysus (1 surfed), 3 x Nemateleotris magnifica, 1 x Centropyge bicolor, 11 x Scarlet Hermits, 6 x Zebra Hermits, 40 x Astrea Snails, 6 x Nassarius Snails, 3 x Cerith Snails

05-15-2008, 11:22 PM	#6
austinsdad Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland Posts: 4,211 Images: 12	If you have the room, the 2 females and male would do great. But as said, they might jump. IMO, having a flasher wrasse without someone to flash for (females) isn't worth the trouble or expense. __________________ -Ray- "Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we are here we might as well dance!"

05-16-2008, 04:01 AM	#7
Dave66 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mars Posts: 61	I keep a group of 18 of their close cousins: Paracheilinus filamentosus - the filament wrasse, in an 8x4 reef tank. Got suckered into them by the red-haired goddess , but have to say in a group they are stunning and entertaining fish. The male does his happy boogie dance for the females every evening and they've even spawned a few times, to the joy of the corals and lots of skimmer cleaning for me. Very hardy fish, too; started eating within a day of arrival. Reason they have a reputation as a jumper is because they are startled by the instant on/instant off of aquarium lights. Usually within an hour of lights out they go over the 'wall'. If you have the lights on a dawn to dusk cycle you shouldn't have any problem with them jumping, but use a cover anyway just in case. If you've have room, getting a male with three or more females and you'll have a beautiful show. They are little fish, as well, so the bioload is negligible in a well-established tank of decent size. Dave __________________ And you know, that you're over the hill, when your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill . . .

05-16-2008, 03:26 PM	#8
bpeitzke Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA, USA Posts: 130	Now I'm concerned about getting a single male, and intrigued about the idea of a harem, but not sure I have the room. Our 65-gal tank has lots of LR abounding in hiding places, and it's a 3' wide tall tank, so lots of open water too. But I'm worried about overcrowding. Only large fish now are the 4"+ tang & the 4" maroon clown. the blenny & the pseudochromis are small. Think 3 wrasse would put us in trouble? Also, what's this I've heard about insufficient plankton food for these wrasse? TIA Bob

05-16-2008, 04:20 PM	#9
mandown123 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 297	i dont think it would be trouble. it seems like a good amount of fish. how much LR do you have? I have a canary wrasse and he doesnt ever seem interested in the plankton. my clowns love the stuff they eat zooplank like its popcorn but the wrasse just looks at them like "what the heck are they eating?" not sure if this variety is different though?

05-16-2008, 05:03 PM	#10
bpeitzke Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA, USA Posts: 130	Wrasse harem? We have all the LR that will reasonably fit in our 36"x18"x24"(?) tank. Don't know total weight, as we bought it piece by piece and didn't save the weights. I think we're on the high end of LR stock for a tank this size. Lots of nooks & crannies, and our fish seem to enjoy swimming thru/around it all. The blenny rests on two favorite rocks, and sleeps in one of two favorite holes that just fit him. Mabye we'll try a trio of one male + two female McCosker's if I can find them. A LFS (Vivid) has males but said they weren't sure about females. We'll prob visit them tomorrow.

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