For all whoâ€™ve had trouble with newly added wrasse fightsâ€¦

cbusreefer · 08/21/2008, 02:44 PM

Recently, I tried adding a carpenter wrasse to my 125gal display. After doing so, my male tri color wrasse immediately went on the offensive keeping the carpenter hidden for 3 straight days. Finally, I had enough and knew it was only a matter of time until the carpenter was killed. Luckily for me, my tri color eats right from my fingers, so it was not hard to catch him.
I relocated the tri color to the sump for about a week or so until the carpenter wrasse was eating normally and no longer frightened.

After that was over, I was pretty much stumped on how I was going to get the two to get along. A few members here suggested using a breeder cup, which led me to my idea.

While I was walking through my LFS, I came upon the clear plastic hermit crab/lizard cages which I though would perfectly. I bought one, brought it home and preceded to turn it into â€œswiss cheeseâ€ with my drill. Once done, I put a little rock rubble in it, added my tri color, and then sank it to the bottom of the display. What happened next was quite the show.

The tri color remembered his home, and the carpenter now thought the entire 125 was HIS home. They immediately tried to attack one another thought the container and this went on for about 3-4 hours. I left, went to work, and when I came home, and funny enough, the carpenter seemed to be â€œover itâ€. I left the tri in there for the full day not wanting to take a chance of having another fight break out.

The next day, the carpenter and the tri seemed to not even notice each other, so I decided it was time to take a chance. I opened the lid to the contained and my tri immediately swam out. The carpenter would flash once in a while stayijng cautions of his old bully, but never once attacked.

Needless to say they are now completely fine together. I was extremely surprised at how well this worked. I honestly had many doubts at first, but figured it was worth a try. I definitely look forward to seeing how this works when I add my next wrasse, but am pretty sure Iâ€™ll get similar results.

Just figured Iâ€™d shareâ€¦

Here's a pic of the cage i used
[IMG]http://i36.*******.com/n30kg7.jpg[/IMG]

sikpupy · 08/21/2008, 03:33 PM

I always wondered about doing that also. I wonder if they really noticed the clear plastic? I will bet they figured they could not kill each other and it was a waste of time to try. Hmmm, I also wonder how many fish this will work for?

Hope they stay docile to each other now, good luck with them.

GSMguy · 08/21/2008, 04:05 PM

i did something very similar when i paired my maroon clownfish.

cbusreefer · 08/22/2008, 12:29 PM

They defin didn't notice the clear plastic at first. They were litterally face to face trying to bite each other through the wall.

I think it's more of a new child syndrome when it comes to some fish, almost how dogs are. They're agressive when you bring a new one into the family, but after time, they accept it and become "friends'. The container just serves as a buffer zone since they're a little more fragile than animals. Lol, at any rate, thank god it worked!

I will defin be using this aclimation method when i add a mystery wrasse in a month or two.

cbusreefer · 08/22/2008, 12:31 PM

gsm- I bet that would work for pairing older clownfish. How long did you leave the new maroon in there?

ReefEnabler · 08/22/2008, 02:31 PM

cool idea! thanks for posting.

08/21/2008, 02:44 PM	#1
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	For all whoâ€™ve had trouble with newly added wrasse fightsâ€¦ Recently, I tried adding a carpenter wrasse to my 125gal display. After doing so, my male tri color wrasse immediately went on the offensive keeping the carpenter hidden for 3 straight days. Finally, I had enough and knew it was only a matter of time until the carpenter was killed. Luckily for me, my tri color eats right from my fingers, so it was not hard to catch him. I relocated the tri color to the sump for about a week or so until the carpenter wrasse was eating normally and no longer frightened. After that was over, I was pretty much stumped on how I was going to get the two to get along. A few members here suggested using a breeder cup, which led me to my idea. While I was walking through my LFS, I came upon the clear plastic hermit crab/lizard cages which I though would perfectly. I bought one, brought it home and preceded to turn it into â€œswiss cheeseâ€ with my drill. Once done, I put a little rock rubble in it, added my tri color, and then sank it to the bottom of the display. What happened next was quite the show. The tri color remembered his home, and the carpenter now thought the entire 125 was HIS home. They immediately tried to attack one another thought the container and this went on for about 3-4 hours. I left, went to work, and when I came home, and funny enough, the carpenter seemed to be â€œover itâ€. I left the tri in there for the full day not wanting to take a chance of having another fight break out. The next day, the carpenter and the tri seemed to not even notice each other, so I decided it was time to take a chance. I opened the lid to the contained and my tri immediately swam out. The carpenter would flash once in a while stayijng cautions of his old bully, but never once attacked. Needless to say they are now completely fine together. I was extremely surprised at how well this worked. I honestly had many doubts at first, but figured it was worth a try. I definitely look forward to seeing how this works when I add my next wrasse, but am pretty sure Iâ€™ll get similar results. Just figured Iâ€™d shareâ€¦ Here's a pic of the cage i used [IMG]http://i36.*******.com/n30kg7.jpg[/IMG]

08/21/2008, 04:05 PM	#3
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	i did something very similar when i paired my maroon clownfish. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

08/22/2008, 02:31 PM	#6
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	cool idea! thanks for posting. __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic

08/21/2008, 03:33 PM	#2
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I always wondered about doing that also. I wonder if they really noticed the clear plastic? I will bet they figured they could not kill each other and it was a waste of time to try. Hmmm, I also wonder how many fish this will work for? Hope they stay docile to each other now, good luck with them.

08/22/2008, 12:29 PM	#4
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	They defin didn't notice the clear plastic at first. They were litterally face to face trying to bite each other through the wall. I think it's more of a new child syndrome when it comes to some fish, almost how dogs are. They're agressive when you bring a new one into the family, but after time, they accept it and become "friends'. The container just serves as a buffer zone since they're a little more fragile than animals. Lol, at any rate, thank god it worked! I will defin be using this aclimation method when i add a mystery wrasse in a month or two.

08/22/2008, 12:31 PM	#5
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	gsm- I bet that would work for pairing older clownfish. How long did you leave the new maroon in there?