Experience with red head solon fairy wrasse?

otrlynn · 07/10/2009, 10:36 AM

I am considering purchasing a male , or a male and female for my 58 gallon tank. Does anyone have any experience keeping this fish? I currently have a cinnamon clown (not aggressive so far) a chalk bass, and a yellow watchman. I recently added a small purple firefish and a yellow assessor (after quarantining them for 4 weeks). This will be my last fish/es. This fish is Cirrhilabrus solorensis, sometimes also known as the clown fairy wrasse.

snorvich · 07/10/2009, 10:57 AM

They tend to lose coloration absent a pair. Above average aggression so your firefish may be intimidated. They also will jump so you have to have a covered tank.

otrlynn · 07/10/2009, 11:28 AM

I have a covered tank, but above average aggression is the deal-breaker. Thanks!

snorvich · 07/10/2009, 04:04 PM

Well, they are not as bad as a Scott's but more so than a Rhomboid.

lilalove · 07/10/2009, 05:09 PM

My Scott's and Clown fairy have never had any problems. But they're in a 180 with plenty of space to move out of each other's way.

Dooly · 07/11/2009, 04:49 AM

had a solarensis for about a year, I would say generally a very peaceful fish, very colorful (had only 1 male) and ate anything

snorvich · 07/11/2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lilalove
My Scott's and Clown fairy have never had any problems. But they're in a 180 with plenty of space to move out of each other's way.

If you add more you may have an issue. I had to remove a pair from my smaller tank because they were too aggressive. They also lose coloration without a female.

CeeGee · 07/11/2009, 02:50 PM

I have had my solar wrasse for a few months now (march 5th to be exact) and his color is outstanding. He is very peaceful although he is the only wrasse in the tank at the moment and is kept in line by my royal gramma. The gramma is a real jerk towards wrasses for some reason but leaves everything else alone.

I have heard again and again that the solar keeps their color really well. Although you would be hard pressed to find a pic (as he never photographed the fish the way he did others) 143gadgets had a nice specimen for a very long time and it kept it's color and all he ever fed it was mysis. But then again EVERYTHING in gadgets tank keeps its color

Now the Scott's lose their coloration and are very aggressive. I have seen the coloration loss first hand. The fish turned extremely dark and I couldn't even identify it as a scott's. I knew it was a fairy wrasse but had no idea what variety as it was like nothing I had ever seen.

gmigmi · 07/11/2009, 05:13 PM

my solorensis, lost no color, i have it for approx 4 months, also no aggression by him toward any other fish (quite a few wrasse with him) accept for a bit chasing of a newly added orange back wrasse for 2-3 days and then just stopped.

I recommended it for a few friends locally, who were looking for a cheap good-looking wrasse.

in my eyes the solorensis has nothing to be ashamed (in looks) from most of his much more costly cousins.

CeeGee · 07/11/2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gmigmi
in my eyes the solorensis has nothing to be ashamed (in looks) from most of his much more costly cousins.

In my opinion the solar is one of the best looking fairies out there regardless of price. As is the usually $30 lubbocks. The only problem with these two fish is finding a healthy specimen. This is especially true in the lubbocks. I believe they are collected in the phillipines.

lilalove · 07/11/2009, 06:23 PM

I have not noticed any color loss in my clown fairy. But he eats 4 times a day and is a huge pig. The Scott's I've only had a couple of months, so far no color loss. He is the Fiji kind. They do flare at each other every now and then but that's the extent of it. Things do get a little crazy during feeding time though. I don't have any plans for more fairy wrasses. All the others I like are above $200 and I'm not spending that on a fish.

otrlynn · 07/11/2009, 06:40 PM

Seems like there are varying opinions out there on the solon fairy wrasse. I have always liked the way they looked. I am sort of in a bind. My chalk bass (and to some extent the cinnamon clown) chase the new yellow assessor and purple firefish back into the rockwork every time they come out to eat (they have only been in the tank a week though). So--whatever I add (after quarantine) will need to hold its own with the clownfish and the basslet, but hopefully not terrorize the assessor and firefish. My YWG just ignores, and seems to be ignored, by everyone. I realize that it would have been ideal to introduce these fish in the reverse order that I did, but it is just how it worked out as I went about replacing fish that died and/or were given away.

otrlynn · 07/12/2009, 09:28 AM

Bump! Any other thoughts/experiences about the solon fairy wrasse, or suggestions about a reef-safe wrasse that would do well as a single specimen, and hopefully not lose much of its attractive color?

cateyes · 07/12/2009, 12:01 PM

i had a solar wrasse in my 75 with a purple firefish and he bullied the firefish so it stayed in the rockwork all of the time and eventually died..

after that happened i managed to catch him and return him to the store, i wanted a peaceful tank and he just wasn't fitting in...

he never had a problem with the clown pair or YWG that were in with him...

ento-reefer · 07/12/2009, 12:53 PM

I have both a solar and a lubbocks in my 95g and neither have shown any color loss or are overly aggressive. My male hooded wrasse keeps everyone in line though. I think having a larger group of wrasse spreads out the aggression, but I could be wrong.

I will say my lubbocks is an outstanding fish in every way. I think I paid $20 for mine. I guess I got lucky because it as been healthy from day one and is growing quickly.

07/10/2009, 10:36 AM	#1
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Experience with red head solon fairy wrasse? I am considering purchasing a male , or a male and female for my 58 gallon tank. Does anyone have any experience keeping this fish? I currently have a cinnamon clown (not aggressive so far) a chalk bass, and a yellow watchman. I recently added a small purple firefish and a yellow assessor (after quarantining them for 4 weeks). This will be my last fish/es. This fish is Cirrhilabrus solorensis, sometimes also known as the clown fairy wrasse.

07/10/2009, 10:57 AM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	They tend to lose coloration absent a pair. Above average aggression so your firefish may be intimidated. They also will jump so you have to have a covered tank. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/10/2009, 11:28 AM	#3
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	I have a covered tank, but above average aggression is the deal-breaker. Thanks! __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

07/10/2009, 04:04 PM	#4
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Well, they are not as bad as a Scott's but more so than a Rhomboid. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/10/2009, 05:09 PM	#5
lilalove Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 462	My Scott's and Clown fairy have never had any problems. But they're in a 180 with plenty of space to move out of each other's way. __________________ Karina For mad scientists who keep brains in jars, here's a tip: why not add a slice of lemon to each jar, for freshness? - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump and refugium

07/11/2009, 04:49 AM	#6
Dooly Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,108	had a solarensis for about a year, I would say generally a very peaceful fish, very colorful (had only 1 male) and ate anything

07/11/2009, 02:50 PM	#8
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I have had my solar wrasse for a few months now (march 5th to be exact) and his color is outstanding. He is very peaceful although he is the only wrasse in the tank at the moment and is kept in line by my royal gramma. The gramma is a real jerk towards wrasses for some reason but leaves everything else alone. I have heard again and again that the solar keeps their color really well. Although you would be hard pressed to find a pic (as he never photographed the fish the way he did others) 143gadgets had a nice specimen for a very long time and it kept it's color and all he ever fed it was mysis. But then again EVERYTHING in gadgets tank keeps its color Now the Scott's lose their coloration and are very aggressive. I have seen the coloration loss first hand. The fish turned extremely dark and I couldn't even identify it as a scott's. I knew it was a fairy wrasse but had no idea what variety as it was like nothing I had ever seen. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's Last edited by CeeGee; 07/11/2009 at 02:57 PM.

07/11/2009, 05:13 PM	#9
gmigmi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jerusalem, Israel Posts: 162	my solorensis, lost no color, i have it for approx 4 months, also no aggression by him toward any other fish (quite a few wrasse with him) accept for a bit chasing of a newly added orange back wrasse for 2-3 days and then just stopped. I recommended it for a few friends locally, who were looking for a cheap good-looking wrasse. in my eyes the solorensis has nothing to be ashamed (in looks) from most of his much more costly cousins.

07/11/2009, 06:23 PM	#11
lilalove Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 462	I have not noticed any color loss in my clown fairy. But he eats 4 times a day and is a huge pig. The Scott's I've only had a couple of months, so far no color loss. He is the Fiji kind. They do flare at each other every now and then but that's the extent of it. Things do get a little crazy during feeding time though. I don't have any plans for more fairy wrasses. All the others I like are above $200 and I'm not spending that on a fish. __________________ Karina For mad scientists who keep brains in jars, here's a tip: why not add a slice of lemon to each jar, for freshness? - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump and refugium

07/11/2009, 06:40 PM	#12
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Seems like there are varying opinions out there on the solon fairy wrasse. I have always liked the way they looked. I am sort of in a bind. My chalk bass (and to some extent the cinnamon clown) chase the new yellow assessor and purple firefish back into the rockwork every time they come out to eat (they have only been in the tank a week though). So--whatever I add (after quarantine) will need to hold its own with the clownfish and the basslet, but hopefully not terrorize the assessor and firefish. My YWG just ignores, and seems to be ignored, by everyone. I realize that it would have been ideal to introduce these fish in the reverse order that I did, but it is just how it worked out as I went about replacing fish that died and/or were given away. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

07/12/2009, 09:28 AM	#13
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Bump! Any other thoughts/experiences about the solon fairy wrasse, or suggestions about a reef-safe wrasse that would do well as a single specimen, and hopefully not lose much of its attractive color? __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

07/12/2009, 12:01 PM	#14
cateyes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: OliveBranch, Mississippi Posts: 2,773	i had a solar wrasse in my 75 with a purple firefish and he bullied the firefish so it stayed in the rockwork all of the time and eventually died.. after that happened i managed to catch him and return him to the store, i wanted a peaceful tank and he just wasn't fitting in... he never had a problem with the clown pair or YWG that were in with him... __________________ some things in life are not meant to be understood... just accepted.... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon mixed reef, 35ish gallon RBTA tank..

07/12/2009, 12:53 PM	#15
ento-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 332	I have both a solar and a lubbocks in my 95g and neither have shown any color loss or are overly aggressive. My male hooded wrasse keeps everyone in line though. I think having a larger group of wrasse spreads out the aggression, but I could be wrong. I will say my lubbocks is an outstanding fish in every way. I think I paid $20 for mine. I guess I got lucky because it as been healthy from day one and is growing quickly.