How many Wrasses?

[Chaloupa]

I have a 120 FOWLR and anemones. I have a yellow wrasse right now, and I want to add a Coris Wrasse and a Leopard Wrasse. I have a sand bed, and lots of rock.....rest of tank is pair of GSM clowns, Valentini Puffer, Purple Tang....let me know what you think, is this too many wrasses? Do I have to worry about aggression??? thanks so much!

[Avi]

I have four wrasses in my 120-gallon reef:

Yellowfin
Leopard
Solarensis
Orangeback

There definitely have been aggressiveness issues as I have added one or another, with some not having made it, like a Pencil Wrasse that I put in the tank and, of all fish, the Leopard Wrass harassed it to the point that it wouldn't eat any longer and starved to death.

Most recently, only about two weeks ago, I added the Orangeback Wrass. The Solarensis Wrasse (which, incidentally, had been harassed by the Yellowfin when I got it) harassed the Orangeback very badly, but it did continue to take food and now the Orangeback is swimming in the open and the four wrasses are coexisting.

Wrasses do seem to have unpredictable behavior when it comes to new additions, though. I had put a female Yellowtail Wrasse in the reef some months ago, and none of the three wrasses in the tank at the time paid any attention to it at all. That fish didn't last long though, for reasons I'm not aware of.

Anyway, it seems that there is a significant chance that any Wrasse that you add may be subject to aggressive behavior by one or more of the Wrasses already in the tank. Having sufficient sand for Coris and other Wrasses that do so, to seek shelter in the sand is a good thing for them. But, sufficient live rock to offer shelter is also a big benefit.

[Chaloupa]

Hey Avi-thanks so much. We are planning on adding them all at the same time as the tank is just being set up over the next month-2 months. I have the yellow already but the Coris and Leopard are at my suppliers holding tank until I am ready (they are a really great "Mom and Pop" type organization! They are also holding a Coral Rabbitfish for me....love the look and behaviour of that fish! Thanks again....I really appreciate the feedback.

[GregM779]

Below are the wrasses I have in my 125g, it all depends on the species by the amount you can keep, the ones you listed should be fine if introduced together. I will tell you that the coris are known for dieing somewhat quickly, may last a few months, and the leopard needs to eat before you take it home, most don't eat and starve to death.
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse
1 Cleaner Wrasse
1 Blue Sided Fairy Wrasse
1 Secretive Wrasse
1 Orange Back Wrasse
1 Mystery Wrasse
1 Harlequin Tusk

[mille239]

I hear 6-lines are notorious for being agressive, of which I currently am an owner of, but would I be able to get a flasher or fairy wrasse to add to the tank? (120g)

[Avi]

From what I've seen of the Six-Line Wrasses, they aren't all, but many are notoriously nasty to certain other tankmates...most often, other Wrasses. So, I think it'd be a gamble to put any other Wrasse in the tank now that the Six-line is settled in. Of the Fairy and Flasher Wrasses, most likely you'd have more of a chance of success with a Fairy Wrasse that's significantly bigger than the Six-Line.