Trouble between two wrasse....

[piranhapat]

I have a Halichoeres melanurus about 4 inch. I just pick up a divid leopard about 1 1/2 inch. Melanurus is chasing him around in 90 gal tank. Do wrasse get along. Seems I might have to remove one. I just put leopard in and started eating right away. Now melanurus stressing him. Will it stop or get worse. Reef tank lots of LR.

 

[cody0709]

Turn the lights off for a day, wrasses are territorial

 

[LongIslandAndy]

IMO the melanarus won't stop. If he was chasing a mystery wrasse or some other member of the halichoeres I would let them try and work it out, but the leopard wrasse are not easy to keep and the stress won't make his survival easy

 

[Dre]

Should have asked before putting it in there. One will have to go before it jump...

 

[prattreef]

I have Halichoeres and Macropharyngodon wrasses that live peacefully together albeit in a much larger tank. I think if the leopard was the established fish your chance of success would be much better. As it stands now, the leopard is in real jeopardy.

In the future, an in-tank acclimation box where everyone can see each other, but not physically get to each other would really increase your chances of success.

 

[reefprobe]

Split em up ASAP!!

 

[MIKE NY]

Pat I have a Melanurus and a few Leopards in my tank...as mentioned the Melanurus is much more aggressive and hardier. I would remove the Melanurus for a few days.... let the Leopard settle in and eating well before re-introducing it...

 

[piranhapat]

Mike, the leopard started eating as soon as I put him in tank. They is a big size difference. Star wrasse is 4x smaller but is not scared of him at all. Today she swimming up to him. I'll try to remove which ever one I can get. Today I feed her again still no trouble with that. Eating even picking on LR. I don't want any stress in tank so going to watch them closely. So far a little better than when I introduced her.

 

[MIKE NY]

if the the Star leopard is still out eating and the aggression is not as bad I would just leave them alone it will slowly end...catching one or the other is just added stress, but if the Leopard stops eating and is buried most of the time then remove the Melanurus...

BTW Mike T says hello we work together at St John's....

 

[piranhapat]

So far your right Mike, both starting to get along better. Time will tell. This little guy is not afraid of nothing. Later I put some pictures up.

 

[piranhapat]

Two are getting along very well.. unbelieveable that the star wrasse was just introduced a few days ago. Look at the size difference too. No more chasing... Thanks Mike, I knew they get along, but the size difference was big.....

 

[MIKE NY]

glad to see, just posted that up in your tank pic thread, the size difference is probably a reason why they got along quicker...the small star doesn't pose a threat...I did that when I introduced another Sunburst anthias..the larger didn't bother the smaller one...