Finicky Fairy Wrasse - 10/09/06
Hey guys, despite much research I can't seem to find an answer I'm looking for.  I have been in the marine hobby for years, but have had no experience with fairy wrasses.
<<Beautiful fish>>
Looking for something new, I recently acquired a Solar (redheaded) fairy wrasse.
<<Neat!>>
He has been in QT for a week now, and I am having trouble getting the little bugger to eat.
<<Mmm...not all that unusual with these fishes>>
I knew they were tricky to commence feeding, but I have successfully fed fussy eaters in the past.
<<I see>>
I have offered frozen Mysis shrimp, Marine Cuisine, and Spirulina enriched brine shrimp (Selcon added).  He'll eat 2-3 brines, but everything and anything else he'll suck in and spit out.
<<Naturally...goes for the least nutritious of the lot>>
Unfortunately I live in a small town without a place to purchase live foods.
<<Hopefully this won't be necessary>>
Any thought on enticing him to feed?
<<The fact the fish will eat some of the brine shrimp is encouraging at least.  Were this my fish, I would obtain/try some Cyclops-eeze and Sweetwater Zooplankton...as well as a fave of mine for enticing finicky feeders...frozen glass worms (mosquito larvae)>>
Also, I have a hollow plastic rock in the QT tank to hide in.  He
hides in it all day, making it difficult to feed, and to observe for disease.  I thought the decor would offer security and ease stress, but in this case, is it being more counterproductive than helpful?  Just looking for a second opinion.
<<Mmm, is "necessary" I feel...especially with this shy species/genus.  But, a short piece of PVC pipe may prove more useful re observing the fish than the "rock">>
Thanks guys.
Sincerely,
Tom
<<Give the other foods a try...if the fish continues to not feed you might want to consider curtailing its QT and moving to the display where it may feel more "comfortable", thus improving its appetite.  Regards, EricR>>

Quick Info on my new wrasse   7/22/06
Hello Crew,
< Howdy! >
I've been reading your website thoroughly as I have purchased a Yellow-fin Fairy Wrasse last Sunday. It's a male and he is eating heartily and hanging out in my 10 gallon QT. He's starting to finally explore the tank and come out of his corner hiding place up near the powerhead.
< It is great to hear someone actually using a quarantine! That is the most widely talked about, yet least practiced of everything in our hobby! >
Is this type of wrasse generally a hearty wrasse species?
< They are typically hearty, once they start feeding. >
What are some specific nutritious frozen foods that you recommend to keep him healthy?
< Mysis shrimp, Prime Reef, Brine Shrimp Plus as well as pelleted foods such as New Life Spectrum work well. Cyclop-eeze is readily accepted by my new-comers. Best wishes, RichardB >
Thank you for your assistance.

Fairy Wrasse... feeding, compatibility   5/14/06
Hello,
<Hi there>
         First of all, I would like to thank you for all of your support over the years.  I would also like to ask a question, I have recently run into the problem of newly acclimated fish, fairy wrasses in my case, being scared away from food by competition.  In my case the competition is a powder blue tang, sailfin tang, and a juvenile Chrysurus.  I just lost a gorgeous lineatus wrasse to this unfortunately.
<Happens... Cirrhilabrus are not bold competitors, as you mention>
He was around five inches long so it wasn't like he was a baby trying to compete with the guys.  Which brings me to my question, I have heard of people using acrylic containers with holes in them to give the new tankmates time to adjust and get used to feeding in the tank with competition.  So would you recommend this and if so, where would I find a contraption like this.
<Might prove useful, you'd have to either fashion this/them or have an acrylic/plastics shop do it for you. Not made commercially>
But if you do not, I would appreciate if you could instill some other sort of information about possible techniques upon me.  Thank you very much for any help that you can give me.
Regards,
          Dave
<Different temperaments/compatibilities, different tanks... Bob Fenner>

Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis), choked on tako? 10/25/05
Howdy,
<You as well>
Love your site, good book too.
<Welcome>
I had purchased 3 Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis), mail order. I put them into the quarantine, one died the next day. 
<This genus... and Parachelinius, Pseudocheilinus... others... often takes a beating in transit (they don't ship well at times)>
He didn't look so hot from the get go and was refunded. Two weeks went by with no problems, they were eating everything, acting normally. Then today I fed them some squid, which is nothing new, I've done it before, I rotate through 6 or so different foods. 
The dominant wrasse came up ate a few pieces as usual, then pulled a slightly larger piece, swallowed it, spit it out, then started tearing at it like an alligator, rolling and twisting, then started darting around, having seizures, then began laying at the bottom, changing color like crazy, breathing heavy, then died about 30 minutes later. 
Water is great, I change it every other day, and there is nothing dangerous in the tank. This fish did have a strange bluish colored right eye, but no other signs of any problems ever. Any ideas?
<Sounds like a bit "got stuck" in its buccal cavity or branchiostegals (gill arches)... trouble... I would only offer such tough food/s as small bits. Bob Fenner> 

Wrasse Food (3/23/05)
I am a big fan of your website. 
<Thanks, it's a pleasure to play a small part. Steve Allen> 
I have a labouti, flame, and a mystery wrasse, and I was just curious what other things I can feed them. 
<Lots of stuff. Variety is important for good nutrition.> 
I been feeding my wrasses, Mysis shrimp soaked in Selcon. What else do you recommend? Scott 
<What you are feeding now is a great start. Some like to soak in a quality vitamin as well. Give a variety of other frozen foods such a squid, krill, etc. Finely chopped fresh seafood works, too. I use a seafood gumbo mix (squid, octopus, mussels, shrimp, fish) from Albertson's ($3 per lb). For quick convenience, quality pellet and flake foods such as Spectrum or Formulas 1 & 2 are great. I give them before work and then do frozen or fresh in the evening. Hope this helps.>

Exquisite Foods For An Exquisite Wrasse!    
Hello WWM,
<Scott F. with you today...>
I've recently acquired a very pretty Exquisite Wrasse but could not find much on feeding on the site or FAQ. Currently he is getting good quality small pellet food with Selcon and frozen brine shrimp with Spirulina. Any additions needed to keep him fat and happy? As always thanks for your help and good humor.
Peace, Joe
<Well, Joe, my recommendation here is to utilize more nutritious marine-based foods, such as Mysis, chopped clams, or squid, which have a much higher nutritional value than brine shrimp. Your idea of fortifying foods with Selcon is a good one, and should be used with all frozen foods. Other good choices would be any of the fine Ocean Nutrition foods, such as "Prime Reef", "Brine Shrimp Plus", and-believe it or not- "Angel Formula", which, although intended for sponge-eating angelfishes, seems to be relished by a wide variety of fishes. You might have to mince it up a bit, though. Bon Apetit! Regards, Scott F>  

Feeding Planktivores
Thanks for your reply. I decided to go with the Centropyge ferrugata and
the Cirrhilabrus scottorum. In fact they are in their new home. Of course
the wrasse is in the back hiding. Since I do not have an upstream refugium
at this time, what would be your suggestions on feeding my wrasse and
Sunburst?
<thawed frozen mysids, Gammarus and Pacifica plankton can be the staple. Supplement with any dry food possibly/taken. Also offer Sweetwater Plankton (incredible jar food for Anthiines).>
Doug
<best regards, Anthony>

Feeding Fresh Foods
Hi Bob,
I have two questions. 1. Do you need to feed fresh seafood to your saltwater fish? 
<can be very nutritious, is recommended for many fishes and corals>
If so do I just go to the local store and buy fresh shrimp, clams and squid and put it in a blender and then freeze it? 
<sounds good... be sure to freeze it as you have stated. Never feed raw fresh for risk of disease transmission. In fact... studies have shown that previously frozen foods have less bacteria and more nutrition because they are frozen quickly after catch and "preserved" whereas fresh raw foods are kept chilled only for an extended time>
I assume you wouldn't cook it because it's not cooked in the ocean and it would be too hard to chew. 
<actually no cooking because it destroys nutrients>
I have the following Saltwater fish so you know a little about what I'm trying to feed. A pair of Maroon Clownfish, a Purple Tang and a Scott's Fairy Wrasse in my 55 gallon. In my 46 gallon I have a Coral Beauty Angel and a Foxface rabbit fish. 
<you have a mixture of omnivores and herbivores>
I'm concerned about my Fairy Wrasse because I want him to have a good meat based diet. 
<exactly... try Gammarus and mysids froz from the LFS freezer too. Also, fresh (jar) Sweetwater Plankton... a find for Anthiines>
I feed Formula one and two flake and some tetra flake. Seaweed sheets once a week and the frozen Pygmy Angel food along with Frozen Brine Shrimp. 
<all fine but the brine (a hollow useless food)... do add some higher protein crustaceans to the diet like krill, shrimp, mysids, Pacifica plankton, etc>
I'd appreciate any advise on the fresh frozen food you can provide.............Thanks again........Chet Get more from the Web.
<best regards, Anthony>