Basslets / Dottyback / Wrasse

[nasovlam]

In the past, I have always just kept one dottyback in my 90 reef to help control bristleworms. My springer's dottyback has apparently disappeared and I am thinking of a replacement. I have heard that two dottybacks will not get along in a tank of this size so have not tried it. I am thinking of trying two fish that have a similar niche but, if they differ enough in appearance and I put them both in at the same time, they might work out. Don't really need two of these to control the bristleworms, just think all these fish are neat and would like to keep more than one.
I am thinking of a lantern or orangeback basslet with either a royal gramma, springer's dottyback or orchid dottyback OR with a six line or four line wrasse. They strike me as three different "body styles" -- basslets, gramma/dottybacks, and wrasses. I am guessing that mixing two of the three, if put in at the same time in a 90, would probably work out. Opinions / past experience?

 

[saltn00b]

wrasses are a seperate issue, you shouldnt IMO mix bassletts and dotty backs, or double up... i would stick to just one basslett, or one dotty back, and then a wrasse that works with your tank. wrasses will not fight with the others

 

[yeldarbj]

My sixline wrasse did not appreciate the addition of a blackcap basslet or a fairy wrasse. I had to remove the sixline from the tank. It may have worked out better if the sixline was the last addition.

 

[saltn00b]

6 lines are notoriously aggressive and territorial ... IMO why get one if there are so much cooler wrasses out there that dont act that way?

 

[yeldarbj]

Agreed. While I really enjoyed the six-line, he was a great fish to watch, from now on, I'm going to stick with the fairy wrasse family.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by yeldarbj
My sixline wrasse did not appreciate the addition of a blackcap basslet or a fairy wrasse. I had to remove the sixline from the tank. It may have worked out better if the sixline was the last addition.

My sixline and blackcap basslet get along fine, and my sixline was one of the first fish added. The blackcap was the last. The sixline is very docile.

 

[alyssia]

On a side note, naso, what was the temperament of your springeri? I want to get one for my FOWLR but I've heard they are very nasty.

 

[davidmwj]

My Sixline and Royal Gramma get along fine. The Gramma was my first fish and the sixline was about 4 fish later. The sixline chased my purple pseudochromis around the tank for a couple of days when I added him, but now they all get along.

 

[saltn00b]

david, your gramma and the pseudo get along?

 

[davidmwj]

Yeah, I've never seen them mess with each other. The pseudo was the last of the three I added. I also have an orange firefish. I added two of them originally and the Gramma killed one the first day. Never messed with this one though. Going to add a picture so you can see. It's crappy because the camera flash made it to bright. It's the only pic I have where the six line isn't hiding though. The sixline is by the yellow polyps if you can't find him.

 

[saltn00b]

nice looking tank dave, hope you are prepared for this lil storm coming through hheheeh
decent amount of purple as well.
do you feel that the pseudo and or the gramma are juveniles?

 

[davidmwj]

Thanks. Not sure about the pseudo, but the gramma came over from my 37 gallon. I've had him for quite a while, so I doubt he's a juvenile.
I have a generator at home, but I'm concerned my boss is going to make me come in, so if the power goes out I won't be there to crank the generator. I might have problems with work tomorrow.

 

[nasovlam]

Hope you FL guys fared ok with the storm.
Alyssia, I didn't really have the springeri long enough for any valid opinion. He was very small (1 1/4- 1 1/2"). I had him for maybe three weeks and he never caused any trouble (but everyone else was bigger as well -- 1 coral beauty angel, 3 blue-green chromis, 1 small tomato clown, 1 lawnmower blenny). Did the typical dottyback deal of hanging out in the LR, hunting for small creatures to snack on. Then he went "missing". I strongly suspect one or two large scarlet reef hermits I have (shells about the size of a halfdollar coin). I have also lost a couple of clown gobies over the last couple of months. I really should get rid of those things.
I suspect springeri's temperament to be similar to an orchid dottyback's. That was my first fish when I set up my 90 years back (not my plan but too good a price to pass up). He was constantly swimming out in the open until I got my second fish, a yellow tang. Then he started to act more typical, hiding out in the LR and coming out briefly. He never really picked on any tank mates but I never really had anything else that frequented the same areas of the tank and was similar size (or smaller). He did try to pick on my mandarin on ocassion but the mandarin ignored him and the dottyback seemed to get bored with it. Very hardy little fish -- I had him for several years until I lost all my fish in a 36 hr power outage last winter.

 

[davidmwj]

I did fine, thanks. The storm was a no-show. My power never even blinked. I expect it was the same for you too, Salt.

 

[saltn00b]

yea had to work the full schedule , not even a gust of wind