Green Bird Wrasse   7/12/06 I purchased a green bird wrasse last Saturday (7/1) which I added to my 55   gallon tank. <Will need more room> I already had a Fox Face, <Ditto> a Brown Bird Wrasse and Hawk  Flame.   Today my Green Bird had no interest in eating and it actually looks  like his skin is peeling off. <... no quarantine> He looks like an "old man".  My water  quality checks out though I am doing a partial water change anyway. <Good move> All other fish  are fine.  He is still swimming---just not eating.  What do you think  could be wrong? <Just new to a crowded system mostly>   My fish store is closed so I am turning to you for quick  advice---HELP!!!! <... Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/gomphosus/index.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Re: Green Bird Wrasse   7/12/06 Thank you for your reply.  He died overnight =*( The wrasse actually was moved into my tank which was larger than the store tank and with less fish.  We are stumped as to what happened. :::shrugging:::   He was not a large fish at all. perhaps only 2 to 3 inches in length tops. <This is one of my fave fish species... look forward to seeing, diving with each trip to Hawai'i... Don't ship all that well... and small specimens (and too-large ones) are touchy... I would just count on having your female change into a/the male you're looking for... unless you get a much larger system (at least twice this volume). Bob Fenner> Male bird wrasse scratching  - 2/21/2006 Greeting from down under to the crew at wet web media. I have a question about a male bird wrasse I purchased 2 months ago. He is 7 inches long, eats well, very active swimmer and looks really health. NO external signs of disease. But he has a habit of rubbing or scratching himself on the aquarium glass at the back of the tank. Now I have noticed he does this a lot when I am near the tank and sometimes it is a constant thing just swimming around in a circle and rubbing itself when he passes the glass. but when I walk away from the tank and stand at a distance so that he cannot see me the rubbing or scratching seems to ease. He is the only fish that does this and has done it since I put him in. <Not atypical for the species...> I have a 150 gallon glass aquarium, 8ft long 2ft high and 1.5ft wide. I have two external canister filters, an overflow into a 30 gallon sump, an aqua medic multi sl TurboFlotor skimmer about 140 pounds of live rock and my tank turns over about 23 times an hour. My stock includes 1.Male bird wrasse 7inches 2.sohal tang 3inches 3.powder brown tang 3inches 4.magnificent Rabbitfish 3inches 5.pinktail triggerfish 4inches 6.emperor angel 5inches 7.bannana wrasse 2inches ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15ppm, ph 8.3 I have no idea what this is so if you could please try to help me that would be greatly appreciated. THANKS.. <I wouldn't over-react here... but just watch and wait... Likely to be some troubles as time goes by with dominance by the Sohal BTW. Bob Fenner> Birdwrasse ID - 8/1/05 Hi, <Howdy Corey, Ali here> I saw this fish on this month's tank of the month on Reef Central.  This fish is listed as a Bird Wrasse, Gomphosus varius.  Is this the scientific name for this particular wrasse or for the genus.  I looked up this name and found a variety of bird wrasse, none that looks like this one. Is there a more specific name for the pictured fish or is its color just a result of a random breeding? <See this link: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/gomphosus/index.htm It is indeed a G. varius. Comes in many different color morphs.> Thanks, Corey <Have a great day Corey - Ali> Green Bird Wrasse 7/14/05 I purchased a pair of wrasses about 2 months ago.  At first the green wrasse cruised the tank, very pleasant and friendly, even eating out of my hand.  The female hid for about three days but then came out to join him.  Lately, the green wrasse hides when I near the tank to feed the fish but the female comes out to join the pack in eating.  Also, the green wrasse doesn't seem to see the food at times.  Any idea what has made the green wrasse begin to retreat from human contact?  Thanks. <... likely the size (lack of it) of the system. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/gomphosus/faqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner> Bird wrasse pairing Hello WetWebMedia crew -- I have a very healthy, active bird wrasse with a good appetite; when I purchased "him" he was considered the "most unattractive" bird wrasse the store had ever seen... I adored him for his pink nose, olive green body, pink tail and friendly disposition towards other fish.  I tend to gravitate to the odd fish, and this one was different from any other bird wrasse I'd ever seen. <Ahh, the ugly duckling story...> After further research, I realized that I must have actually purchased a female in transition... becoming a male.  The nose is now completely green, and the tail is less pink and more black than it had been; I'm not unhappy about the transition... he is an interesting fish no matter what color.  The store now has a "female" black bird wrasse for sale, slightly larger than the one I have.  I'd like to house the pair together in my 90 gal but have received conflicting advice.  The store, of course, says there would be no problem; they'd love to sell me the fish.  Other sources say that I shouldn't add the "female" second... and someone else told me that since the first one may not be completely "male" yet, that it should be fine. <Likely will work out here... even better chance in an even larger system> I have plans to upgrade to a 140 gal within the next year.  If they get along, would the pair be comfortable living out their lives in that size tank? <Likely so> Other residents are: a Volitans lion, a pink-tail trigger, a nine-year-old gold maroon clown and one large blue damsel.  I do not plan to add any other fish to this group. <I see... am surprised the Lion hasn't eaten the damsel/s... yet> Thanks in advance, for your suggestions... I've learned to trust the advice I get from WetWebMedia, and use the articles as my personal guidelines.  Any help you can offer in this matter will be much appreciated. Sincerely, Kyn Un <Sounds like you have a good plan to me. I would go ahead with the introduction, and if there are signs of over aggression, separate out the existing Gomphosus (in a floating, plastic colander) for a few days... Bob Fenner>