Halichoeres chrysus breeding? 05/23/08 I have what I assume is a female yellow wrasse (She's over 2 years old and all 3 spots are present.) at about 4.5". I was interested in breeding since from what I've gathered nobody has attempted this yet. This is all I've really been able to find about their breeding: Wrasses start their lives either as a male or a female, just like any other fish. But they can also change sex. These fish are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means they can start their life as a female and then change to the male. Wrasses are born with both male and female sex organs. After wrasses become adults, they are called initial phase males or females. Those that were born male will always remain as an initial phase male and will never have a chance to be a dominant male. Some of the adult females will change into males. These males and the remaining females are also called initial phase wrasses. But some of the larger females will becomesupermales. This most often happens when a supermale dies. The supermale is larger than all the other males and has distinct colors and patterns on its skin. This coloration attracts the females to the supermale. Sex change in wrasses ensures there will always be a male to reproduce with all the females. The few supermale wrasses on the reef sport brilliant hues to attract all those females. Initial phase males are different from the supermales. When courting the females, the color of all the males will actually become brighter and more brilliant.  Terminal phase males breed with a harem or a small group of females. The supermale is territorial which means it protects a certain area and the females there too. Wrasses are pelagic spawners, which means they gather in groups in areas where the fertilized eggs will be taken by the currents. The eggs float in the epipelagic zone or the zone in the open ocean near the surface. Here the eggs hatch out and the larvae float along until they reach a certain size. After they are large enough, the young wrasses drop down and join the other reef creatures. (http://www.sheddaquarium.org/SEa/fact_sheets.cfm?id=77) She's in a 50g not-quite-cube with a handful of other friends. My assumption is that I'd need to gather a small number of juvenile wrasses and hope for the best? <One approach...> Would this tank be able to support 4 wrasses or so?? <Perhaps... a volume of twice plus this would be better> The other inhabitants are a full grown 3" green spot puffer, a damselfish, and a waspfish. The puffer and wasp might post a problem if they ever lay eggs but I imagine trial and error would be key. Another issue is that this wrasse has been alone for a while so she may throw a fit if I give her some friends. Any suggestions or advice to be had? <This Halichoeres species generally mixes readily with its own kind> Upgrading tanks isn't an option although at some point I would get a 3g pico for the eggs/larva and incorporate a breeder trap into my current tank to allow juveniles to grow to size. <Mmmm... a bunch more to this to relate... you need to study re culturing foods... design a system or buy one for rearing initially... Maybe a read through Matt Wittenrich's new Microcosm/TFH tome on marine fish culture...> This would be my first attempt at breeding anything in the home aquarium so I look forward to it if it's a possibility. Thank you so much! <Have seen apparently terminal males of this species in the wild and captivity... and other Labrid species have been cultured... Bob Fenner>

Re: Halichoeres chrysus breeding? 5/23/08 Thanks.. I may sell the yellow wrasse to a good home and consider a smaller wrasse to breed. <A worthwhile challenge for sure> I wasn't aware that any kind have bred captivity - good news to me! As far as juvies go, after hatching should they receive the same fare as, say, raising clownfish? Phyto + cyclops etc? <Mmm, yes... some sorts of suitably small and concentrated foods that will nourish the young at various sizes... Not phytoplankton though. Bob Fenner>