I recently added a filamented flasher wrasse (it was actually sold to me as a "Carpenter's wrasse", but looking at photos on the net convinced me that it's actually a flasher) to my 46 gallon tank. Aside from some inverts, the only previous inhabitants were an algae blenny (such a great fish!) and a pair of common firefish. Reading the species descriptions (of both "carpenters" and "filamented flasher") wrasses, i thought it would fit right in with these docile fish. The flasher adapted quickly, and for about two weeks, tooled around the tank, zipping up and down and in and out. A very agile fish, and fun to watch.
Unfortunately, within the last week or so, it has taken to terrorizing the firefish, sneaking up on them and attempting to nip their fins. The firefish have become so cowed that they flinch whenever they see the flasher, and mainly keep to one corner of the small tank.
Has anyone heard of such an agressive flasher before? It's only 2 and a half to 3 inches long, and the firefish I daresay are bigger than it. The blenny seems to be above the fray. I've moved the decor around, to no avail. What else can I do to curb this agressive behavior? What could be causing it. Would adding another fish on the aggressive side (I'm thinking a pseudochromis or a clown or two) settle his hash, or would that be asking for trouble?
Unfortunately, within the last week or so, it has taken to terrorizing the firefish, sneaking up on them and attempting to nip their fins. The firefish have become so cowed that they flinch whenever they see the flasher, and mainly keep to one corner of the small tank.
Has anyone heard of such an agressive flasher before? It's only 2 and a half to 3 inches long, and the firefish I daresay are bigger than it. The blenny seems to be above the fray. I've moved the decor around, to no avail. What else can I do to curb this agressive behavior? What could be causing it. Would adding another fish on the aggressive side (I'm thinking a pseudochromis or a clown or two) settle his hash, or would that be asking for trouble?
