Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

I must say, ID or no ID, as a genus these guys are some of the most amazing variety of designs ever.

 

[cbrennan4]

I picked up this fairy wrasse last week and it was listed as a Red Fairy wrasse. It's hard to see in the pics but it has a very bright blue lining to the tips of the caudal and anal fins. Could you ID it for me? Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis, often sold as red fairy wrasse. Very peaceful, easy to care for. This one is a nice male.

 

[cbrennan4]

Thanks a lot!

 

[Volpone]

Id plz for this wrrase , urgent waiting at lfs to collect

 

[eatbreakfast]

Female Anampses lineatus.

 

[Kano]

He or she is a little more pink than orange like in the picture but had to use flash to get a image that was more clear. I bought him/her years ago as a Schwartz wrasse but not sure if that was correct.

 

[RyanCrouse]

I say it's a hoevens wrasse also called a melanurus wrasse. I could be wrong

 

[eatbreakfast]

Its a Halichoeres argus, it is behavioraly very similar to Schwartz's wrasse, H. papilionaceous, and is found in a variety of marine environments, such as reef, lagoons and seagrass beds. Because they are found in a number of environments they are color variable, but the cheeck makings readily identify it as argus.

H. papilionaceous is also color variable, but is readily differentiated by having a unique dorsal fin shape and a black and yellow spot on the front of the dorsal, and the cheek pattern extend as stripes past the gill covers to the pectoral fins.

 

[evolved]

Yup, Halichoeres argus it is.

 

[Kano]

Thanks for the ID. I searched Schwartz's wrasse and never found any fish that looked like mine at all. I see a few pics of the H. Argus that look similar.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

This is either a linespot flasher or a p. mccoskeri, but not sure which. Can you help with ID?

 

[evolved]

P. mccoskeri

Needs some nutrition; has a lot of potential improvement on coloration if so.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

P. mccoskeri

Needs some nutrition; has a lot of potential improvement on coloration if so.

Thanks! She's in qt right now. I'm trying to fatten her up. Hoping she'll turn male in the DT. My linespot came in injured and didn't make it. :( I wanted to know which one I had so I can reorder the one that didn't pull through.

 

[Newb_reefer1]

Any thoughts ?

 

[eatbreakfast]

It's a female Coris venusta. A Hawaiian endemic that stays smaller than most of the commonly available species in the Genus. It may still go after motile inverts, and although others may have a different experience, the one I had was intolerant of newly added wrasses.

 

[Aquaph8]

Beautiful fish, EB are they pretty rare, I've never seen one for sale?

 

[eatbreakfast]

No, they are not that rare, they are usually available on shipments from Hawaii, and generally pretty inexpensive. The specimen in the above pic is an exceptionally beautiful specimen. Usually the body is darker and the markings on the back half of the body are not as clearly defined.

 

[evolved]

Beautiful fish, EB are they pretty rare, I've never seen one for sale?

Brad has a pair; still has them too.

No, they are not that rare, they are usually available on shipments from Hawaii, and generally pretty inexpensive.

It's a bit hit/miss though; I've always chalked that off as it depends who was out collecting.

 

[ChouDawg]

Not the best picture but would like to confirm this is an Adorned Wrasse (Halichoeres Cosmetus) thanks!