Let Me ID Your Wrasse!
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Looks identical to my female Cirrhilabrus solorensis.
What is the pinkish coral looking thing in the bottom left of the pic?
Hard to be certain from that pic, but it appears to be a female from the "Whip-fin" complex (C. filamentosus). I am leaning toward Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis.
If I am seeing the picture clearly, there appears to be a filament on the dorsal, if that is the case than I would say C. filamentosus. If I am mistaken and there is no filament, than the id could be either punctatatus or rubripinnis.
Hopefully Hunter will chime in soon. I do believe we have narrowed it down to one of two species. But in the meantime, do you have any other pictures? Ideally one from the side would be nice.
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Hmm, that's a good one...
Some additional pictures would certainly help, but my thoughts right now are C. filamentosus. Here's why: There's a faint tailspot present, which indicates this is developing juvi. In which case, that rules out punctatus for me as it would be all red/pink; punctatus only develops blues as it matures into a male. With the yellows present in the dorsal fin, that rules out C. rubripinnis (the dorsal would be entirely red). C. filamentosus can have this same "dirty" appearance as a juvi. Consider that plus the faint "pinstripe" like faint lines on the upper half of the body, and C. filamentosus fits quite strongly for me. Lastly, there's some coloration on the lower jaw and lips which is also reminiscent of filamentosus.
So pending any additional pictures, that's where I'll stand.
Hmm, that's a good one...
Some additional pictures would certainly help, but my thoughts right now are C. filamentosus. Here's why: There's a faint tailspot present, which indicates this is developing juvi. In which case, that rules out punctatus for me as it would be all red/pink; punctatus only develops blues as it matures into a male. With the yellows present in the dorsal fin, that rules out C. rubripinnis (the dorsal would be entirely red). C. filamentosus can have this same "dirty" appearance as a juvi. Consider that plus the faint "pinstripe" like faint lines on the upper half of the body, and C. filamentosus fits quite strongly for me. Lastly, there's some coloration on the lower jaw and lips which is also reminiscent of filamentosus.
So pending any additional pictures, that's where I'll stand.
Are these both females? One looks more colorful and I wanted both.
Bottom pic definitely a male lubbocks, top pic probably a male lubbocki. A female Lubbock will have a black spot on the top of the caudal peduncle and usually no yellow along their dorsal. Some reference works will show females with yellow beginning along the dorsal but IME once this begins they are already initial phase males.
Just to add a bit more info, female C. lubbocki are all pink (no yellow at all) with the mentioned black dot; same as other females in the Lubbock's compex. Here is an old pic of my pair (I know only have the male):
Female is on the bottom, transitioning male on top. As mentioned, if there is any yellow, than it is a transitioning male.
So the female always keeps the spot? Do they transition like clowns?
Yes, the females will always have the spot on the caudal fin. But as you can see above, just because it has a spot does not mean it is a "female". In the case above, the transitioning male had not yet lost the spot.
And they are similar to Clowns only in that they can transition. For Clowns, it is the dominant male (or juvenile) that transitions to a female. For Wrasses, "dominant" females will transition to males. I say "dominant" as even in the presence of a terminal male, female Wrasses can still turn male. There are no guarantees a female will stay female, where as with Clowns, you can bet a bonded pair will stay either male or female.
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