Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

[evolved]

Definitely a wrassefish! :P

Do you have something less close, less blurry?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Ok I have one more

The color reminds me of juvenile a Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis. But head looks off, but could be the veiw.

 

[evolved]

Coris venusta is my hold-the-phone-far-away-and-squint guess.

 

[mort]

Not a wrasse Id but wondering where @evolved and @eatbreakfast learnt your stuff. I like to think I'm ok at id's but wondering if I'm missing a great resource somewhere. I know a lot is just simply experience but you had to start somewhere.

 

[evolved]

Not a wrasse Id but wondering where @evolved and @eatbreakfast learnt your stuff. I like to think I'm ok at id's but wondering if I'm missing a great resource somewhere. I know a lot is just simply experience but you had to start somewhere.

For IDs, Fishbase.org
Fishwisepro.com can sometimes have additional pictures.

 

[Orly20]

Coris venusta is my hold-the-phone-far-away-and-squint guess.

Here’s a better pic

 

[evolved]

Here’s a better pic

Squinty eyes worked! ;Woot
Coris venusta

 

[eatbreakfast]

Not a wrasse Id but wondering where @evolved and @eatbreakfast learnt your stuff. I like to think I'm ok at id's but wondering if I'm missing a great resource somewhere. I know a lot is just simply experience but you had to start somewhere.

I'm a fan of Kuiter's wrasse book, fishbase, and Fishes of the East Indies by Allen and Erdmann. But firsthand experience with most of the wrasses in the trade helps most.

 

[Abhishek]

Not a wrasse Id but wondering where @evolved and @eatbreakfast learnt your stuff. I like to think I'm ok at id's but wondering if I'm missing a great resource somewhere. I know a lot is just simply experience but you had to start somewhere.

Cone on @eatbreakfast ! TJ didn’t tell you the truth where he has a secret 10000 gallons dedicated to only wrasses ! Heard he still cannot keep pairs of fairies long term though :P

 

[evolved]

I also have a semi-photographic memory, so by and large a lot of them just end up in my head after I see them once. I do still have to go back to a reference sometimes when I know there are 2 similar species. And sometimes Google helps me get the Latin spelling right when I know "it's something kinda like..."

 

[nereefpat]

How is Scott W. Michael's "Wrasses & Parrotfishes?" I have some of the others in the series, and I like them, but haven't really studied wrasses as closely in the past.

 

[evolved]

How is Scott W. Michael's "Wrasses & Parrotfishes?" I have some of the others in the series, and I like them, but haven't really studied wrasses as closely in the past.

It's decent, but not one I own. I only find both of Kuiter's books to be worth it.

 

[White Monkey]

For IDs, Fishbase.org
Fishwisepro.com can sometimes have additional pictures.

Yes. Thanks so much for sharing your resources.

 

[nereefpat]

It's decent, but not one I own. I only find both of Kuiter's books to be worth it.

I may have to order one of Kuiter's books. The one that I've been able to find on amazon looks like it may only cover fairies/flashers, and may not include Coris, Halichoeres, hogfish, etc.

 

[evolved]

I may have to order one of Kuiter's books. The one that I've been able to find on amazon looks like it may only cover fairies/flashers, and may not include Coris, Halichoeres, hogfish, etc.

You want:
Labridae Fishes: Wrasses by Rudie Kuiter
But it can be hard to find, and usually pricey when you do find it.

 

[nereefpat]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for it.

 

[ksfulk]

Alright, I have another misidentified fairy wrasse. It was sold as a "magma top flame fin wrasse" - lol

I think it might be a juvenille P. octotaenia, but Im having a hard time getting a good picture of it in non-stressed coloration. I did get a good shot of the dorsal and tail fins though, and figured it was worth a shot to see if I guessed right. Hopefully, I'll have a better "natural coloration" shot this evening.

 

[evolved]

Alright, I have another misidentified fairy wrasse. It was sold as a "magma top flame fin wrasse" - lol

I think it might be a juvenille P. octotaenia, but Im having a hard time getting a good picture of it in non-stressed coloration. I did get a good shot of the dorsal and tail fins though, and figured it was worth a shot to see if I guessed right. Hopefully, I'll have a better "natural coloration" shot this evening.

Definitely a Cirrhilabrus, but we'll need a better picture still. Some indications of pylei or rubrimarginatus, but not definitive.

 

[FDAWG]

Cirrhilabrus Pylei?

 

[evolved]

Cirrhilabrus Pylei?

C. cf pylei ;)