Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

[ksfulk]

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

Alright - some better pictures!

 

[evolved]

Alright - some better pictures!

So this is pulling me a different direction now, and I'm seeing C. rubripinnis. Tricky one...
TJ, your thoughts? @eatbreakfast

 

[eatbreakfast]

Looks like rubripinnis to me.

 

[Miami Reef]

What kind of wrasse is this? I bought it last week.

 

[evolved]

What kind of wrasse is this? I bought it last week.

Either Paracheilinus mccoskeri or P. carpenteri - need to see the dorsal or anal fin to make that distinction.

 

[Sashaka]

Forgive me if you've already given an ID to these two wrasse species. I'm working my way through all the posts here but have not come across similar fish pics as of yet...so I've posted my pics hoping to confirm ID on my two leopard species. The first pics shows my recent addition just 1 month out of copper and only a few weeks in the MD. It has slight bluish colored fins. At LFS, fish had a pinkish body color. In my tanks under LEDs the fish is more yellow/orange. Is it Moyeri or Kuiteri?

The second leopard wrasse to be IDed is more pinkish, though the one pic looks like it has a greenish body. It's reddish maroon color when gliding through the lights of the aquarium. My guess is the fish is Ornate or Macropharyngodon ornatus? Sorry about the poor quality of the pics. My fish just wouldn't pose well for me! If you know the genders of these fish, that would be nice to know, too. :)

P.S. Ignore the bacteria outbreak. I was treating for Cyano but problem got worse. Microscope ID has confirmed Spirulina, so Chemiclean is on the way!

 

[evolved]

Forgive me if you've already given an ID to these two wrasse species. I'm working my way through all the posts here but have not come across similar fish pics as of yet...so I've posted my pics hoping to confirm ID on my two leopard species. Sorry about the poor quality. My fish just wouldn't pose for me! If you know the genders of these fish, that would be nice to know, too. :)

M. moyeri & M. ornatus.

 

[Sashaka]

Cool. Thanks! That's what I thought too but preferred an ID from an expert's perspective. LFS sold them just as leopard wrasses. I've had the Ornate about a year, but the Moyeri only about 2 months. I'd never seen the Moyeri show up at the LFS before. After some research, it seems the Moyeri is more rare. I guess that's why I've never seen it locally before. I paid $45. for it. I think I got a good deal as most places online seem to price them at over $100. for a small when they are available and this one is between 4 and 4-1/2 inches. :)

 

[Rybren]

My LFS has 2 Moyeri in stock - $200 CAD. $45 is nice!

 

[Sashaka]

Whoo hooh! I love finding a hidden gem for a steal!

Mine is very active, came through copper like a champ (though it hid a lot when first introduced to quarantine), eats like a pig, is not aggressive with my other wrasses (I believe it is full grown, too), and it can hold its own in my semi aggressive tank. :) I don't know if this is typical behavior for this species or not as I can't really find much info on this species. Any extra knowledge about typical behavior for the species @evolved ? Do you own one or have you owned one before? I did read somewhere that they have a short life span of about 5 to 6 years. Is that true?

 

[evolved]

I don't know if this is typical behavior for this species or not as I can't really find much info on this species.

As a very close cousin to M. kuiteri, the attitude should be similar. Not a species I have kept, however.

I did read somewhere that they have a short life span of about 5 to 6 years. Is that true?

Lifespans are not well known, but it should be a little longer than that. I suspect 7-10 years.

 

[haanstang]

Was sold as yellow coris wrasse. Looks like silver belly with the three black dots on it’s dorsal fin but has yellow belly.

I have been keeping a reef for 4 years but new to the ways of the wrasse.

 

[mattzang]

does the yellow not have 3 dots? i got a tiny one a couple months ago and i'm pretty sure it had 3 dots and looked identical to yours. i've never kept the silver or white bellied, though.

congrats on discovering the wrasse!

 

[evolved]

Was sold as yellow coris wrasse. Looks like silver belly with the three black dots on it’s dorsal fin but has yellow belly.

I have been keeping a reef for 4 years but new to the ways of the wrasse.

Exactly as its was sold; H. chrysus

 

[haanstang]

I’m not sure. It matches the picture of a silver belly on live aquaria minus the silver belly. The yellow coris wrasse picture has one dot on the front of the dorsal. But I’m not sure if those pictures are an adult or juvenile. And I’m not sure if maybe they both have three dots as juveniles.

 

[nereefpat]

Smaller females / juveniles of H. chrysus have more than one spot on the dorsal fin. Read under description: http://fishbase.org/summary/4855

 

[mattzang]

I’m not sure. It matches the picture of a silver belly on live aquaria minus the silver belly. The yellow coris wrasse picture has one dot on the front of the dorsal. But I’m not sure if those pictures are an adult or juvenile. And I’m not sure if maybe they both have three dots as juveniles.

the liveaquaria picture of the yellow looks like a mature male with those orange markings on the face, their picture of the yellow bellied looks like a juvenile. they'll lose the dots over time as they mature i believe

unfortunately they didn't throw in a picture of a juvenile chrysus and then a mature male chrysus

 

[haanstang]

Awesome news. Thanks. I have been reading up on the yellow coris but after a video on YouTube of inappropriate reefers silver belly that he thought was a coris, it made me wonder. Right now she is in my 65 because it’s the only tank with sand in my system. I do have two large blood red shrimp in that take that I should probably move before the yellow coris wrasse gets bigger.
Thanks again

 

[evolved]

The only difference between chrysus and leucoxanthus is the white belly. Juvies, males, females of both species look the same, just with or without the white belly.

 

[nereefpat]

I do have two large blood red shrimp in that take that I should probably move before the yellow coris wrasse gets bigger.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about that.