The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[Petcrazyson]

Actually that's a male Red Sea leopard, Macropharyngodon marisrubri. When Mike & Terry posted theirs marisrubri hadn't been separated into its own species yet. The males are much nicer looking than bipartitus males IMO.

You said he was a Macrophyarngodon marisrubri right? I can’t seem to find a picture that resembles Mike and Terry’s. The closest I could find is this ig but it still looks like a bipartitus

 

[Petcrazyson]

I mean it’s still pretty but not like M&T’s specimen

 

[homer1475]

Love my leopards!

Think the only one I've never owned is a chaoti. If I hadn't bought the partner member plus this year, @Eric Cohen would be mailing me one of his trio left(don't tell Eric, but I think he might drop the price a bit more the longer he sits on them. :D).

I have found over the years that the blue star, or the ornate are pretty much the same as far as the easiest to get eating, and adjusting to tank life. The black(negrosensis) is a close second, but the many I have owned, even my current black, have a tendency to jump more then any of the other leopards.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Broomtail going in with fairies and pencils?? You're riskier than @i cant think lol

Lol, he's a gentle giant. He only devours the inverts. Never showed any interest in the fish so far at least. He let the sohal tang 2" shorter than him chase him all over biting his fins, hence the sohal is in a 20 gallon long by himself until the 180 is running.

 

[Jeffcb]

Red Head Solon Wrasse. (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)

 

[Eric Cohen Verified Sponsor]

Love my leopards!

Think the only one I've never owned is a chaoti. If I hadn't bought the partner member plus this year, @Eric Cohen would be mailing me one of his trio left(don't tell Eric, but I think he might drop the price a bit more the longer he sits on them. :D).

I have found over the years that the blue star, or the ornate are pretty much the same as far as the easiest to get eating, and adjusting to tank life. The black(negrosensis) is a close second, but the many I have owned, even my current black, have a tendency to jump more then any of the other leopards.

Anything for you!

 

[i cant think]

Red Head Solon Wrasse. (Cirrhilabrus solorensis)

Actually, this is now known as Cirrhilabrus aquamarinus, the three wrasses we once knew as Solorensis have now been split up and only one retained the name of solorensis. The second was given the name of Chalasai.

 

[i cant think]

Lol, he's a gentle giant. He only devours the inverts. Never showed any interest in the fish so far at least. He let the sohal tang 2" shorter than him chase him all over biting his fins, hence the sohal is in a 20 gallon long by himself until the 180 is running.

Don’t jinx it! You never know when one may turn on you ;)

 

[i cant think]

Actually that's a male Red Sea leopard, Macropharyngodon marisrubri. When Mike & Terry posted theirs marisrubri hadn't been separated into its own species yet. The males are much nicer looking than bipartitus males IMO.

I forgot Marisrubri existed, I still lump it in with bipartitus. Definitely agree with the males of Marisrubri being nicer than Bipartitus males.

 

[SaltyT]

I forgot Marisrubri existed, I still lump it in with bipartitus. Definitely agree with the males of Marisrubri being nicer than Bipartitus males.

I need to finish my leopard wrasse article. I got frustrated with formatting all of the photos so I stopped working on it. Pretty sure if you hit "save" in the article section it posts your article whether you're done with it or not so I didn't save it and now I have to reformat it again. GRRR.

 

[Petcrazyson]

I need to finish my leopard wrasse article. I got frustrated with formatting all of the photos so I stopped working on it. Pretty sure if you hit "save" in the article section it posts your article whether you're done with it or not so I didn't save it and now I have to reformat it again. GRRR.

Looking forward to it. And that reminds me of the pain of not saving when I would use the computer for school, I would loose my essay work :crying-face:

 

[Petcrazyson]

I forgot Marisrubri existed, I still lump it in with bipartitus. Definitely agree with the males of Marisrubri being nicer than Bipartitus males.

Is there a way you can tell them apart? Like in the final male form or early female form?

 

[i cant think]

I need to finish my leopard wrasse article. I got frustrated with formatting all of the photos so I stopped working on it. Pretty sure if you hit "save" in the article section it posts your article whether you're done with it or not so I didn't save it and now I have to reformat it again. GRRR.

Unfortunately it does post it - I made that mistake and posted my Halichoeres article unfinished. Next one will be an Anampses or Wetmorella article from me. Which ever one I can get my own photos of faster will be the first one.

 

[i cant think]

Is there a way you can tell them apart? Like in the final male form or early female form?

Yes there is!
Macropharyngodon marisrubri sports a flat dorsal fin whereas Bipartitus sports the dorsal fin that isn’t quite so flat. I believe I have the true Bipartitus however I would love to find the true Marisrubri. Also, Marisrubri is only found in the Red Sea, Bipartitus is found in a variety of locations (This makes it harder for me to ID as mine came from the Red Sea).

If I’m correct, Marisrubri is the only Macropharyngodon that actually sports the flat dorsal whereas every other species has a more unbalanced dorsal.

 

[SaltyT]

Is there a way you can tell them apart? Like in the final male form or early female form?

Yes, they differ in their geographic locations, finnage, and coloration. I discuss this in my article, but the short version is Marisrubri's dorsal fin has a nice high arch that extends to the caudal fin unlike Bipartitus. Bipartitus males have more "pale" areas of coloration unlike Marisrubri males.

Marisrubri



Bipartitus

 

[i cant think]

I need to compare mine to photos of a true Marisrubri as I’m not actually 100% sure anymore. I’m pretty sure I have bipartitus however the dorsal looks rather flat. @SaltyT, you got any ideas? You’re better with Macropharyngodon than I am. Again, I’m pretty sure it’s Bipartitus however I have some uncertainty.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Unfortunately it does post it - I made that mistake and posted my Halichoeres article unfinished. Next one will be an Anampses or Wetmorella article from me. Which ever one I can get my own photos of faster will be the first one.

I made that mistake as well. I hadn’t finished 2 posts but it got posted anyways. Idk how it happened but it even posted it twice for each post, so then I had 4 posts and copies.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Thanks for the help. I‘ll be on the look for these signs if I end up going for the leopard.

 

[Petcrazyson]

I need to compare mine to photos of a true Marisrubri as I’m not actually 100% sure anymore. I’m pretty sure I have bipartitus however the dorsal looks rather flat. @SaltyT, you got any ideas? You’re better with Macropharyngodon than I am. Again, I’m pretty sure it’s Bipartitus however I have some uncertainty.

Based on what you guys said it looks more like a Bipartitus to me. But then again I’m new to this leopard wrasse identification.

 

[Petcrazyson]

Yes, they differ in their geographic locations, finnage, and coloration. I discuss this in my article, but the short version is Marisrubri's dorsal fin has a nice high arch that extends to the caudal fin unlike Bipartitus. Bipartitus males have more "pale" areas of coloration unlike Marisrubri males.

Marisrubri



Bipartitus

Major difference!