Wrasse ID

jabberwock · Aug 1, 2023

This fish was billed as a Filament Fairy Wrasse. I am not sure if that is accurate. Maybe it is a juvenile? Or a female? It is doing good. Eating right away, not hiding. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks for looking.

blaxsun · Aug 1, 2023

@i cant think

i cant think · Aug 2, 2023

jabberwock said:
This fish was billed as a Filament Fairy Wrasse. I am not sure if that is accurate. Maybe it is a juvenile? Or a female? It is doing good. Eating right away, not hiding. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks for looking.

This is a male Paracheilinus species, not a Cirrhilabrus species like it was sold as. Do you have a photo of him with his fins up?

There are 3 species this can be; P. flavianalis, P. mccoskeri or P. carpenteri. If you can get a close up photo of him with his fins out that would be great. The main thing that separated Paracheilinus species is how many elongated filaments each species has on their dorsal fin.

Also, do you know if any of the colours look to be washed out? I cant tell if it’s the photo but the anal fin looks very washed out in colour.

jabberwock · Aug 2, 2023

i cant think said:
This is a male Paracheilinus species, not a Cirrhilabrus species like it was sold as. Do you have a photo of him with his fins up?

There are 3 species this can be; P. flavianalis, P. mccoskeri or P. carpenteri. If you can get a close up photo of him with his fins out that would be great. The main thing that separated Paracheilinus species is how many elongated filaments each species has on their dorsal fin.

Also, do you know if any of the colours look to be washed out? I cant tell if it’s the photo but the anal fin looks very washed out in colour.

I really appreciate your expertise, and thanks to blaxsun for the @!

After some reading and looking at some representative photos, I am leaning towards it being a "submale" P. mccoskeri, but am unsure.

I used a mirror to get his fins up. The color of the anal fin does appear to be washed out, but other colors seem vibrant. It was at the LFS for 1 day, and has been in my tank for 1 day, so may still be settling in. It is eating well again today.

saltyhog · Aug 2, 2023

Definitely not a Carpenters. I think it's a Yellow fin ....defer to I cant think though.

jabberwock · Aug 2, 2023

saltyhog said:
Definitely not a Carpenters. I think it's a Yellow fin ....defer to I cant think though.

Yeah, I don't know. Just glad it is starting out seemingly healthy.

There is so much misinformation about these fish on the internet. It is no wonder is was misidentified at the distributor level. LFS just went by what the fish was advertised as.

I am thinking it only has one dorsal spine.

I appreciate everyone's input.

i cant think · Aug 3, 2023

jabberwock said:
I really appreciate your expertise, and thanks to blaxsun for the @!

After some reading and looking at some representative photos, I am leaning towards it being a "submale" P. mccoskeri, but am unsure.

I used a mirror to get his fins up. The color of the anal fin does appear to be washed out, but other colors seem vibrant. It was at the LFS for 1 day, and has been in my tank for 1 day, so may still be settling in. It is eating well again today.

I think I’m also leaning towards P. flavianalis (Yellow Fin Flasher Wrasse). However it may be too soon to tell as it does appear to be a young male that’s still colouring up in the transition.

FishKeeper.mp3 · Aug 3, 2023

jabberwock said:
This fish was billed as a Filament Fairy Wrasse. I am not sure if that is accurate. Maybe it is a juvenile? Or a female? It is doing good. Eating right away, not hiding. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks for looking.

looks like maybe a flasher wrasse, non aggressive for the most part

OrionN · Aug 3, 2023

Very young Transitional male. I agree with Yellow-fin Flasher also. They developed very fast. Give him a few weeks, if we are right then the anal fin will get more yellow and dorsal spike will turn red. Feed him well and put a mirror in front of the tank several times a week for about 15-30 mins. This will get him (and all the fishes) stimulate and get the best color out of them.

saltyhog · Aug 3, 2023

jabberwock said:
Yeah, I don't know. Just glad it is starting out seemingly healthy.

I am thinking it only has one dorsal spine.

You may be right but this is why I thought it had two.

i cant think · Aug 3, 2023

saltyhog said:
You may be right but this is why I thought it had two.

I agree with you and that’s definitely a second forming. The first one is more obvious but give it maybe a few more months and it’ll likely have 2 obvious dorsal spines unless one winds up snapping off as they are very delicate.

jabberwock · Aug 3, 2023

The second dorsal spine is already slightly more noticeable than yesterday. Fish is eating well, and very active. I like the mirror idea, and I will set up the auto feeder to drop a few pellets (he likes them) in for lunch time while I am away at the office.

I really appreciate all the tips and expertise!

OrionN · Aug 3, 2023

Yellow fin can have one or two dorsal spikes. Very nice inexpensive Flasher

jabberwock · Aug 5, 2023

OrionN said:
Yellow fin can have one or two dorsal spikes. Very nice inexpensive Flasher

Thanks for posting Orion! I hope this one turns out looking that great.

I gave $50 for the mis-ID'd fishy. He is coloring up! I will post some pics in a few days to mark his progress and inform the ID process. Although, I am pretty sure you guys are right about it being a Yellowfin Flasher.

jabberwock · Aug 8, 2023

Starting to settle in and color up.

i cant think · Aug 9, 2023

jabberwock said:
Starting to settle in and color up.

That is a Paracheilinus mccoskeri without a doubt.
Specifically it looks to be an African Mccoskeri.

jabberwock · Aug 9, 2023

i cant think said:
That is a Paracheilinus mccoskeri without a doubt.
Specifically it looks to be an African Mccoskeri.

Wow - that is exactly what I wanted it to be! I don't doubt you, but for my own knowledge gain, what are the distinctive characteristics that make you so certain?

i cant think · Aug 9, 2023

jabberwock said:
Wow - that is exactly what I wanted it to be! I don't doubt you, but for my own knowledge gain, what are the distinctive characteristics that make you so certain?

First off the blackening on the caudal and dorsal fin as well as the one dorsal spine. It could be a hybrid of mccoskeri and carpenteri however I believe mccoskeri can have 2 dorsal spikes with one smaller, much less prominent spike.

jabberwock · Aug 29, 2023

Update - the mirror works pretty good, but this guy elicits an intense response.

SaltyT · Aug 29, 2023

jabberwock said:
Update - the mirror works pretty good, but this guy elicits an intense response.

LOL that’s hilarious.
To settle the debate of which flasher you have… it’s definitely a Carpenter’s flasher. The multiple dorsal filaments and red on the anal fin are the confirmation.