Wrasse ID

[Waters]

Sorry for the blue pic.....only one I had on my phone. I added a handful of wrasses at the same time and lost track of what this one was. I "think" it was sold as a blue flasher but I could be wrong.

 

[SaltyT]

Paracheilinus angulatus aka Royal flasher

 

[Phlynamjax]

Royal flasher wrasse

 

[Petcrazyson]

To me it honestly looks like a McCosker’s flasher, but I could be wrong. The color also resembles a Diamond Tail Flahser but I don’t see the “Diamond tail“. U said it was sold as a Blue Flasher? The only thing that doesn’t convince me about that statement is that the Blue Flashers generally have long fin ”spikes“ or ”streamers” on the top fin that you should still see when the fin is down. Hopefully I’ve been a little help.

 

[Petcrazyson]

A Royal Flasher wrasse might also be the case as the blue striping is almost exact.

 

[Waters]

I think the Royal Flasher is the winner......seems like the yellow lyre tail doesn't show up in a lot of different flasher species. Also lacks the longer dorsal fin filaments common in other flashers. Thanks everyone :)

 

[i cant think]

Sorry for the blue pic.....only one I had on my phone. I added a handful of wrasses at the same time and lost track of what this one was. I "think" it was sold as a blue flasher but I could be wrong.

I have never seen a Paracheilinus angulatus look that stunning, if you have a 4’ tank take it.

Dang if only I had room for another wrasse I’d be picking up a second paracheilinus…

 

[Waters]

I have never seen a Paracheilinus angulatus look that stunning, if you have a 4’ tank take it.

Dang if only I had room for another wrasse I’d be picking up a second paracheilinus…

Yeah he is actually already in my 105 along with 3 other small wrasses......all added together with zero aggression so far (it has been a couple of weeks). I think I finally have lucked out with adding new fish without any fighting lol.

 

[Waters]

Ok.....one more lol. Now I am questioning every wrasse I purchased from this LFS. This was labeled a Lubbock's but it has pretty uniform color...unless it is just a female or juvi?

 

[SaltyT]

Ok.....one more lol. Now I am questioning every wrasse I purchased from this LFS. This was labeled a Lubbock's but it has pretty uniform color...unless it is just a female or juvi?

That's not a Lubbock's it's a C. finifenmaa aka Rosey scale fairy wrasse

 

[i cant think]

That's not a Lubbock's it's a C. finifenmaa aka Rosey scale fairy wrasse

Actually it looks more like the C. rubrisquammis. However it appears to be a female and I’m pretty sure the females of both species are identical.

 

[SaltyT]

Actually it looks more like the C. rubrisquammis. However it appears to be a female and I’m pretty sure the females of both species are identical.

Rubrisquammis only comes from the Chagos Archipelago. Finifenmaa is found in the Maldives and Sri Lanka making this much more likely to be Finifenmaa.

 

[i cant think]

Rubrisquammis only comes from the Chagos Archipelago. Finifenmaa is found in the Maldives and Sri Lanka making this much more likely to be Finifenmaa.

That’s interesting, I thought Finifenmaa had the smaller range.

Although, now I think about it the reason this wrasse got its name was due to the native flower of the Maldives being similar in colour to these guys.
If the OP knows the origins of this wrasse it could help us out more, I personally think it’s the Rubrisquammis as if it’s a male the yellow being absent in the dorsal is one of the big things with Finifenmaa males from the photos I’ve seen.

 

[SaltyT]

That’s interesting, I thought Finifenmaa had the smaller range.

Although, now I think about it the reason this wrasse got its name was due to the native flower of the Maldives being similar in colour to these guys.
If the OP knows the origins of this wrasse it could help us out more, I personally think it’s the Rubrisquammis as if it’s a male the yellow being absent in the dorsal is one of the big things with Finifenmaa males from the photos I’ve seen.

These are photos of a Rubrisquamis from the article that describes Finifenmaa as a new species. What is now believed to be Rubrisquamis looks like Wakanda so eventually more DNA testing will need to be done.

 

[Waters]

I wasn't too concerned about the actual species when I bought them...just had plans to mix a small group of Fairy/Flasher wrasses. What this does tell me is I appeared to make a killing on both the Rosey Scale and the Royal since they had them mislabeled. I also added a Carpenters and an Orange Back but I am pretty confident on both of those. Thanks again :)

 

[i cant think]

I wasn't too concerned about the actual species when I bought them...just had plans to mix a small group of Fairy/Flasher wrasses. What this does tell me is I appeared to make a killing on both the Rosey Scale and the Royal since they had them mislabeled. I also added a Carpenters and an Orange Back but I am pretty confident on both of those. Thanks again :)

Carpenters can be mixed up with a similar species - Mccoskeri and sometimes Flavianalis however if there’s more than 1 filament then it should be a definite mccoskeri.

 

[i cant think]

These are photos of a Rubrisquamis from the article that describes Finifenmaa as a new species. What is now believed to be Rubrisquamis looks like Wakanda so eventually more DNA testing will need to be done.

That’s interesting, I wonder why we used to label rubrisquammis as what we know of now as finifenmaa if they look closer to wakanda.