Fairy wrasse ID

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

Been waiting a few weeks for this guy to qt but the lfs owners don't actually have a species name for this guy, was a mis-send. Red head, orange dorsal area, blue tail and belly.

 

[Atherial]

Orange back fairy wrasse.

 

[i cant think]

Been waiting a few weeks for this guy to qt but the lfs owners don't actually have a species name for this guy, was a mis-send. Red head, orange dorsal area, blue tail and belly.

The photos aren’t great however it does seem it’s either one of these;
Cirrhilabrus chalasai
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

The photos aren’t great however it does seem it’s either one of these;
Cirrhilabrus chalasai
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis

It looks like this pic almost exactly. Third down on the right. Every other pic I found had different coloration.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

Can't find much information online other than generally peacefull and deep red head=male?

 

[i cant think]

Can't find much information online other than generally peacefull and deep red head=male?

Generally, males and females seem relatively hard to differentiate with minor differences however it’s rare females enter this hobby.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

Generally, males and females seem relatively hard to differentiate with minor differences however it’s rare females enter this hobby.

Any known behavioral/aggression quirks?

 

[i cant think]

Any known behavioral/aggression quirks?

They can be rather boisterous as males, if you want a pintail you’ll want to wait for or maybe even ditch the idea of the Orange Back.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

They can be rather boisterous as males, if you want a pintail you’ll want to wait for or maybe even ditch the idea of the Orange Back.

Boisterous as in occasional chase and fin nip or six line wrasse kill your tang and other wrasse boisterous?

 

[i cant think]

Boisterous as in occasional chase and fin nip or six line wrasse kill your tang and other wrasse boisterous?

It’s more likely to be an occasional chase than outright kill.
Seeing your plan currently it should work

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

It’s more likely to be an occasional chase than outright kill.
Seeing your plan currently it should work

He , the Lubbock and the mela ignore each other completely for now. Hes a pretty chill mela from what ive heard they are capable of. He's maybe snagged 1 hermit a year and even leaves my tiny fish and snails alone. For now. Still plan to lose him once my buddy has his 75 up.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

It’s more likely to be an occasional chase than outright kill.
Seeing your plan currently it should work

Almost forgot. Would flasher wrasses fit into here and if so are there any in particular to avoid.

 

[i cant think]

Almost forgot. Would flasher wrasses fit into here and if so are there any in particular to avoid.

Assuming it’s a 4’ tank most of them should fit. I’d avoid the larger specimens though. They tend to like height and more room (6’+). The main two for that are;
P. hemitaeniatus
P. octotaenia

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

Assuming it’s a 4’ tank most of them should fit. I’d avoid the larger specimens though. They tend to like height and more room (6’+). The main two for that are;
P. hemitaeniatus
P. octotaenia

120 4x2x2 with 29g sump, 2-3" sand bed, about 30xflow and 150ish lbs rock. And by fit i mostly meant fit into the stocking plan with the fairies lol.

 

[i cant think]

120 4x2x2 with 29g sump, 2-3" sand bed, about 30xflow and 150ish lbs rock. And by fit i mostly meant fit into the stocking plan with the fairies lol.

They should however again you’ll want to get them in before the orange back goes in as this genus isn’t too great with pushy wrasses unfortunately.

 

[Bixby'sMenagerie]

They should however again you’ll want to get them in before the orange back goes in as this genus isn’t too great with pushy wrasses unfortunately.

Okay I'll try to find a few before hes done qting. Should i take care to get different genus' or are they ok with "cousins" generally? Info I'm finding is rather mixed.

 

[nereefpat]

I would lean toward ruby head, which used to be cyanopluera with blue head, but now that complex has changed a bit. I could be wrong, and it could be the orange back, but to me the colors break looks more drastic in that species if that makes sense?

@SaltyT

 

[SaltyT]

I'm leaning towards C. aurantidorsalis because to me it looks like the orange coloration just runs along the dorsal side in the photos.

 

[i cant think]

Okay I'll try to find a few before hes done qting. Should i take care to get different genus' or are they ok with "cousins" generally? Info I'm finding is rather mixed.

You can have specimens of the same genus just not the same species