Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

evolved · Nov 14, 2013

There's really no standard on common names; there's lots of regional variability in them.

In unrelated news, clean your glass!

bruno21447 · Nov 14, 2013

haha that was water change day before I scraped and cleaned water spots.

boehm742 · Nov 14, 2013

bknapp said:
This is the best I could do for pictures, it never stops moving. I purchased it as a "Blue Sided Fairy." But I'm not so sure, I've seen pictures of other wrasses that look the same. Thanks for the help.

Looks identical to my female Cirrhilabrus solorensis.

J.guokas · Nov 28, 2013

Just picked this up yesterday. Can't find an ID.

bct15 · Nov 28, 2013

J.guokas said:
Just picked this up yesterday. Can't find an ID.

What is the pinkish coral looking thing in the bottom left of the pic?

J.guokas · Nov 28, 2013

bct15 said:
What is the pinkish coral looking thing in the bottom left of the pic?

That's dragons breath macro.

Marshall O · Nov 28, 2013

J.guokas said:
Just picked this up yesterday. Can't find an ID.

Hard to be certain from that pic, but it appears to be a female from the "Whip-fin" complex (C. filamentosus). I am leaning toward Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis.

Aquaph8 · Nov 28, 2013

Im guessing punctatus, Hunter will be along shortly to prove me wrong though?

eatbreakfast · Nov 28, 2013

If I am seeing the picture clearly, there appears to be a filament on the dorsal, if that is the case than I would say C. filamentosus. If I am mistaken and there is no filament, than the id could be either punctatatus or rubripinnis.

J.guokas · Nov 28, 2013

eatbreakfast said:
If I am seeing the picture clearly, there appears to be a filament on the dorsal, if that is the case than I would say C. filamentosus. If I am mistaken and there is no filament, than the id could be either punctatatus or rubripinnis.

There is no filament.

Aquaph8 · Nov 28, 2013

The only reason I went punctatus instead of rubripinnis is that fish looks to have a lot of blue in it.

J.guokas · Nov 28, 2013

Aquaph8 said:
The only reason I went punctatus instead of rubripinnis is that fish looks to have a lot of blue in it.

It definitely has a lot of blue in it.

J.guokas · Dec 2, 2013

Bump for a possible ID.

Marshall O · Dec 2, 2013

J.guokas said:
Bump for a possible ID.

Hopefully Hunter will chime in soon. I do believe we have narrowed it down to one of two species. But in the meantime, do you have any other pictures? Ideally one from the side would be nice.

evolved · Dec 2, 2013

Sorry for the holiday delay.

Hmm, that's a good one...

Some additional pictures would certainly help, but my thoughts right now are C. filamentosus. Here's why: There's a faint tailspot present, which indicates this is developing juvi. In which case, that rules out punctatus for me as it would be all red/pink; punctatus only develops blues as it matures into a male. With the yellows present in the dorsal fin, that rules out C. rubripinnis (the dorsal would be entirely red). C. filamentosus can have this same "dirty" appearance as a juvi. Consider that plus the faint "pinstripe" like faint lines on the upper half of the body, and C. filamentosus fits quite strongly for me. Lastly, there's some coloration on the lower jaw and lips which is also reminiscent of filamentosus.

So pending any additional pictures, that's where I'll stand.

Ripnlips82 · Dec 14, 2013

Are these both females? One looks more colorful and I wanted both.

eatbreakfast · Dec 15, 2013

Bottom pic definitely a male lubbocks, top pic probably a male lubbocki. A female Lubbock will have a black spot on the top of the caudal peduncle and usually no yellow along their dorsal. Some reference works will show females with yellow beginning along the dorsal but IME once this begins they are already initial phase males.

Marshall O · Dec 15, 2013

eatbreakfast said:
Bottom pic definitely a male lubbocks, top pic probably a male lubbocki. A female Lubbock will have a black spot on the top of the caudal peduncle and usually no yellow along their dorsal. Some reference works will show females with yellow beginning along the dorsal but IME once this begins they are already initial phase males.

Just to add a bit more info, female C. lubbocki are all pink (no yellow at all) with the mentioned black dot; same as other females in the Lubbock's compex. Here is an old pic of my pair (I know only have the male):

Female is on the bottom, transitioning male on top. As mentioned, if there is any yellow, than it is a transitioning male.

Ripnlips82 · Dec 15, 2013

So the female always keeps the spot? Do they transition like clowns?

Marshall O · Dec 15, 2013

Ripnlips82 said:
So the female always keeps the spot? Do they transition like clowns?

Yes, the females will always have the spot on the caudal fin. But as you can see above, just because it has a spot does not mean it is a "female". In the case above, the transitioning male had not yet lost the spot.

And they are similar to Clowns only in that they can transition. For Clowns, it is the dominant male (or juvenile) that transitions to a female. For Wrasses, "dominant" females will transition to males. I say "dominant" as even in the presence of a terminal male, female Wrasses can still turn male. There are no guarantees a female will stay female, where as with Clowns, you can bet a bonded pair will stay either male or female.