Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

Cherim7 · Sep 18, 2015

Best pic I have. Lubbocks?

eatbreakfast · Sep 18, 2015

Yes, Cebu variant.

ksfulk · Sep 18, 2015

Here's an interesting one. Ive purchased this wrasse named as a Cirrhilabrus lineatus. This wrasse I watched in the store for a week or so, watching it eat and swim around. Everything looks good. I talked to the owner, as the coloration seemed to be off from the normal pictures you see online with the purple and golden coloration. The owner said that the fish was a young male and wouldnt get his colors until he matured. Seems like a legit comment, but I couldnt find anything online to confirm that. I pulled him out of the QT tonight and tried to get a good shot, but he was stressed, so his coloration is even more different than usual. Still, I'm hoping that some of the physical characteristics give hints as to what exactly this little guy is.

evolved · Sep 19, 2015

ksfulk said:
Ive purchased this wrasse named as a Cirrhilabrus lineatus.

Sorry, but it's Cirrhilabrus temminckii

ksfulk · Sep 19, 2015

evolved said:
Sorry, but it's Cirrhilabrus temminckii

Thought it was too good to be true! Oh well, at least it will still get along fine with the others I have

Also, super impressive you can ID these guys from a bad photo, in stress coloration. My hats off to you sir.

Adamsb89 · Sep 19, 2015

Hey guys. Hoping to get an ID on this guy. Apologies for the blurry pics, you know how fast wrasses are. Thanks in advance

eatbreakfast · Sep 20, 2015

Adamsb89 said:
Hey guys. Hoping to get an ID on this guy. Apologies for the blurry pics, you know how fast wrasses are. Thanks in advance

Male Halichoeres melanurus.

Hawain_Rob · Sep 20, 2015

Whats thus guy?

eatbreakfast · Sep 20, 2015

Hawain_Rob said:
Whats thus guy?

Halichoeres ornatissimus.

Hawain_Rob · Sep 20, 2015

Is the same as melanurus wrasse?

eatbreakfast said:
Halichoeres ornatissimus.[/QUOT

eatbreakfast · Sep 20, 2015

Hawain_Rob said:
Is the same as melanurus wrasse?

No, they are closely related, but H. ornatissimus gets larger and is more aggressive.

Hawain_Rob · Sep 20, 2015

Good to know. Thanks brother.

eatbreakfast said:
No, they are closely related, but H. ornatissimus gets larger and is more aggressive.

Ben jammin · Sep 20, 2015

My newest addition, bought under false pretenses (i.e. incorrectly labeled at LFS). 99% sure I've ID'd him correctly but want to see what the wrasse savants think.

eatbreakfast · Sep 20, 2015

Ben jammin said:
My newest addition, bought under false pretenses (i.e. incorrectly labeled at LFS). 99% sure I've ID'd him correctly but want to see what the wrasse savants think.

It is Halichoeres nebulosus. What did the LFS label it?

Ben jammin · Sep 20, 2015

That's what I thought. I have never heard of this species before or seen it. LFS called it a Sri Lanka Christmas wrasse, but I was pretty sure it was not just a regional morph of a Christmas wrasse. Looks more like the Xenojulis margaritaceous I picked up a few months back (which was labeled as a green coris wrasse) at a different LFS, in terms of color and markings but not body shape. That one had a damaged lower lip though, and never emerged from my sand bed. This one just emerged from the sand tray in the acclimation box after only a day, and took to eating some small Marine S pellets I gave him, so I'm encouraged. My red coris was just displaying to him though, so not ready to release him yet.

mmarro99 · Sep 20, 2015

eatbreakfast · Sep 21, 2015

mmarro99 said:

Cirrhilabrus temminki

evolved · Sep 21, 2015

Ben jammin said:
LFS called it a Sri Lanka Christmas wrasse

Not necessarily a "bad" common name; it is found in that region and one might call it "Christmas" colored. Common names are highly regional and sometimes inconsistent.