Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

Texas Reefer · Mar 23, 2014

My LFS called this a Ruby Headed Fairy Wrasse, but I think it also looks like a female Solorensis. What do you think? And what sex?

TIA!

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

Thats just a nickname for the solorensis. Both of you are correct.

Texas Reefer · Mar 23, 2014

Well, when I first saw it, I said, "oh, a female solorensis" and he said no. So I'm confused. Some things I read say they are 2 different things. I guess I'll just call her Ruby and be happy that she's happy.

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

Texas Reefer said:
Well, when I first saw it, I said, "oh, a female solorensis" and he said no. So I'm confused. Some things I read say they are 2 different things. I guess I'll just call her Ruby and be happy that she's happy.

This is why knowing the latin name really comes in handy. The lfs might be confusing it with a blue sided fairy wrasse. They look pretty similar in appearance and most think they are just a color morph. http://www.aquacon.com/images/RubyHeadFairyWrasse1.jpg and then the sonarius http:// http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/large/lg-82744-red-head-wrasse.jpg from the pictures it looks like a female solon wrasse. But as I said before they look very similar.

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2014

It is actually a Cirrhilabrus cf cyanapleura. It is closely related to both C. cyanapleura and and C. solorensis. The female solorensis colors are a little more muted and less defined. If you look at the pic this fish has outlined scales and an orange / green back.
It has been sold as both ruby headed wrasse and female solorensis for so long that even the liveaquaria pic for a female solorensis is a male of this fish.
Mpst of the specimens that are sold come in the US from Bali.

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

eatbreakfast said:
It is actually a Cirrhilabrus cf cyanapleura. It is closely related to both C. cyanapleura and and C. solorensis. The female solorensis colors are a little more muted and less defined. If you look at the pic this fish has outlined scales and an orange / green back.
It has been sold as both ruby headed wrasse and female solorensis for so long that even the liveaquaria pic for a female solorensis is a male of this fish.
Mpst of the specimens that are sold come in the US from Bali.

Wow thanks for that. One of my biggest reasons for wanting a pair of the solons was because how the female looked. Thanks for the info!

Texas Reefer · Mar 23, 2014

eatbreakfast said:
It is actually a Cirrhilabrus cf cyanapleura. It is closely related to both C. cyanapleura and and C. solorensis. The female solorensis colors are a little more muted and less defined. If you look at the pic this fish has outlined scales and an orange / green back.
It has been sold as both ruby headed wrasse and female solorensis for so long that even the liveaquaria pic for a female solorensis is a male of this fish.
Mpst of the specimens that are sold come in the US from Bali.

Which is the Cirrhilabrus? My pic, or one which guidedbyechoes posted?

guidedbyechoes · Mar 23, 2014

Texas Reefer said:
Which is the Cirrhilabrus? My pic, or one which guidedbyechoes posted?

They are all Cirrhilabrus but according to eatbreakfest they are all pictures of cyanapleura

Texas Reefer · Mar 23, 2014

Okey dokey.

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2014

Technically of cf. cuanapleura, which means it is npt fully described yet. The cf is for to confer with the holotype of cyanopleara because of the similarities for comparative purposes.

evolved · Mar 24, 2014

eatbreakfast said:
It is actually a Cirrhilabrus cf cyanapleura. It is closely related to both C. cyanapleura and and C. solorensis. The female solorensis colors are a little more muted and less defined. If you look at the pic this fish has outlined scales and an orange / green back.
It has been sold as both ruby headed wrasse and female solorensis for so long that even the liveaquaria pic for a female solorensis is a male of this fish.
Mpst of the specimens that are sold come in the US from Bali.

This is the correct info.

Texas Reefer said:
Which is the Cirrhilabrus? My pic, or one which guidedbyechoes posted?

Cirrhilabrus is a genus; the "Fairy" genus. The species designation comes after the genus.

Greenstreet.1 · Mar 31, 2014

? What do you guys think about me adding two female flame to my tank ?

evolved · Mar 31, 2014

That you'll most likely end up with two males, but I don't foresee an issue.

Greenstreet.1 · Mar 31, 2014

evolved said:
That you'll most likely end up with two males, but I don't foresee an issue.

Ok wanted to make sure I will not have problems with them and my other wrasses I always wanted the flames.

hollback · Mar 31, 2014

Thoughts?

evolved · Mar 31, 2014

Halichoeres melanurus, a large male.

hollback · Mar 31, 2014

That's what I assumed but I had never seen one so fat so I wanted to make sure I had the correct species. Thanks!

evolved · Mar 31, 2014

They'll get the "girth" to them with age.

noles426 · Apr 1, 2014

Trying to get an ID on this wrasse. I was told it is a Carpenter's Wrasse but it is not looking like it. When I got her she was very dark just like her head and has slowly started to change as you can see by her side. Don't mind the greenish dot on her lower back that is on the glass of the tank. Thanks for the help.

evolved · Apr 1, 2014

It's a Cirrhilabrus (fairy) species rather than a Paracheilinus (flasher).

It's Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis by some people's accords, or a variant of C. cyanopleura by other's accords. Which species label you put on it depends on who's camp you fall into.