Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

[Hawain_Rob]

Female, while still striped, have a different color completely.

I saw two at the Lfs. One had spots the other didn't. But none of them look at brightly colored as the one in the picture above.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Do females have a spot on the tail?
I want to buy a male but I want to know how to distinguish them.

Males have a black spot on the iddle of the caudal. Females are much paler. If it is very green it is a male.

 

[chillinreefer]

Thanks he is a cutie lol how big were they

 

[Rybren]

I can't give an i.d. a pic always helps.

Yeah, I know I don't think that there are many wrasses that have a Diamond shaped tail, so I thought that might spark some ideas.

Thanks.

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Males have a black spot on the iddle of the caudal. Females are much paler. If it is very green it is a male.

Whats the iddle of the caudal?

 

[chillinreefer]

Hawaii rob go to liveaquatic and it shows u a pic of a female.and a male

 

[eatbreakfast]

Whats the iddle of the caudal?

The caudal is the tail fin. Iddle is a typo, it should be middle.

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Hawaii rob go to liveaquatic and it shows u a pic of a female.and a male

The thing is I went to the Lfs I don't know if the chick there didn't no jack or what but she said she had a male and female in the tank but they both looked the same? Well except one had a some spots..but live a queria says females have a spot..?

 

[chillinreefer]

No color diff males tend to drastically stand out with color

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Chick said "they both look the same color. It isn't until the makes get older that they get their bright colors" idk..

 

[Duke4Life]

? Is there a good place to go to look at the color variations that also includes location as I know this also plays a role?

 

[1.0reef]

Yeah, I know I don't think that there are many wrasses that have a Diamond shaped tail, so I thought that might spark some ideas.

Thanks.

Look around on Reefbuilders, Lemon has recently been posting lots of info on Cirrhilabrus.

 

[Rybren]

Thanks

 

[eatbreakfast]

? Is there a good place to go to look at the color variations that also includes location as I know this also plays a role?

Chick said "they both look the same color. It isn't until the makes get older that they get their bright colors" idk..

This is a female. The colors are bland, the tail has no pattern or color, and she has a few false eye spots.

Now, here is a male. Brighter colors, the tail has color and patterning, and the pattern on the body is more intricate.

Regionally there are 2 species. In the Pacific it there is Halichoeres melanurus, whereas the Indian ocean sister species is H. chrysotaenia. The primary physical difference between these two is the tail pattern on the males. In melanurus the pattern is more 'linear' in chrysotaenia it is more spotted. There is also a slight color difference that is difficult to show entirely accurately in pics, but is quite noticeable side by side in person. The red stripes in the face of melanurus or more of a light purple in chrysotaenia. Here is a male chrysotaenia.

 

[Hawain_Rob]

This is a female. The colors are bland, the tail has no pattern or color, and she has a few false eye spots.

Now, here is a male. Brighter colors, the tail has color and patterning, and the pattern on the body is more intricate.

Regionally there are 2 species. In the Pacific it there is Halichoeres melanurus, whereas the Indian ocean sister species is H. chrysotaenia. The primary physical difference between these two is the tail pattern on the males. In melanurus the pattern is more 'linear' in chrysotaenia it is more spotted. There is also a slight color difference that is difficult to show entirely accurately in pics, but is quite noticeable side by side in person. The red stripes in the face of melanurus or more of a light purple in chrysotaenia. Here is a male chrysotaenia.

That is a beautiful fish. I love the bright colors!! Thanks brother this really helped.

 

[Duke4Life]

Good call on Reef Builders.

 

[chillinreefer]

This is a female. The colors are bland, the tail has no pattern or color, and she has a few false eye spots.

Now, here is a male. Brighter colors, the tail has color and patterning, and the pattern on the body is more intricate.

Regionally there are 2 species. In the Pacific it there is Halichoeres melanurus, whereas the Indian ocean sister species is H. chrysotaenia. The primary physical difference between these two is the tail pattern on the males. In melanurus the pattern is more 'linear' in chrysotaenia it is more spotted. There is also a slight color difference that is difficult to show entirely accurately in pics, but is quite noticeable side by side in person. The red stripes in the face of melanurus or more of a light purple in chrysotaenia. Here is a male chrysotaenia.

Question on these guys how much sand and what kind of sand do the need just incase they need to hide when scared or just in general for them

 

[mmarro99]

I can't give an i.d. a pic always helps.

Male melanurus.

Male Cirrhilabrus melanomarginatus.

How much does a black fin wrasse normally go for? I got mine for pretty cheap but saw a recent youtube video from the reef corner stating they are somewhat rare and were selling one slightly larger than mine for 200 plus[emoji50]

 

[eatbreakfast]

Question on these guys how much sand and what kind of sand do the need just incase they need to hide when scared or just in general for them

Enough to cover their bodies. An 1" of depth will suffice. For thoe with bare bottomed tanks a Tupperware container will be fine. Any grade finer than course will work.

 

[eatbreakfast]

How much does a black fin wrasse normally go for? I got mine for pretty cheap but saw a recent youtube video from the reef corner stating they are somewhat rare and were selling one slightly larger than mine for 200 plus[emoji50]

Males go for between $90--$150 on average, females can be found between $45-$65. In the last year or so they have been collected much more frequently.