Let Me ID Your Wrasse!

[Ben jammin]

I thought it might like to eat inverts just from watching him(I'm gonna assume it's a male since its so colorful). But I also have pair of yellow coris wrasses, pair of Melanurus wrassses so I already expect that. I also have an exquisite and a flame wrasse. Everyone seems to play nicely so far in my 200DD. Thanks again for your help! I feel very fortunate to have acquired this seemingly rare fish.

That's a gorgeous fish. Congrats on your find. Curious where you got it, what they labeled it as, and how much he was?

 

[Flashy Fins]

Wow, stunning fish! Do you mind sharing how much you paid?

What was it sold to you/labeled as (if anything)?

(Looks like I'm slow to post; same questions as previous poster.)

 

[eatbreakfast]

Wow, stunning fish! Do you mind sharing how much you paid?

What was it sold to you/labeled as (if anything)?

(Looks like I'm slow to post; same questions as previous poster.)

I've seen them offered as cocktail wrasse and can range between $50-$200 retail depending on size and supplier

 

[Flashy Fins]

A Google image search seems to reveal that particular specimen as cream of the crop! MoReefs, I hope you'll share photos and experiences as he grows. Very lucky find!

 

[MoReefs]

Thanks guys! My LFS(Ozarks Reef Aquaria in Nixa) came across it. They had special ordered someone a two spot hogfish I believe, and this is what he got. He almost sent it back. But I called dibs as soon as I saw it! Got it for 33% mark up from his cost(Not a lot )
Not even a week of being in my tank I can "pet" him a lot already
and when I'm working in the tank he is follow my hands all around, I have to swat him away if I'm trying to glue coral cause he tries to touch it.

 

[MoReefs]

Here is one more video of him ...
Also he will change colors pretty fast from all yellow, to orange, to red. Super curious fish and very interactive.

 

[Ben jammin]

Well, you definitely lucked out. I think that might be the coolest, prettiest fish I've seen in the trade. I'd love to have that little guy far more than a thousand dollar femininus wrasse or any of the other "holy grails". I am green with envy!

 

[MoReefs]

Well, you definitely lucked out. I think that might be the coolest, prettiest fish I've seen in the trade. I'd love to have that little guy far more than a thousand dollar femininus wrasse or any of the other "holy grails". I am green with envy!

Thank you, I feel the same way for sure! My friend that has the store I got it from says I should try to sell it for $1,000+ Which would be a nice return, I said no way! He is defiantly the gem of my reef.

 

[Ben jammin]

That's the funny thing about wrasses. If they're all known in the trade they can go for a LOT of money, like the femininus. But if they're not, if they're some weird species that no one's ever seen, they get mislabeled as something ordinary and you can get them for $30 or $40. One of the coolest fish I ever had was a Xenojulis margaritaceus. Really funky green wrasse with some pink facial and fin markings and some silver scales. Shaped a little like yours. LFS had it labeled as a "green coris wrasse" for $35, even though my 11-year old daughter could even tell it wasn't a coris wrasse. Sadly, it didn't make it as it had damaged mouth parts from shipping. I'm still on the lookout for another...

 

[Ben jammin]

BTW, are we are that is not a species of Cheilinus? Looks an awful lot like it to me.

 

[MoReefs]

The eye pattern and lips look more like that, but the dorsal fin is closer to Pteragogus enneacanthus. Btw, the one in my tank defiantly has fangs!

 

[evolved]

I'm sure it's a Pteragogus and not a Cheilinus, but I'm still not 100% committed to P. enneacanthus. I agree it probably is.

 

[ksfulk]

Sold as a "red wrasse" at the LFS. I know its a leopard, but couldnt find one that has this much red in it. Thought maybe its in transition. Thoughts?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sold as a "red wrasse" at the LFS. I know its a leopard, but couldnt find one that has this much red in it. Thought maybe its in transition. Thoughts?

It's a female Macropharyngodon ornatus, ornate leopard wrasse. Their base color is red.

 

[rlman41299]

No ID on this fish at all, not sure this is even a wrasse, but it seems to move and act like one.

I need to look out for this one. I need one in my tank.

 

[JerSaint]

Was sold to me as a Red Headed Salon Fairy Wrasse, were they right?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Was sold to me as a Red Headed Salon Fairy Wrasse, were they right?

It's a fish often sold as a female solerensis, but is actually C. cf. cyanopleura.

 

[hinovak]

Alright wrasse experts, saw this picture of a wrasse a guy caught with a fly rod. I believe he was fishing the seychelles islands. It looks awesome, and I was wondering what it is, and if there is anything similar in the aquarium trade. Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Alright wrasse experts, saw this picture of a wrasse a guy caught with a fly rod. I believe he was fishing the seychelles islands. It looks awesome, and I was wondering what it is, and if there is anything similar in the aquarium trade. Thanks!

It's a male Thalasomma purpureum. They occasionally make their way into the trade. There are quite a few Thalasommas that are common in the hobby.

 

[Duke4Life]

Was sold to me as a Red Headed Salon Fairy Wrasse, were they right?

Enjoy the blue while you can, as it transitions that red on its head takes over