Sexing a McCoskers Wrasse
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Well I know the difference, but pics would break the family friendly rule of the forums.
Sorry had to...
)
You just can't do anything without encouraging benny 
Good reading and info in this thread;
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f56/flasher-wrasse-photo-library-25905.html
McCosker's males have a filament spine, which females lack, as shown here:
However, I read on one of the threads recently that immature females will become male if there is no male in the tank.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f56/flasher-wrasse-photo-library-25905.html
McCosker's males have a filament spine, which females lack, as shown here:
However, I read on one of the threads recently that immature females will become male if there is no male in the tank.
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ashton
Active Member
I spent like 3 days trying to find good pics or a way to tell the difference and I wasnt able to really find much. I just got a trio of McCosker wrasses about 3 weeks ago and with my Trio the male is larger then the 2 females and the male is much more colorful. There is also more color in the males dorsal fin compared to the females. I will try and get some pics later today when I get home from work.
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ReeferRob
Give me your Brains!
When the term "filament" is used are we referring to something that actually flashes or eluminates like a filament in a light bulb.......or the long stringer coming from the top fin. That one thing that has always troubled me.
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ReeferRob
Give me your Brains!
Based on that info, I had a female and just added a male and female a few minutes ago. Now I have a trio, one male and two females...........thats if I guessed correctly.
(This is where you picture me crossing my fingers!!!!)
No, the spine does not eluminate. The term flasher is used because when the male displayes (as in the picture above), the dorsal and anal fins are spread to "flash" the maximum color display. the spine is the "stringer" that comes off the top (dorsal) fin. Females have similar coloration, but lack the spine.
Not necessarily dependable, depending on where/how you acquired them. I ordered a trio of McCosker's from Vivid several years ago, which was supposed to contain a male and two females and ended up with three Yellowfin Flashers, all male. About a year ago, I was in a local LFS, and purchased what I thought were two female McCosker's (neither I nor the LFS owner could see any evidence of the dorsal spine, and both lacked color), and went I got them home and placed them in the same tank, both began to display and both showed spines, so I ended up with two males.
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ReeferRob
Give me your Brains!
Correct the spine does not eluminate. And I do understand the concept of "flashing"
Ive been confused this whole time because the wrasse in my tank while flashing will display some elumination in different areas of the fish and fins. Thats why Ive been thrown off when I read a description of a fish having 1-4 filaments. Ive been associating it with elumination when it is in reference to the spines coming from the top fin.
detguy123
I'm a pain in the wrasse
sorry to hear that u have been confused on this now when falshers flash the color on them does cchange but to answer your question a female mccosker has a light overall orange color with a white underside and has very faint lines on the side of the body and lacks the fialmant (dorsal fin spike)..the males are a orange/yellow color on the body and have a yellow dorsal fin spike (filament) the anal fin is red on the outer part and some have red on the soft rayed part of the dorsal just depends on location the males have blue lines that run down the side of the body this color get intense when flashing..the yellow fin flasher (Paracheilinus flavianalis) get confused with the mccosker's alot it looks alot like it but its dorsal fin spikes are red and its anal fin is all yellow...females of carpenteri, flavanalis, and mccsokeri all look the same and are hard to tell apart...also when a male is swiming without its fins spread it is hard to tell if it is a yellow fin or mccosker...wish i had pics of females but i don't....i might be able to get some i need to email someone and see if he has some..i hope that helps some and it did nt confuse u but mccosker carpenters and yellow fin get mislabled quite often
Neither of these are great (or even really all that good), but here are a couple pictures of a female McCosker's wrasse that I had - unfortunately, her fins are not spread in either picture.
I
inactive
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You wanna do WHAT to your wrasse?
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OP
ReeferRob
Give me your Brains!
Thanks bud, you've always been a big help with these beautiful species. The confusion is all my fault.
Why didn't someone warn me that once you turn 30 your brain begins to betray you??
Once I had all three together it was more than obvious what the difference was between them and who is who!
Neither of these are great (or even really all that good), but here are a couple pictures of a female McCosker's wrasse that I had - unfortunately, her fins are not spread in either picture.
Very helpful, thank you.
Come on bro, you know I love a nice wrasse!
