Where's the fairy wrasse?

[TJ's Reef]

Sure seems to be a whole lot of ?'s as to the real ID on these on these particular Wrasses, I have what I believe to be Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis but was purchased as female C. solorensis and has been re-ID'd as C. cyanopleura here by our Wrasse Guys. LA and a few other sites still have these listed as female Solar Wrasses and keep adding to the misinformation/confusion as to its real ID.

These pics below of mine were taken from early last Spring and late Summer and continually as they mature have gained more and more of a Gold patch on sides. Unfortunately have not taken any recent pics, though probably should. I would really like to know exactly what they are...

Cheers, Todd

 

[eatbreakfast]

Sure seems to be a whole lot of ?'s as to the real ID on these on these particular Wrasses, I have what I believe to be Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis but was purchased as female C. solorensis and has been re-ID'd as C. cyanopleura here by our Wrasse Guys. LA and a few other sites still have these listed as female Solar Wrasses and keep adding to the misinformation/confusion as to its real ID.

These pics below of mine were taken from early last Spring and late Summer and continually as they mature have gained more and more of a Gold patch on sides. Unfortunately have not taken any recent pics, though probably should. I would really like to know exactly what they are...


Cheers, Todd

Yours is this particular species in question. Not C. cyanopleura, but rather C. cf. cyanopleura. This a species not currently scientifically described but closely related to C. cyanopleura, so the cf. is to confer, or compare to C. cyanopleura. It is also closely related to C. aurantidorsalis, as they in the same complex of species.

C. cf. cyanopleura is found in Bali and its range overlaps thatofC. cyanopleura.

 

[CoralNerd]

TJ's Reef
That's the exact fish I have reserved at my LFS...looks beautiful

 

[CoralNerd]

I thought the colors seemed brighter than the Live Aquaria false male no wonder.

I plan to get the male Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse and also put in two Yellow Coris Wrasse.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Thanks for the response bud, so just a geographical morph or even the possibility of being a hybrid species of the two ??? Does not really matter as they are one of my favorites already. The dominant of the two gets a very bright Gold patch on back and is a gorgeous contrast to the Blue and Dark Rose Red surrounding colors. Mostly get along well each other and the male Solar Wrasse except normal at food introduction jousting. My Male Hawaiian Bicolor Anthia still dominates the Planktevores in my Reeftank though.


Cheers, Todd

 

[evolved]

Yours is this particular species in question. Not C. cyanopleura, but rather C. cf. cyanopleura. This a species not currently scientifically described but closely related to C. cyanopleura, so the cf. is to confer, or compare to C. cyanopleura. It is also closely related to C. aurantidorsalis, as they in the same complex of species.

C. cf. cyanopleura is found in Bali and its range overlaps thatofC. cyanopleura.

Agree, and I recall cf. cyanopleura being my last ID on this as well.

 

[evolved]

so just a geographical morph

Most likely a genetic morph, but until someone does DNA testing we won't know.

 

[mrcoffee2]

I love my mccoskers wrasse (fairy) but it makes it really hard to spot feed corals. I have to wait an hour before the lights turn on while it is sleeping to feed else he will pick the food off everything

 

[CoralNerd]

I love my mccoskers wrasse (fairy) but it makes it really hard to spot feed corals. I have to wait an hour before the lights turn on while it is sleeping to feed else he will pick the food off everything

Try putting a plastic cup over the coral with the food inside.

 

[evolved]

McCoskers is of the Paracheilinus genus, and therefore a flasher wrasse; not a fairy (which are the Cirrhilabrus genus).

 

[mrcoffee2]

McCoskers is of the Paracheilinus genus, and therefore a flasher wrasse; not a fairy (which are the Cirrhilabrus genus).

Thanks for the correction!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most likely a genetic morph, but until someone does DNA testing we won't know.

Actually genetic testing has been done on this fish and about a dozen other Cirrhilabrus species. But whats interesting is that genetics is not clearing up the question of speciation as well as we would like. In many of the wrasses, not just Cirrhilabrus, that is showing that fish which are readily recognized as different species are not significantly separated by genetic differences. Scientists conject that meristic and morphological differnces are outpacing genetic mutation, yet still enough evidence exists to assume speciation as valid.

Add the above info to the frequency this fish is collected and available suggests it is more than just a genetic morph, such as an aberrant specimen would be, and the fact that it overlaps range with C. cyanopleura yet remains it's distinct characteristics suggests it is more than just a regional variant whose characteristics change due to no overlap. It also wouldnt be a hybrid as hybrids in Cirrhilabrus are not all that common, only occuring among 2 species, and when it does occur not with anywhere near the frequency C. cf. cyanopleura is collected.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

Never got a solid answer on the diease that killed all my wrasses

 

[eatbreakfast]

Never got a solid answer on the diease that killed all my wrasses

I am unaware of any wrasse specific diseases, in fact I have found wrasses to be more resilient than most fishes due to many burying in the sand at night and those that dont sleep in the sand produce a mucus cocoon thatseemsto provide some added protection against certain parasites.

If you could maybe mention the complete stock you had, the symptoms of the affected fish, the specimens that died, which fish survived, along with tank size and filtration perhaps more light can be shed on the nature of the deaths

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I have tangs clowns chromis mandrain and at the time had pair of ruby heads, sixline, social, lubboki, and added in a red sea mccoskers the day before. No symptoms the night before everyone out happy looking great and eating. Next morning all wrasses on sand bed still very nicely colored but mouths gaping and dead. All wrasses same way all other fish alive. four cleaner shrimp peps massive clean up crew emeralds heavy coral mostly sps running 75 gallon tank 20 gallon sump reef oct skimmer, kessil lights a360 water pristine.