Wrasse ID please

[goose0211]

Was sold this as a Female Melanarus but beginning to wonder if it’s not an adorned…or colours not perfect due to photo on iPhone!
Thanks

 

[SaltyT]

It's not an adorned, the eye spots are wrong for that species. It looks like a female melanurus to me, how long have you had it?

 

[goose0211]

It's not an adorned, the eye spots are wrong for that species. It looks like a female melanurus to me, how long have you had it?

Thanks, I’ve had it about 4 months, was sold as a female Melanarus so perhaps they were right and I shouldnt doubt them! I meant to mention they did say it’s a Juvenille, how long are they classified as Juveniles and when would it start to turn into a male?

 

[nereefpat]

Does the face have any green, from the lower jaw to the eye?

 

[SaltyT]

Thanks, I’ve had it about 4 months, was sold as a female Melanarus so perhaps they were right and I shouldnt doubt them! I meant to mention they did say it’s a Juvenille, how long are they classified as Juveniles and when would it start to turn into a male?

Once it's over 2" it's no longer considered a juvenile. It's hard to say when it'll transition to male, the process could have already begun on the inside. A few early signs are fighting its reflection in the glass and posturing at other wrasses in the tank.

 

[goose0211]

Does the face have any green, from the lower jaw to the eye?

Not that I can tell, we’ll not obviously green anyway.

Once it's over 2" it's no longer considered a juvenile. It's hard to say when it'll transition to male, the process could have already begun on the inside. A few early signs are fighting its reflection in the glass and posturing at other wrasses in the tank.

It’s prob 2.5 inches so guess no longer a juvenile. No fighting etc as yet!

 

[DrOfWelshMagic]

Does she have a few (3-5) vertical stripes running vertical from the dorsal fin ?

 

[i cant think]

Was sold this as a Female Melanarus but beginning to wonder if it’s not an adorned…or colours not perfect due to photo on iPhone!
Thanks

To me, yes that is a melanurus however not a juvenile as saltyT said and to me I would say that’s a female adult melanurus from the size. Most of the smaller 4” Halichoeres will start to gain full adult coloration at 2” although it can be subtle changes if it’s going into the female coloration first. My Iridis’ eyespots slowly got spread apart more but I only recently realised it changed. I have yet to see if it’s all wrasse that start to change at 2” or if it’s just the ones that get to a max size of 4”. I assume it’s just ones with 4” max size because it would make more sense for a wrasse to change sex halfway to its max size instead of at max size.

 

[goose0211]

Does she have a few (3-5) vertical stripes running vertical from the dorsal fin ?

Nope, all horizontal, nothing vertical I can make out