Wrasse vs. Fairy Wrasse... What's the difference?

[revsgirl]

What is the difference between the Wrasse and the Fairy Wrasse? Pics would be great!! :bigsmile:

 

[MikeB]

- Wrasses are a Family
- Fairy Wrasse is a species that belongs to the Wrasse family

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

What are the distinct differences?

 

[jaytizzle]

Wrasse is a broad family of fishes. They are generally small, streamlined fish with fancy colors in the males.

Fairy wrasses are the Cirrhilabrus genus of wrasses. When I think fairy wrasse the first ones that comes to mind are Cirrhilabrus jordani - Hawaiian Flame Wrasse - and Cirrhilabrus exquisitus - Exquisite Fairy Wrasse. These are commonly kept in the aquarium trade. The other common wrasses are the Flasher wrasses. These are of the genus Paracheilinus.

If you want a good bit of info on wrasses, look here: Browse Species in Wrasses

 

[KLR]

here is my fairy..tricolor....my new favorite fish!

 

[revsgirl]

Thanks for the info! And, KLR, your new fairy is gorgeous! Used one of those pics on our facebook fan page today!! :wink: You should go check it out!!

 

[KLR]

Really..

Awsome!!!!

 

[UFfishingirl]

I love my wrasses. They are my favorite fish in my tank. Blue headed wrasse and Rainbow Cortez Wrasse.

 

[detguy123]

Wrasse is a broad family of fishes. They are generally small, streamlined fish with fancy colors in the males.

Fairy wrasses are the Cirrhilabrus genus of wrasses. When I think fairy wrasse the first ones that comes to mind are Cirrhilabrus jordani - Hawaiian Flame Wrasse - and Cirrhilabrus exquisitus - Exquisite Fairy Wrasse. These are commonly kept in the aquarium trade. The other common wrasses are the Flasher wrasses. These are of the genus Paracheilinus.

If you want a good bit of info on wrasses, look here: Browse Species in Wrasses

could not state that much better...also for the op check out the fairy wrasse library thread that marvinsreef and i started it is a sticky at the top of the saltwater fish forum

 

[revsgirl]

could not state that much better...also for the op check out the fairy wrasse library thread that marvinsreef and i started it is a sticky at the top of the saltwater fish forum

Thanks.. I did. We featured the Fairy Wrasse on the R2R Facebook Fanpage today, and used some of the photos posted! Beautiful!

 

[Sikryd]

Down and dirty -

Fairy wrasses - float and swim like a helicopter

Flashers, well...flash - more streamers and stuff on their fins vs. the others. Ie. their colors "pop"

Leopard wrasses are generally more timid, harder to get to switch over to frozen foods, but really neat to watch and beautiful coloration

There are too many species to list. Those are a couple of the more common "tank" size and reef friendly ones. There are a LOT of wrasses that aren't reef friendly, so be sure to do your homework.

There are ~ 500 species in 60 genera. So they are very diverse.

Wrasses are my favorite fish for a variety of reasons - Top though are:
swim all over the tank foraging all day.
are fun to watch swim.
are generally smaller for us guys with small than 300g tanks - so they look like they "fit" in a smaller tank (ie. aspect ratio)
generally get along with everyone
are neat to watch change from a juvi/female to male depending on the species.