Blue tailed Wrasse?(Not Anampses femininus)

[KillerReef]

I saw a fish with the same colors as the Femininus on the tail today at the LFS, but it cut off sharply about mid way up the body and it was just a few bright blue stripes, not solid like the femininus on the tail, definitely a different fish. But I have searched everything on the internet and found nothing. Anybody have any thoughts? No, I was too stupid to get a pic...

 

[dvmsn]

 

[KillerReef]

That is a hawaiian cleaner wrasse, btw, very cool fish, but not what I saw today. I have never seen this wrasse before. Store owner and the wholesaler did not even know what it was. I'm not going to add a price because I think it was way undersold and I don't want price to affect anybody's guesses, but it was "sold" for under $100

 

[KillerReef]

Here is a pic of the femininus for those unfamiliar with the color:

See how the color fades on the tail, the one I saw today had a distinct "front" and "back". It didn't fade like that. And the tail was not solid. The front/head had white on it...

 

[reefjunkie42]

Blue spot tamarin? I think PIA had one a week or so ago

 

[KillerReef]

Thanks for the reply ReefJunkie, but not a blue spot, great guess though. In my search of a blue spotted tamarin I came across a pic of a Thicklip/Half and Half Wrasse, though the colors are not the same, they are representative of the markings on this wrasse. But the body is much longer and narrower more like the bluehead wrasse on the right in that link. The coloring is much brighter on the tail of the one I saw at the LFS, too. The break in color change and the white head are what I am referring to that link for.

I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing it up.

 

[KillerReef]

Shoot, totally forgot, this fish had a scissortail, too. Duh.

 

[Overboard]

Possible Match?

Possible Match?

It would be a long shot, but does it look like this?

 

[KillerReef]

That could be it, very similar. I only saw it from the top because it was being acclimated, and the tail was scissors, but that is extremely similar. What is that?

 

[KillerReef]

It looks to be a Royal Pencil Wrasse. Sweet fish, thanks for the info, Overboard...

 

[Overboard]

Found it at the link below and it seemed similar to your description. Like I said, a long shot, but I guess it happens. Good luck with it if you pick it up. I love them, but that genus is pretty tough to acclimate and keep healthy. I have only tried it with a more common variety once, with no luck.


http://************.com/2011/09/15/pseudojuloides-slender-wrasse/

 

[Overboard]

I just saw you think it may be a Royal Pencil Wrasse. That would be more likely.

Good luck!

 

[KillerReef]

I didn't pick it up, it was bought right out of the acclimation box. By a guy has no idea the difficulty it will be to meet its needs. I doubt he will keep it alive, he sounded like he is not on the forums. I hope I am wrong though.
I will keep one in the future, but not right away. I seem to have better luck with harder fish than easy ones, go figure. Thanks again for the reply. I had kind of given up on the hunt before your great guess....

 

[SDguy]

Labropsis xanthonata maybe?

Or some other similar wrasse... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/TubelipWrasses.htm

 

[KillerReef]

Good guess SD as it does have that blue, but I think Overboard got it with the Royal Pencil Wrasse.