Calling fairy wrasse experts

[reefknight]

About a month ago I was in a LFS and bought what was described to me as being a male and female Pylei wrasse. These were transhipped from Vanuatu and had gorgeous colors. I even asked if they were sure that the male was actually a Pylei because it appeared to me to be a Pink Margin, due to the color of the edges of the fins. They told me that the Vanuatu species had more red coloration to the fins. A quick search and read an article and sure enough I read the same thing. So home they come!

Now after a few weeks I notice that the so called female, starts displaying(flashing) some really great coloration when feeding or when having a little spat with my female clownfish. The dorsal fin turns bright red and yellow and the tail turns yellow as well. Unless I am really misread, I do not believe that females flash color. So I'm starting to feel that I have two males of different species, just looking for clarification.


male


so called female - non displaying



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[LemonLemon]

yep.

the female is now a male Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus from Vanuatu.

 

[LargeAngels]

That male is a pink margin, not pylie and the bottom is a male/transitioning pylie.

 

[reefjunkie42]

either way nice fish!

 

[snorvich]

yep.

the female is now a male Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus from Vanuatu.

Yep. How they thought they were selling a pair is difficult to explain.

 

[96gts]

Like what they are saying, look like you have a male Red Margin in the 1st pic and a male Pylie in the 2nd pic. Be careful with the male Pylie once it's established, I had one that began very aggressive and almost killed my Lineatus. The Lineatus is about 1.5" bigger than the Pylie, and Pylie still win the fight.

 

[snorvich]

Like what they are saying, look like you have a male Red Margin in the 1st pic and a male Pylie in the 2nd pic. Be careful with the male Pylie once it's established, I had one that began very aggressive and almost killed my Lineatus. The Lineatus is about 1.5" bigger than the Pylie, and Pylie still win the fight.

Yep. But female Pylie is worse.

 

[piusma]

Interesting that my Pyle pair still got bullied by my labouti after almost in the tank for a year. It really shows every fish is slightly different in their personality.

 

[reefknight]

Thank you all for confirming my suspicions. I told my wife and son when we went in that day that I really felt that the one was a male Pink Margin and that the other was a Pylei, but the store argued that they hadn't ordered any Pink Margin's so they couldn't be.

I am begining to notice that the Pylei is asserting himself more everyday as a dominate in the tank. Would it be wise to add another species of fairy wrasse to the display at all or even the females for the species that I already have?

I'm also noticing that the Pink Margin has begun "chasing his tail" (swimming in a circle sometimes). I remember reading that someone had an issue at some point with a fairy wrasse doing this but have been unable to find the thread discussing it. Thoughts?