Fairy wrasse ID

[triggreef]

I think it is either a orange back or a female solorensis (based solely on LA photo descriptions. But IDK.

It was sent to me by reefs2go, and labeled as the xmas wrasse that I ordered. They refunded my whole order so I ended up with this guy as a freebie. Clearly not the Halichoeres ornatissimus that I ordered. lol But they are supposed to be sending the new order this week to make up for the mistake.

 

[triggreef]

I'm leaning toward the female solorensis. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+369&pcatid=369

I wonder if this is going to cause me grief. I already have an established but passive male.

 

[evolved]

I think it is either a orange back or a female solorensis

Yes.

This is a messy arena of obscurity on these two, but this is C. aurantidorsalis IMO.

Note the ventral fins are quite long; a sign of a male and therefore rules out female solorensis.



H. ornatissimus is typically pretty ornery once mature; H. claudia is much nicer in temperament.

 

[ReeferBill]

awesome fish....

 

[triggreef]

Yes.

This is a messy arena of obscurity on these two, but this is C. aurantidorsalis IMO.

Note the ventral fins are quite long; a sign of a male and therefore rules out female solorensis.



H. ornatissimus is typically pretty ornery once mature; H. claudia is much nicer in temperament.

I haven't been able to find any claudia anywhere online or local. R2G is also the only online vendor I could find either one unfortunately. They'll probably send me a redline and mark it as an xmas anyway. We'll see I guess.

 

[eatbreakfast]

There is a Bali variant of C. cyanopleura that looks like this.

Colorful C. aurantidorsalis have a very prominent orange back. This fish has very clearly delineated coloring, if it were aurantidorsalis it would still have the orange back.

 

[arc eye]

I haven't been able to find any claudia anywhere online or local. R2G is also the only online vendor I could find either one unfortunately. They'll probably send me a redline and mark it as an xmas anyway. We'll see I guess.

Liveaquaria lists H. Claudia for sale, but appear to out of stock most of the time. Might want to set up an email alert with them.

 

[triggreef]

There is a Bali variant of C. cyanopleura that looks like this.

Colorful C. aurantidorsalis have a very prominent orange back. This fish has very clearly delineated coloring, if it were aurantidorsalis it would still have the orange back.

Yes the back is not very orange, more like an olive green/ yellowish. I do think it is a male after learning about the longer ventral fins.

Liveaquaria lists H. Claudia for sale, but appear to out of stock most of the time. Might want to set up an email alert with them.

I've been on the alert list for a good six months. Haven't seen it come up once.

 

[triggreef]

I actually did not mess with the photos at all, that is exactly how the coloring came out originally. It is very close to how it looks in person, just a little brighter in person. Very pretty fish no matter what it is exactly.

 

[triggreef]

Well I'd like to see thoughts, based on the behaviors after adding this guy to the display. Previously only fairys were a male exquisite who is the largest (in length at least) and a male solorensis. The exquisite would normally display and clear the front portionn of the tank chasing away the solorensis on a regular basis.

FF to adding this wrasse, all heck broke loose. No one bothered the new comer but my solorensis went crazy and attacked the previously dominant exquisite. To the point that for 2 days it was in constant hiding and the solorensis was continually hunting it.

I caught the solorensis in an acrylic trap and moved him to my frag tank until I can come up with a plan. All is well now within the display. Except the exquisite has some war wounds that should heal fine.

I'm sort of wondering if the solorensis maybe welcomed the new comer as his female and was protecting her from perceived threat? Other than that I don't know what to make of it.

 

[eatbreakfast]

If the Solorensis viewed the new fairy as his female it would be receiving a lot more attention from him than is currently being given.

The behavior you are noticing is just a change in the social dynamics of the tank. When the new wrasse was added the solorensis saw an opening to challenge the current dominant fish, and become the dominant fish himself. This is pretty normal for any animal that has a similar social setup.

Trying to reintroduce the aggressor once the exquisite has had a chance to heal may work, but also be prepared to remove one of the fish if it doesnt work out.

The new fish is a male, but is commonly sold as a female solorensis. If you look at the LA picture with a male solorensis you will see a picture of that fish being sold as the female. It is recognized by some experts as C. cf cyanopleura, but will likely be it's own species.

 

[R1ant04]

Whatever the new wrasse is, its beautiful. Sure wish I could get a messed up order like that lol. Interested in selling him?

 

[evolved]

Did you use an acclimation box when adding the new guy?

 

[triggreef]

If the Solorensis viewed the new fairy as his female it would be receiving a lot more attention from him than is currently being given.

The behavior you are noticing is just a change in the social dynamics of the tank. When the new wrasse was added the solorensis saw an opening to challenge the current dominant fish, and become the dominant fish himself. This is pretty normal for any animal that has a similar social setup.

Trying to reintroduce the aggressor once the exquisite has had a chance to heal may work, but also be prepared to remove one of the fish if it doesnt work out.

The new fish is a male, but is commonly sold as a female solorensis. If you look at the LA picture with a male solorensis you will see a picture of that fish being sold as the female. It is recognized by some experts as C. cf cyanopleura, but will likely be it's own species.

That all makes sense. I will probably wait a couple weeks and try the solorensis again. If I have to get him again, it wouldn't be the first fish I caught twice with the same trap.

So your saying the pic on LA is technically wrong then? I was thinking that because the female in their pic has the long ventral fins like mine does.

Whatever the new wrasse is, its beautiful. Sure wish I could get a messed up order like that lol. Interested in selling him?

Nope no deal.

Did you use an acclimation box when adding the new guy?

I did but not for long enough. I only used it the first day and let them (also an ornate leopard) out just before lights out. But I also got a late start on the day so they were only in the box a couple hours.

 

[triggreef]

There is a Bali variant of C. cyanopleura that looks like this.

Colorful C. aurantidorsalis have a very prominent orange back. This fish has very clearly delineated coloring, if it were aurantidorsalis it would still have the orange back.

On google search of C. cyanopleura bali... I found the exact fish listed as such available from http://www.aquacon.com/ReefSafeWrasses_saltwaterfish.html 2nd one down on the right. Hopefully I didn't violate any policies, just trying to show the pic...

 

[evolved]

So your saying the pic on LA is technically wrong then? I was thinking that because the female in their pic has the long ventral fins like mine does.

IMO, yes. Only male Cirrhilabrus develop long ventral fins.
The only correct photo I've seen is Tanaka's:

I did but not for long enough. I only used it the first day and let them (also an ornate leopard) out just before lights out. But I also got a late start on the day so they were only in the box a couple hours.

I tend to think had you waited a few days, you would likely have averted this. I do understand the balance of "how long do I keep the leopard" in the box though.