first wrasse. color question

[Almenmarine]

Last week I spent hours and hours researching the type of wrasse I wanted to get. After reducing the list, I decided on the clown fairy (solar) wrasse. I just got it today, and I had a question on its color. In a lot of photos it was a very colorful fish. That's why I had chosen it. Looking at it today (still aclamating) it doesn't look like the fairys in the photos.its about 2 inches., maybe 2.25. Is it just stressed, and when it gets older, will its color start looking as beautiful as the ones in all these photos I see?

Thanks
Christian

 

[snorvich]

Well, the "blue group" of fairy wrasses, of which C. solorensis is one, will tend to lose some coloration absent a female. If the picture you saw was in the wild, there may be a difference in what you see at the LFS or your tank.

 

[Almenmarine]

Update. He is in the tank and his color seems to be comming out. Being only around 2 in, I'm going to assume he still has a lot of coloration to obtain as he grows. Pretty sure its a male

 

[Reefphile]

I agree. I believe wrasses use body color to attract mates. My posseum wrasse (on my avatar) goes from a deep ruby (when he's fighting with his mirror image in glass) to a light pinkish yellow/green when he is hunting. Your wrasse may color up once it get comfortable/accilimated with its new surroundings.

 

[Almenmarine]

I hope so. He is a cool little fish. I introduced 2 fire gobies with him also and they r exploring the tank =)

 

[small alien]

Pix?

 

[snorvich]

Ah, you are talking about acclimation coloration. They are scared and virtually without color when they are being transported. Although it will get better, over time, the intensity will diminish.