Green wrasse but but not a Green Wrasse

[Avi]

I am hoping that someone can help me identify a wrasse that's green in color but definitely isn't a Green Coris Wrasse. I suppose the best way to describe it is that it seem to have some relation to the Dragon Wrasse as far as head structure and swimming pattern is concerned. The specimen I have seen is about 3.5 inches long. The body is longer in appearance than a Dragon Wrasse and is similar to the Green Coris. Thanks.

 

[Amphiprion]

Well, the green "coris" is Halichoeres chloropterus. You say your fish more closely resembles a dragon wrasse, right? You do know that the overall head shape, striations, etc change as the fish grow older. The head is less broad and the "forehead" portion is much more prominent.
Here is an example the same Halichoeres chloropterus I am referring to.

 

[Avi]

I don't have the fish...yet. I have a hold on it at a fish store where they didn't know anything about it. But, I wanted to know more about it before I put it in my reef. The fish in the pic isn't it, Amph...for one thing, the eyes of the fish in question are green....Hmmmm....I thought the eyes are green and I'm going to have to check that, but I did find this fish at the website you posted...and thanks for that, by the way...This may well be the fish. The one in question may be a juvenile since its green is more intense. Take a look:

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/PicturesSummaryV2.cfm?ID=5609&pic=Nomac_u2.jpg

It is related to the Dragon Wrasse (or Earthmover)

 

[Amphiprion]

Ah. For some reason I was looking in Xyrichthys instead of Novaculichthys. I think it is because here, we call these wrasses dragon wrasses also.

 

[Avi]

I watched the fish in the store for a while. It didn't seem to behave like an "earthmover." It swam in a way that was in "fits and starts" in the Dragon Wrasse manner but it didn't pay any particular attention to the substrate. I wonder if it's reef safe and what their ultimate size might be.

 

[Gobie]

If it is the one in that photo itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s common name is an emerald wrasse and they are not reef safe.

 

[Avi]

Gobie...do you know specifically what it is that makes them a threat to a reef?

 

[Gobie]

It will snack on invertebrates, starfish and they can get to be around 12 inches long. You can try and put it in a reef if you donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t have inverts but they also dig looking for food and turning over rocks on the bottom like a red coris wrasse aka yellow tail wrasse. I wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t do it they also become aggressive towards other wrasse. I have never had one this is from what I have read. I wanted to try a yellow tail wrasse until I saw an adult and realized why I wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t want that in my reef. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s pretty much the same thing they look harmless when they are small.