Help with wrasse identification

[g8rorchid]

I just purchased this guy. He was labeled as a mystery wrasse from Indonesia, but when I googled that, the fish looked just like a regular mystery wrasse. I think it's an earmuff wrasse. What do you think? .


I apologize for the quality of the pic, I can try to take more if needed. Also any info you have about this guy would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

 

[Scotch_c]

Colors are off for an earmuff wrasse. It should be more colorful. Maybe it's a female but it certainly isn't a mystery wrasse. Hope you didn't pay mystery wrasse price for it.


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[g8rorchid]

Thanks! If you google earmuff wrasse you can see pics of them with similar coloration. Are you familiar at all with them? I haven't been able to find much about temperament,reef safe, etc.

 

[hogfanreefer]

It's definitely an earmuff wrasse (H. melasmapomas)

 

[MMacro]

It's definitely an earmuff wrasse (H. melasmapomas)

+1
Colors are off due to stress.

 

[Moort82]

Thanks! If you google earmuff wrasse you can see pics of them with similar coloration. Are you familiar at all with them? I haven't been able to find much about temperament,reef safe, etc.

They are one of the larger halichoeres wrasse that you see and that makes them more of a risk with cuc. You'd probably be ok with larger shrimp like coral banded but smaller ones like sexy, bumblebee or possibly peppermints would be a risk. They might also go for snails and hermits in the same way that the odd halichoeres hortulanus would.
I haven't kept one but read most seem fine with tank mates including other halichoeres provided they are added when young, as when they reach maturity they are more likely to not accept newcomers.

So overall a very nice species that will be fine with all your corals but may come with some of the attributes of larger halichoeres.

 

[g8rorchid]

Great! Thank you all so much!