My wrasses, need help with IDs

[Agathos]

Hi,

Here are a few of my wrasses.

This is an unknown, assumed juvenile Cirrhilabrus. Can anyone identify it? It is red with a black oculus near the tail. Btw, in the backgroung the head of my ghost eel (Echidna brummeri) can be seen poking out of a rock.

Possibly my favorite wrasse, my Macropharyngodon ornatus.

Another unknown, but I believe it might be a juvenile Halichoeres hortulanus. It's got some strange white blotches which seem to be internal, especially near the tail region. It has been like that since I received it in a shipment from Indonesia about a week ago.

Any finally, the fish that shouldn't be there: Cheilinus undulatus. This came in the same shipment and was only marked as Cheilinus sp. I assumed it would be another species from this genus. My plan now is to keep it in my 400 gallon for as long as possible, and then have it donated to a public aquarium. It is actually quite gorgeous with its clear blue eyes.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The first pic is definitely a female Cirrhilabrus species, though an exact id is difficult at this age. Probably lubbocks, flavidorsalis, or rubripinnis, but there are a few others with similar looking females.

The next 3 pics are correctly identified. The hortulanus seems to be missing scales on his side. The spots on the tail, are they raised? It could be a harmless virus, I forget the name, something like lymphocystis.

Good luck with the Napoleon.

 

[Agathos]

Thanks, TJ.

It's going to be exciting to see how the juvenile Cirrhilabrus develops as it turns into male.

No, the spots on the hortulanus is not raised. They actually seem like they are "buried" and lies under the skin. Like an endoparasite of some sort.

The Napoleon has settled nicely into my tank and is now eating everything that is offered. It is only 4-5 inches yet, so it has a good life in my tank. It is going to be interesting to see how quickly it grows, how soon it becomes a menace (if ever), and how easy it will be to give it a better home when that time comes. In the mean time I am really enjoying it. Not too happy with the exporter who hadn't identified it, though, I suppose they refrained from correctly identifying it in their stock lists to be able to pass it off to a customer :/.

 

[evolved]

The first pic is definitely a female Cirrhilabrus species, though an exact id is difficult at this age. Probably lubbocks, flavidorsalis, or rubripinnis, but there are a few others with similar looking females.

The next 3 pics are correctly identified. The hortulanus seems to be missing scales on his side. The spots on the tail, are they raised? It could be a harmless virus, I forget the name, something like lymphocystis.

Good luck with the Napoleon.

+1 to all of that.

But I'll put my poker chips on lubbocki; I see a few subtle clues which is begging to hint at such.

 

[Agathos]

evolved,

Thanks, that is one of my favorite wrasses so I hope you guys are correct