Sailfin Fairy Wrasse, a new species

[OrionN]

I have the opportunity to purchase this very beautiful wrasse, but cannot come up with the IF for him. Can anybody help?
This is not my picture but the wrasse is the same with the brilliant blue chest, whitish lower body with a brilliant fuchsia anal fin.

 

[cFloor]

I could be wrong, but I believe this is a hybrid. I had one that never showed his blue chest, only when startled or stressed.

 

[OrionN]

FWIW, he was sold to me as C. tonozukai.
The fuchsia anal fin and brilliant iridescence blue throat, even when not flashing, in addition to him swimming about and eating cause me to chance the buy without completely ID the species.
When through and look at the pictures of all the fairy wrasses at fishbase.org. The only species that is somewhat close is C. tonozukai.

cFloor,
Maybe your are right, or local variance of Tono's Fairy Wrasse. Did your wrasse only show blue when stressed? No blue when he is happy?

 

[OrionN]

The picture from the Fairy Wrasse Article by Dr. Hirozuki Tanaka back in 2006. He ID this wrasse as a New species, no name yet. I was hoping that we have a name for this species by now.

 

[OrionN]

An article specific about this species of Fairy Wrasse "Sailfin Fairy Wrasse" as named by Scott Michael, but no scientific name

https://reefs.com/2016/06/28/mysterious-sailfin-fairy-wrasse-collected-philippines/

 

[Dmorty217]

These were first offered widely about a year and a half ago. They tend to lose the blue chin in captivity just a FYI.

 

[OrionN]

Apparently a fairly easy wrasse to keep but aggressive.
Dmorty217,
Did you ever get one? How did you like it? Any experiences to share?

 

[OrionN]

Here is my Very first Fairy Wrasse. How can I not get him? Please excuse my dirty tank.

 

[Cliving1]

Dirty tank aside.... those wrasse look awesome!

Nice flame angel too

 

[d-man]

They lose their color in most tanks.

 

[OrionN]

They lose their color in most tanks.

Thanks. I plan to keep him in my 320 with a few females of either this species or closely related species. I also will try to keep this group with another group of Flasher wrasse of yet to be determine species. I am trying to see if I can give him enough stimulation to keep his coloration.
It seem like I am going to put the Flasher wrasses in first, then the Sailfin females, and this male in shortly after the female, within days as soon as they are comfortable.

Anybody keep this wrasse long term?

 

[zooman72]

Dirty tank aside.... those wrasse look awesome!

Nice flame angel too

I would agree... :hammer:

 

[JTJreef]

Beautiful, I think identification is in the works right now to give this fish a name. I’ve liked them since I first saw the pictures. Worried about aggression though. Hope he does well for you! Cover even the smallest holes. They will find them and jump out

 

[OrionN]

More search show that this wrasse is a relatively hardy wrasse, easy to keep but his is on the aggressive side as far as Fairy Wrasse is concern. One well know wrasse, evolved, put this species on the aggressive at about the same level as Scott's Fairy Wrasse. Will see how he will do on my tank. Eventually I may put him in my 320. However, if he is an aggressive one, I may just leave him in my 65 with the flame angels.

Some information on this Species on this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2589114

 

[ca1ore]

Been seeing a lot of these blue throat sailfin wrasses recently. Started out in the $200 range, more recently I saw them for $125. Tempted .....

 

[OrionN]

I did not see the wrasse flash at all yesterday. He is eating well, both frozen and flakes. He seem to be very hardy and robust. Since most people indicated that they loose color after a while, I decided to tape a mirror at the end of the tank for a time. He flashed at his image multiple time. The color got noticeably darker when he flashes.
I think I will tape the mirror on the tank several hours a day. Hopefully this will keep him from loosing color. I update and let you guys know if this work or not.

Anybody keep this wrasse with other fairy or flasher wrasses? in a smallish (65 gal) or larger 300+ tanks?

 

[OrionN]

I would really love for people who know about, or keep this wrasse to post and give me some pointers. First hand experiences are especially welcome.
What I found so far is that this wrasse is typical in behavior and aggressiveness "similar to fairy wrasses in the Whipfin/Tono's complex" which does not help me a great because I never keep fairy wrasse before.
In my search I got to a compatible chart by Hunter (evolved). According to this chart, he likely not tolerate any other flasher or fairy wrasse. I hope this may not hold true in a 320 gal tank, because I think the the Wrasse Bug have bite me and I like very much to have more than ONE single fairy wrasse in my tank.
In a sense, it seem like I am looking for some one to post that "Yes, you can keep him with 10 other wrasses" . I see this type of posting a lot, just never though that I would be one of the one who is doing it.
On the other hand, I have more than 1 tank, and may just keep this one where he is right now, use a mirror to keep his color (I hope) and plan for a few more docile but extremely beautiful new wrasses in my 320 DT.

 

[OrionN]

He is flashing at his image regularly. I think I will inly leave the mirror on for about 3 hrs each day. Not only him but my Flame angel pair and my Yellow Tang are reacting to the mirror also.
In thin tank (65 gal) I also have 2 Maganifica anemones and a Gigantea anemone. Will see how well he is at avoid get eaten by my Gigantea. I am not too worry about my Magnifica, but Gigantea can be a dangerous fish eater. My 320 DT will have a lot of carpets, both Haddoni and Gigantea. If they cannot avoid these carpets, then I will have to set up my 120 just to keep a few Fairy and Flasher wrasses

 

[Cliving1]

My coral beauty and possum wrasse manage to avoid my haddoni (6-10in diameter) which covers a large portion of my IM40. Honesty I sit there and watch them dance around the edges and it freaks me out, they get soooo close to it but never seem to touch it. I always walk up to the tank slowly now because I dont want anyone to spook, and make a wrong course change into the haddoni.

 

[OrionN]

My Blue throat Wrasse pectorali fin on the R touch my blue Gigantea just now. He was stony enough to escaped with one of the Gigantea tentacle hanging on him. Hope that teach him to stay away.