Wrasse ID and question.

[matty0206]

I bought this wrasse a few days ago after watching it in the LFS for about a month and am wondering if the id as a McCoskers is correct? From what I have found on line it looks to be a McCoskers and I believe a female but wanted to get some opinions. If it is in fact a female McCoskers I would like to introduce a male into the tank but not sure how I would go about that and if it is a good idea. Here are a few crappy pics:




Thanks.

 

[nikon187]

Looks like a young male to me

 

[Rutrag]

Wrasse ID and question.

It's hard to tell without seeing the dorsal fin erect. If there is only one extended filament, it's a McCosker's. If there are more than one, it's a Carpenter's. I'm pretty confident it's a male regardless. The females tend to not have any pattern and don't come in very often unless part of a pair or trio.

 

[matty0206]

Ok, I will see if I can get a pic of the dorsal, I think there is only one filament. So are females hard to come by then?

 

[nikon187]

female flashers of any species are hard to come by. Maybe not eight lines lol. ( they all look extremly similar when female making it hard to know which one you have )

 

[matty0206]

It's weird, I was sure I had a female because in 3-4 days I had not seen either fins extended but I just noticed after staring for quite some time at him that he does have the large fins and in fact one filament so McCoskers he is! Thank you for the help.

One other question, if I see a female on DD or Blue Zoo should I trust their ID and go ahead? I would really like to have a pair at some point.
Oh and does it matter where they are from? I see Africa, Bali, Australia, Etc.

 

[evolved]

It has the characteristics of the McCoskeri family for sure, and appears to be a young male.

It's hard to tell without seeing the dorsal fin erect.

Correct. The dorsal and anal fins are needed for a positive ID.

If there is only one extended filament, it's a McCosker's.

Not necessarily. One filament does not rule out P. flavianalis. The coloration of the anal fin is also important. But I do agree on a young male, regardless.

female flashers of any species are hard to come by.

Correct, and difficult to ID correctly.

It's weird, I was sure I had a female because in 3-4 days I had not seen either fins extended but I just noticed after staring for quite some time at him that he does have the large fins and in fact one filament so McCoskers he is!

Again, it still could be a Yellow-fin. What is the coloration of the anal fin?

One other question, if I see a female on DD or Blue Zoo should I trust their ID and go ahead? I would really like to have a pair at some point.
Oh and does it matter where they are from? I see Africa, Bali, Australia, Etc.

Correct ID on females can be difficult. You can gamble it, but I wouldn't trust it 100% by any means. And no, region does not matter.