Wrasse ID please

[A sea K]

This is at my LFS
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...8IFw1CPwCUM/s640/blogger-image-1675855667.jpg
They have him listed as T. hardwicke but I'm pretty certain that is incorrect.

H. argus possibly?

 

[revaltion131]

Definitely not that thalassoma. I think you're right, looking at pictures. Beautiful fish.

 

[G4546]

I agree that T. Hardwicke might not be the best label. Although IDing wrasse (non-reef safe) can be tricky like a lot of fish species it's easy to confuse with others. Take Macropharyngodon meleagris for example. One could label that one as a male and have a good shot (or atleast a better shot than T. Hardwicke)

I will dig a bit deeper through the books, but maybe something I could offer would be ... Something from the Halichoeres genus?

We have a great community of some wrasse "junkies" ... Hopefully they chime in

 

[A sea K]

I got pretty excited at first thinking It to be Macropharyngodon ornatus but closer scrutiny leads me to think otherwise. Still looking here and the more I look the more I feel it is indeed H. argus.
My LHS is closed tomorrow so Tues will be the earliest I can get a first hand look and possibly more pictures if I cant get a definitive answer by then.

 

[evolved]

Yes, H. argus is correct.

 

[A sea K]

Yes, H. argus is correct.

Thankyou.
Anyone have firsthand experience with this fish? He looks fantastic in the pictures but I'm not sure what to expect in the long haul. He is also rather expensive for a Halichoeres wrasse.

I'll go with the assumption he is relatively reef safe, should play well with others of his own kind at least while a juvenile. And from what little info I can find should also be one of the smaller Halichoeres wrasses at just over 4" adult length.

 

[oceansexotics]

Thanks

Thanks

I appreciate the help ID'ing this amazing creature. For what it's worth we had it labeled M. ornatus not T. hardwicke. Info on it is difficult enough to come by though, that I'm not sure there would be a significant price difference between M. ornatus and H. Argus

 

[evolved]

Thankyou.
Anyone have firsthand experience with this fish? He looks fantastic in the pictures but I'm not sure what to expect in the long haul. He is also rather expensive for a Halichoeres wrasse.

I'll go with the assumption he is relatively reef safe, should play well with others of his own kind at least while a juvenile. And from what little info I can find should also be one of the smaller Halichoeres wrasses at just over 4" adult length.

First hand experience no, but indirect and collective experience yes.

Should be very similar to a melanurus in behavior and attitude, meaning your assumption is pretty spot on.

 

[A sea K]

Thanks everyone for your input.
James, too late for me to make in today as I still have some things left to take care of this afternoon. I have tomorrow off so I'll come by and check him out then.

 

[oceansexotics]

Yeah you gotta make it in soon and check out this aberrant flame. He's my favorite fish so far.