FAQs on Halichoeres Wrasse Identification Related Articles: Halichoeres Wrasses, Related FAQs: Halichoeres 1, Halichoeres 2, Halichoeres Behavior, Halichoeres Compatibility, Halichoeres Selection, Halichoeres Systems, Halichoeres Feeding, Halichoeres Disease, Halichoeres Reproduction, Wrasses, Wrasse Selection, Wrasse Behavior, Wrasse Compatibility, Wrasse Feeding, Wrasse Diseases,

Wrasse ID? 11/15/09 Hi, <Hello Amanda> I recently bought a wrasse from a local pet store. They had it labeled as a Christmas wrasse. I purchased it thinking it was because the colorings look just like a Christmas Wrasse. The pet store told me they are mostly reef safe though with caution around small inverts. I researched a Christmas Wrasse to get their exact care needs and started noticing that none of the pictures of them looked like this one I have. I read around on your site and finally found one that maybe looks like the one I have...a Tubelip wrasse. Please tell me if I have a Christmas or Tubelip or something completely different. Is this fish that I have reef safe? <Not with ornamental shrimp for sure.> Where can I find specifics on its care? <Right here. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeresbestart.htm> I haven't had much luck so far. I have attached a couple of pictures of my wrasse. Sorry if the pictures are not that great, but was hard to get a good picture of the wrasse without one of my six camera hog tangs getting in the shot as they were swarming in a group in front of my camera. <Amanda, the Christmas Wrasse (Halichoeres ornatissimus) is very likely what you have. Do keep in mind there are many color variations both depending on age of the fish, and area of collection. A few areas these fish are found are Johnston Island, Marcus Island (Japan), Marquesas Island, Moiku Manu Oahu (Bob, spelling? I'm sure you've been diving there.), and Pokai Bay, Hawaii, and all have a slightly different color variation. <<Mmm, agreed re variation. I think this is actually a Halichoeres argus. BobF>> Thanks so much for your help! <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)> Amanda

Wrasse ID 11/15/2009 Hi Bob, <Hey James!> I looked at the species you mentioned on Fish Base and when comparing photos of the ornate, I leaned that way. Can be difficult in accurately ID'ing these guys. <Oh yes!> See here what I was looking at re argus. http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=4857 Thanks for your valuable input. James <And you for yours. BobF>

Halichoeres margaritaceus A Real "Mystery" Wrasse...(Halichoeres ID) 1/15/09 Hello and I hope all is well with you! <And I wish the same to you!> I have emailed twice before asking after fish I haven't been able to get much info on and been pleased with what I've gotten. So, here is yet another email that will hopefully get the same results. <I feel no pressure...no pressure! Scott F. here tonight!> I work in a strip mall and there is a generic chain pet store in it. I use it for food and scan the fish section every once in awhile. I admit that I despise the idea of buying from the store's livestock section as the employees are often inept at best, shrimp not eating starfish is one of the wonderful things I've been told (I have a Harlequin and I had to return a CC star because the shrimp wasn't interested and I had no intention of keeping the star long-term, not to mention they told me the star wouldn't eat corals when I asked out of curiousity). I've been going once a week for the past couple of weeks and during those two weeks, they have had a "mystery" Halichoeres wrasse. <I LOVE Halichoeres wrasses...and I love a good mystery. My favorite group of fishes.> I've looked all over your page, Fishbase, and more, and the best match I found, though far from exact, is H. margaritaceus. When I asked the employee about it, she had to go ask the manager. He told me that the fish is a "Sea Grass Wrasse" which it clearly is not. The animal in question is about 3" so I thought it was possibly a juvenile, so I checked to make sure the Sea Grass Wrasse doesn't have a juvenile phase that looked like this fish. From what I could find, it doesn't. <Ahh, the danger of common names- a number of species of various genera go by this moniker! It's a bit tough to determine what species you're talking about based on this...A photo would really help! I'm thinking about H. chloropterus as a candidate. This species is actually found in seagrass/macroalgae biotope. Of course, this species looks nothing like a H. margaritaceus, so I'm really grasping at straws here!> So, after that long back-story, I find myself very interested in purchasing this fish and I know I can sustain a smaller Halichoeres quite easily, already having experience with an H. chrysus in a smaller tank, but I am understandably wary of purchasing a fish that I can't find much information about or even ID for certain. <I agree with this thinking! It's always a good idea to research a fish before you purchase it...That cute little baby wrasse could grow up to be a big old "tank wrecker"!> The fish is eating the food fed by the shop, but it is a little thin for my taste. The tank it's in now is probably ~20 gallons at best with some sand, fake rock, and fake plants, which even with regular feeding, could explain looking a little thin. The system the fish would be going into is a -4 mo old, 65 gallon tank, ~87 lbs of LR 29 gallon planted refugium Octopus BH 800 S HOB skimmer Eheim 1262 return pump 1 Koralia 4 and 1 Koralia 2 -Tankmates are as follows: 2 Neon Gobies 1 Ocellaris, 1 Percula 1 C. collare (coming out of QT in a couple of days) Do you know if this is one of the species that is more likely to destroy my CUC? The shrimp mentioned earlier is in another tank, so he's not at threat. Is the information about the fish's size on your page correct, to about 5" in length? Is there any other pertinent info about the fish I need to know? Thanks so much, Lisa <The size range for this species is about right...However, I'm not sure what a "CUC" is, so I really cannot comment on what the fish will do! However, most Halichoeres species will prey on some of the smaller crustaceans and snails in your system, Some can be jumpers, so do keep the aquarium covered. Well, that's all the generic tips on this genus I dare offer at this juncture! Send pics! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.> Re: Halichoeres margaritaceus "Mystery" Wrasse (Pt. 2) 1/16/2009 Scott, <Hello again!> Thank you for the help so far. I got a picture, but unfortunately after trying for about ten minutes the best I could do was this picture on a camera phone. The wrasse's body is a mottled green and silver color while the fins are predominantly red with what isn't red being clear or a beige-ish color and it does have an "eyespot" on the dorsal. The cardinals seem to be about average size for the fish, so hopefully that will give you some idea of scale. I thought that this might have been chloropterus at first as well, but not with this much red in the fish. I asked about the origin of the fish, but the store buys through "corporate" and so they have no contact with the supplier or collector to find that out. <Hmm...unfortunately, the angle/distance on the photo was not so good in the picture! I'm at a bit of a toss up here as to which species it might be. Definitely not H. chloropterus, IMO. Perhaps H. schwartzi? It's just too tough to tell from the picture.> By to the clean-up crew, which is just a mix of snails and hermits in this tank. The snails are all probably too big for the wrasse to fit in its mouth currently, but some of the hermits are very small. The tank is covered. I learned the hard way and just treat it as though all fish will jump, just in case. Thanks again for all the help so far, Lisa <Glad I could help. Just not sure what we're looking at yet. If you could only get a better pic! Thanks for trying, though. Regards, Scott F.>

Re: Halichoeres margaritaceus "Mystery" Wrasse- Case Solved! 01/19/09 Scott, <Hello again!> Hopefully not bothering you with this response. <Of course not!> I posted the same picture of the fish in a bag that I sent to you recently on a well-known reef forum and got an ID from the Director of Live Aquaria, Kevin Kohen. <A good guy- he's seen lots of cool fish, so I'd value his opinion.> He pegged it as Xenojulis margaritaceus, still a wrasse, but the only fish in its genus and more closely related to the Macropharyngodons than Halichoeres. I was able to find the fish on Fishbase.org and it seems to be a match. Do you agree with this ID and have any further info than what is available on Fishbase? Thanks again, Lisa <Looking at the close-up that you provided with this email, I would tend to agree that it looks way more like a Macropharyngodon than a Halichoeres, indeed! I think he made a good call!. Unfortunately, I have had no experience with this particular fish/genus, so I would have to defer to what you can find in fishbase or other scientific literature. Perhaps some of our readers do have experience with this species, they will share their knowledge! Good luck, keep good notes, and I hope that YOU will be able to add to the body of knowledge on this fish. Regards, Scott F.>

Wrasse ID help please � 12/10/08 Hello Crew, <Hi Matthew.> First of all, I wish to thank you for your great and informative site. There are too many forums on the Internet with people who act as "experts" without the real solid experience an knowledge the crew at WWM has. Anyway, my LFS has sold me a wrasse that I cannot identify. They called it a white Coris wrasse <I don't think this is a Coris sp.> , but I have found no species description with that name. Attached is an image of the fish. It is mostly white with pink and gold highlights. It has a black false eye spot so I do not think it is albino-ism. Any an information you can provide would be very helpful. <Compare your wrasse to pictures of Halichoeres trimaculatus e.g.: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/cookisland_wrasses2.htm and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeresn-z.htm . Here are some more online examples: http://www.zensaipan.com/img/halichoeres_trimaculatus.jpg and http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=0&ID=5634&what=species&TotRec=7 > Thanks. Matthew. <Welcome. Marco.>

Erratum in Halichoeres wrasse article  9/18/09
Dear Bob,
<Alex>
I was searching for something on WWM and in the course of my research I have found that there seems to be a small error on your Halichoeres wrasse page (N-Z):
The photograph captioned with "Halichoeres trispilus" seems to be a H. leucoxanthus (nomen est omen --> white-yellow) commonly called Whitebelly wrasse (http://fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=7806
or http://fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=7806). H. trispilus is more whitish, even though it has the same three dots (nomen est omen, again ;-)...
Cheers, Alex
<I do agree with you: http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=7806&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=leucoxanthus
Will append. Stipendium peccati mors est. BobF>

Re: Erratum in Halichoeres wrasse article  9/18/09
I hope not...
But the question remains what the ones get, that do not sin ;-)
Cheers, Alex
<A quandary/paradox for sure... For me, I'll take the Viking "heaven" please. Cheers, BobF>

Halichoeres ID  7/15/06
Hello ladies and gents,
<Howdy Eric>
I recently purchased a Halichoeres wrasse which was sold as a Halichoeres kallochroma, however, I'm not sure that the ID was correct.
<On fishbase: http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=59463&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=kallochroma>
  He's tough to get a picture of right now (as he's buried in the sand bed), but there was one feature which struck me as possibly being unique.  The fish has a small grouping of chrome-like scales (literally looks like polished chrome) on each side of his body just behind his front pair of fins.  Overall, the fish is green with a pink-striped pattern on the head and to a lesser degree, the body.  I'll try and get a pic tomorrow, but if you have any ideas please let me know.
Thanks,
Eric
<Mmm, could be this species just the same... there is some geographic variation... and very wide developmental differences in coloration. Bob Fenner>

Neon Wrasse
Hey Robert-
Could you help me with the scientific name for the Neon Wrasse.
<Hmm, nothing comes up for the common name on FishBase.org... Maybe this is Halichoeres iridis. See the pic on our site here: http://wetwebmedia.com/halichoeres.htm>
I've read various articles and books mention the neon but there is no reference to its background or requirements.
<A more recent import... about "medium" in hardiness, much like other members of this "super-genus"... Bob Fenner>
Thanks
Mike

Fish identity
Hey Bob,
It was nice to meet your wife and see you again.
<A delight my friend>
Can you help out and look at the attached mail and try to identify for fish.
<Hmm, well, I did what try to sharpen this image... can't make it out very well... but it does look like a juvenile of a genus Halichoeres Wrasse... not much help here... Please do look over the scant photographic coverage of this "super-genus" posted on our site: http://wetwebmedia.com/halichoeres.htm
Does your friend know which part of the world this fish was collected in? Please do look through the resource: FishBase.org for much more in the way of photographic listings of this genus. Bob Fenner>
John Dawe
the unconscious marine aquarist
<You're cracking me up John>
www.masm.org

Halichoeres cyanocephalus: Yellowcheek wrasse 
Hi Bob, or Steve, or Anthony :)
<whasssup?>
Can you please help me ID this little guy? 
<yep... unmistakable: a young male Halichoeres cyanocephalus>
It was sold to me as a "Brazilian flasher wrasse", 
<AKA Yellowcheek wrasse... gets BIG, almost a foot long and quite beautiful. There's a wicked picture of a terminal male on fishbase.org at http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=3662&genusname=Halichoeres
&speciesname=cyanocephalus >
but the only fish that I see it could be is a Sunrise Dottyback. What do you think? 
<nope... different face, no yellow on the tail... two very different fishes. You have a Yellowcheek wrasse>
I have had this fish for over six months now, and it's the only fish in my care that I am unsure of - Help!
<I hope that you have a big tank or plan for one :)>
Thanks for everything, Manuel
<best regards, Anthony>

Pseudojuloides cerasinus (Halichoeres)
Bob- Attached please fine a picture of what I believe is a female Pseudojuloides cerasinus. I was unable to find a photo on your site of the female, so wanted to submit this to you. This is the best shot out of about 20. :)
<Thank you for sending the image along... but am almost sure this is a Halichoeres garnoti (initial phase)... a wrasse from the tropical West Atlantic... Please see here re: http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.cfm?ID=4851
For Pseudojuloides cerasina
http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.cfm?ID=3663
and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeres.htm
For Halichoeres garnoti>
I'll be working on getting some better shots, if you have any interest at all, please let me know your preferred sizes.
<Most anything in focus, colored, balanced... suitable for Net presentation (up to a few hundred kilobytes) is fine... you might want to place your pix on our sister server/site: WetWebFotos.com >
Thanks for the great web site-
<A pleasure to share. Bob Fenner>
Brent Barr

Good Wrasse/Bad Wrasse?
I just looked up info on the canary wrasse that you mentioned. It says it is also called a yellow wrasse and that only an expert should try to keep it. 
<I think that you are mistaken. The wrasse that I referred to is a Halichoeres chrysus, one of the easiest of the wrasses to keep. In fact, in Scott Michael's "Marine Fishes" (the classic pocket reference in the hobby), he rates it a "4" (on a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being the easiest to keep fishes). Do recheck. remember, several fishes my be known by the same common name, which is why I referred to it by the scientific name. I've kept these fishes for years with no troubles. They are hardy, fun to watch, and colorful. Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>