Wrasses

Tarasco · 02-23-2004, 07:44 PM

Can anyone tell me an easily distingushable way to differentiate Macropharyngodon ornatus from Halichoeres ornatissimus? I saw a fish listed as a Christmas wrasse at a store the other day, but I wasn't really sure which one it was, and I'm no fish guru, so I couldn't so a ray count or anything like that. But something visual would be nice. I'm kind of on a leopard wrasse kick now that I know I'm going to be getting a new tank at the end of the year.

BoomerD · 02-23-2004, 07:56 PM

Dude, I sure can't, but I know there are several wrasses that get the name "Christmas Wrasse" hung on them. Here's Fenner's site on wrasses:
WWM/Marine Fishes1
Wrasses at the bottom
and this one:
WWM Thalasomma wrasses

And of course, you can always surf around the wrasse pages to get the info you may need.
Good luck in the identification

bronco7777 · 02-24-2004, 12:02 AM

Tarasco,

This is a Macropharyngodon ornatus.....or a Ornate Leopard Wrasse. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pnoel/pages%...ie2/fish04.htm
This is not a christmas wrasse in any way.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msu...kxmaswrass.htm

This is a Christmas wrasse

Tarasco · 02-24-2004, 12:26 AM

Hmm... The pic in your first link looks like a "standard" leopard, or M. melagris. What I saw looked more like the pic in your second link. I found a pic in fishbase that looked like what I saw as well, and I don't remember the exact colors right now.

http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictu...4&what=species

So is it basically a color difference between the two? Are there other physical differences?

bronco7777 · 02-24-2004, 12:53 AM

Generally speaking the halichoeres have a more elongated missle-like appearance and length. They also tend to get alot larger than leopards.
Halichoeres are sand sleepers, so they need a sand bed to dig into come bedtime. Very active swimmer, sometimes too active for other tank mates.
For the most part, halichoeres are considered FISH ONLY tank candidates. They will go after invertebrates if given the opportunity.
Leopards have a stubbier look or shape and stay small. They are okay in the reef aquarium. Allthough many have a poor survival rate in captivity unless the tank is mature and excellent conditions are present.
I'm not painting them with a broad stroke, but they should be left for experts.
The christmas wrasse you saw is a stronger fish and will do fine but just plan ahead as far as what other species of fish you want to add to their tank. They can drive some fish crazy.

If you want a wrasse that will give you the best of all worlds, I suggest you look at flasher wrasses (parachelinus) or Fairy Wrasses (cirrhilabrus).
These wrasses are:
1/reef safe
2/very colorful
3/very hardy-they don't get sick easy
4/ they don't get too big
5/Get along great with just about anybody.

I hope that helps.

Tarasco · 02-24-2004, 12:54 PM

Good info, bronco, thanks!

02-23-2004, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Wrasses Can anyone tell me an easily distingushable way to differentiate Macropharyngodon ornatus from Halichoeres ornatissimus? I saw a fish listed as a Christmas wrasse at a store the other day, but I wasn't really sure which one it was, and I'm no fish guru, so I couldn't so a ray count or anything like that. But something visual would be nice. I'm kind of on a leopard wrasse kick now that I know I'm going to be getting a new tank at the end of the year. __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

02-24-2004, 12:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hmm... The pic in your first link looks like a "standard" leopard, or M. melagris. What I saw looked more like the pic in your second link. I found a pic in fishbase that looked like what I saw as well, and I don't remember the exact colors right now. http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictu...4&what=species So is it basically a color difference between the two? Are there other physical differences? __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

02-24-2004, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Good info, bronco, thanks! __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

02-23-2004, 07:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Dude, I sure can't, but I know there are several wrasses that get the name "Christmas Wrasse" hung on them. Here's Fenner's site on wrasses: WWM/Marine Fishes1 Wrasses at the bottom and this one: WWM Thalasomma wrasses And of course, you can always surf around the wrasse pages to get the info you may need. Good luck in the identification

02-24-2004, 12:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Tarasco, This is a Macropharyngodon ornatus.....or a Ornate Leopard Wrasse. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pnoel/pages%...ie2/fish04.htm This is not a christmas wrasse in any way. http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msu...kxmaswrass.htm This is a Christmas wrasse

02-24-2004, 12:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Generally speaking the halichoeres have a more elongated missle-like appearance and length. They also tend to get alot larger than leopards. Halichoeres are sand sleepers, so they need a sand bed to dig into come bedtime. Very active swimmer, sometimes too active for other tank mates. For the most part, halichoeres are considered FISH ONLY tank candidates. They will go after invertebrates if given the opportunity. Leopards have a stubbier look or shape and stay small. They are okay in the reef aquarium. Allthough many have a poor survival rate in captivity unless the tank is mature and excellent conditions are present. I'm not painting them with a broad stroke, but they should be left for experts. The christmas wrasse you saw is a stronger fish and will do fine but just plan ahead as far as what other species of fish you want to add to their tank. They can drive some fish crazy. If you want a wrasse that will give you the best of all worlds, I suggest you look at flasher wrasses (parachelinus) or Fairy Wrasses (cirrhilabrus). These wrasses are: 1/reef safe 2/very colorful 3/very hardy-they don't get sick easy 4/ they don't get too big 5/Get along great with just about anybody. I hope that helps.

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