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Some Quick Marine Questions - Wrasses

[1] While reading some magazines, I encountered brief mention of a Wrasse called a "Sea Fighter". Does anyone have a scientific name for this fish? And why will they fight with Pyjama Wrasses? If someone can link to a picture, this would also be appreciated!

[2] Does anyone have a scientific name for the Red Sea Cleaner Wrasse? This fish I have seen illustrated in a magazine, and it is a lovely deep blue with two lighter blue horizontal stripes. Burgess' Mini-Atlas features a fish that looks similar but not identical, listed as Larabicus quadrilneatus, despite only having two stripes!

[3] Has anyone ever encountered the Wrasse species Bodianus anthioides, or better still, kept it? This is an AMAZING fish! It is solid orange from the head to a little way beyond the pectoral fins, this colour continuing into the pelvic, dorsal and anal fins forming a kind of crescent shape, while the rear three-quarters of the fish is pearlescent white, with two rows of brownish-orange spots that extend into the caudal fin, becoming solid coloured edges in the process. The tail is outlandish in shape, like a lyretail Swordtail! Oh, and the fish has white lips. Burgess' Mini-Atlas has rated it as a 'safe' community fish, but advises that it does reach 21 cm long, and therefore counts as one of the more robust aquarium Wrasses. However, since it is a member of the Genus Bodianus, which comprises the Hogfishes, all of which are considered to be practically bomb-proof by marine standards, chances are that this remarkable fish (imagine a Wrasse that is trying to become a Banggai Cardinal Fish, and you get a good visual image of this fish!) is almost a "beginner's marine" if it shares the hardiness of the other Bodianus species.

[4] And, another Wrasse question to end with (and again, another in the list of 'database update' questions). Two species are of interest to me here. One is listed in an old book as Thalassoma purpureum, and given the common name of "Chocolate Rainbow Wrasse". Anyone got a decent quality photo of this fish? And up-to-date taxonomic information? The second is in my Burgess' Mini-Atlas, and is another one of those "Wow, look at that!" fishes - Thalassoma quinquevittatum. A description is actually a challenge to put together, but i'll try! Head is emerald green with almost violet lines about the face. Some of these lines extend in a curve through the pectoral fins to the underside of the body. Body colour is an almost day-glo lime green, with what I can only describe as "Abstract expressionist" purple lines, that look as if someone has painted the fish and let the colours run! Unpaired fins are edged with the same intense acrylic violet-purple. At 17 cm, it is one of the smaller Thalassoma species, and if anyone sees the Burgess' Mini-Atlas photograph, be prepared to be utterly stunned by it! Anyone here kept it?


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Just thought I'd bump this in case anyone has some answers

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Please .... ?

Pretty please ... ?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I have some info for you, not much. http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishinfo/marine/dpwrasse.htm]http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishinfo/marine/dpwrasse.htm[/link] Now if that site is correct, this [link=http://www.marinedepotlive.com/redpafawrru.html]http://www.marinedepotlive.com/redpafawrru.html[/link]is the same fish. My LFS actually had a few of these in stock last week. As for your 2nd question, try this [link=http://www.marinedepotlive.com/793874.html]http://www.marinedepotlive.com/793874.html[/link]. I have no idea about #3, but i will look into it when i have more time. #4, this came up on google [link=http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.nps.gov/npsa/NPSAfish/images/Labr/thalpurp.jpg&imgrefurl=www.nps.gov/npsa/NPSAfish/fish_pops/labrid/wrasse21.htm&h=273&w=504&sz=14&tbnid=I-BO3Q5dT90J:&tbnh=69&tbnw=127&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThalassoma%2Bpurpureum%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

Thanks for that!

I know Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis by an entirely different common name, the Social Fairy Wrasse. Goes to show, when in doubt, reach for the Latin

Oh, and the Google link partly died, but still reproduced the photo - which depicts an impressive fish! Nice fish ... wonder if anyone will keep it?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I just brought home a Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis, the fish you asked about in your 1st question. I will keep you posted on it if you want.

Lucky you, Lunker, those things are GORGEOUS ...

Post pics soon!

By the way, are these things sociable with their own kind? Only having encountered it first as the 'Social Fairy Wrasse', as opposed to the other name of 'Sea Fighter', I wonder if it occurs in social groups in the wild, and if so, will it live in similar social groups in an aquarium?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002