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View Full Version : Halichoeres ornatissimus variability


SDguy
01/17/2009, 10:13 PM
How variable in color is the Christmas/ornate wrasse, Halichoeres ornatissimus? I've got one in my main display, and one in my new 60g. Are they the same species even?

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/60g%2001-17-09/4_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/xmas1_1.jpg

SDguy
01/17/2009, 10:18 PM
Hmmm, well, this is the first time I've looked at the pics next to each other. Don't think it's the same species. What do you all think?

Elysia
01/18/2009, 12:18 AM
Hi,

I'm not saying that the fish I am linking to is your fish, but you may want to look at the link.

photo ID link (http://www.reeflex.net/tiere/1912_Biochoeres_cosmetes.htm)

There are six images of this one species (according to the site.) You can see that in some of the photos, there are no spots on the dorsal fin (ocellaris?), some have the first one, with what appears to be a very small second one, and others show no spots. Perhaps these spots are something common to the juveniles of certain wrasse species? I don't have any experience w/ these wrasses, but its a theory. Hope you find a definitive answer.

of course, that doesn't take into account the different colors! opps!

BangkokMatt
01/18/2009, 12:27 AM
Bottom pic looks like H cosmetus (but then again, so does the top one but with different colours)

zemuron114
01/18/2009, 05:37 AM
ornatissimus vary in color as they get older. Males looks different then small juvies and females. Also, christmas island exports a ornate wrasse that looks almost identical but has different patterns (same colors, just different stripes and circles). I believe they actually classified it as a different species. they are only exported out of Hawaii and christmas, so they are basically the same from Hawaii (95% are exported from hawaii)

SDguy
01/18/2009, 09:52 AM
Well, just for some background. The red one is only about 2", and I've only had it about a month. The green one was a tiny 1" when I bougt it last spring, and is now 3+". It has not changed color or pattern, so far....

SDguy
01/18/2009, 10:03 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14181199#post14181199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elysia
Hi,

I'm not saying that the fish I am linking to is your fish, but you may want to look at the link.

photo ID link (http://www.reeflex.net/tiere/1912_Biochoeres_cosmetes.htm)


I have seen pics of that fish before. The stripes always looked more orange to me, not like either of mine. But you are correct, from what I have seen, many juvenile Halichoeres wrasses have two spots on their dorsal, to varying degrees.

zemuron114
01/19/2009, 02:44 AM
juvies will be very bright green, which fades away and then the males get dark redish with blue tails.

SDguy
01/19/2009, 12:31 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14188852#post14188852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
juvies will be very bright green, which fades away and then the males get dark redish with blue tails.

So are you saying my fish are or are not the same species?

WuHT
01/19/2009, 07:58 PM
I like the bottom one better.

Put both the wrasses together and see if u get any offspring.

zemuron114
01/20/2009, 12:38 AM
lol - sorry .. same species. go here:

http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/hawaiian.htm

scroll down 1/4th of the way... you will see lots of different pics at the different stages they go through :)