What is this Wrasse?

[Redcrown]

I bought this wrasse from my LFS, and they gave me about 3 different names for it...Christmas wrasse, Razor wrasse, somethingelse wrasse.....

I have spent my entire afternoon looking for it on the internet, but to no avail.

Help!

 

[Anonymous]

A really cool looking wrasse!

Sorry, I can't help ID it.

I'm sure Matt Wendell will be by to positively indentify it shortly.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Beautiful fish, whatever it is!

 

[Redcrown]

Thanks! He really is very attractive, limey-green color with red and some extremely shiny silver scales. It seems like a really intelligent fish. It took a few times to learn that he can go through my bubble screen.

I really would like to find out whether or not it is a reef-safe wrasse, or a complete no-no. He has eyeballed my crabs, but hasnt made a move yet....(fingers crossed!)

-Erika

 

[Anonymous]

I believe it's a Xenojulis margaritacea.

There aren't many pics online:

Max size is only 4", so even if it goes after shrimp it may be small enough to keep with cleaners and such. I can't find any info on diet, but they come from seaweed beds.

From Kuiter's Fairy and Rainbow Wrasses:

Known from across Northern Australia and Southern New Guinea. The phillipine males have a small pearly spot on most scales below the lateral line, forming a series of dotted lines. [It] has a broad, red-edged irregular pearly stripe from the axil towards the tail base, that may vary in large individuals to large pearly blotches. Females have several ocelli in the dorsal and anal fins and these are very prominant features in juveniles. These fishes are exclusively found on rubble with dense algae growth, usually at just a few meters depth.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like they are closely related to Macropharyngodon aka Leopard wrasses.

Hope this helps!
Matt

PS Please let us know what it eats, behavior towards tankmates, etc. as it grows. Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Only 4"? Wow!!

Btw, I like Erika's pic much better!

 

[K9coral]

Awesome looking fish. That would be a great mascot fish for Cherry 7UP.

 

[guara]

it's a beautiful fish ,i've one ....amazing

 

[Anonymous]

Only 4"? Wow!!

Btw, I like Erika's pic much better!

Me too!

4" is small for wrasses! There are only a handful that stay that small. A 40 gallon or so would be perfectly adequate for one. I wish I had one of these guys. Very nice and rare find!

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, by the way Redcrown...

:welcome:

 

[Redcrown]

Thanks for the ID and the welcome!

He was eating brine at the LFS, and ate some in my tank as well. So far, no problems twoards tankmates yet. My male lyretail Anthias isnt thrilled with the newcomer, but posturing is as far as its gone.

As of last night, the wrasse is MIA...I am thinking that he buried himself somewhere. I wonder how long he plans on sleeping? :roll:


-Erika

 

[Redcrown]

okay....8 more hours.

I have checked around my tank for fish carcass, but cant find him.

When do I start to get concerned? :?

 

[K9coral]

About 8 hours ago! Keep your fingers crossed and good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd wait a few days at least before I got concerned.

 

[gregx]

I have 1, its known as a green coral wrasse.