Unidentified “tricolor/Read Head Fairy wrasse” Can’t find anything similar

[TaylorP78]

Hey so at the fish store I work at, we got in this “tricolor fairy wrasse” aka Red head fairy wrasse and I’ve seen a lot of those they all relatively similar. They look like this…

But we got one that looked very different from the other. Here’s a couple pics of him. If anyone has any idea of its species please let me know! Look closely at the pattern on the tail… haven’t seen anything like that on many other fairy wrasse besides the lineatus wrasse. That pattern is also on his dorsal fin.
Pics were taken at night so that’s why he’s hiding and kinda flared up.

 

[TaylorP78]

@vetteguy53081 any ideas?

 

[fishguy242]

@SaltyT @Crabby48 ??

 

[StatelineReefer]

C. Aquamarinus? Definitely not a terminal Solar.

 

[StatelineReefer]

[Ichthyology • 2021] <i>Cirrhilabrus aquamarinus </i>& <i>C. chaliasi</i> • Redescription of <i>Cirrhilabrus solorensis <small></i><small>Bleeker</small></small>, with Description of Two New Species of Fairy Wrasses<small> (Teleostei: Labridae: <i>Ci

Cirrhilabrus aquamarinus Tea, Allen & Dailami, 2021 DOI: 10.1643/i2021022 twitter.com/ IchsAndHerps twitter.com/ FishGuyKai Abs...

novataxa.blogspot.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey so at the fish store I work at, we got in this “tricolor fairy wrasse” aka Red head fairy wrasse and I’ve seen a lot of those they all relatively similar. They look like this…
View attachment 2980052
But we got one that looked very different from the other. Here’s a couple pics of him. If anyone has any idea of its species please let me know! Look closely at the pattern on the tail… haven’t seen anything like that on many other fairy wrasse besides the lineatus wrasse. That pattern is also on his dorsal fin.
Pics were taken at night so that’s why he’s hiding and kinda flared up.
View attachment 2980053
View attachment 2980056
View attachment 2980057

looks like a juvenile clown head fairy wrasse or juvenile Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse

 

[SaltyT]

It's definitely a terminal male C. aquamarinus.

Here's an example of C. aquamarinus with that same tail pattern:

 

[TaylorP78]

Thank you all for the responses @vetteguy53081 and @SaltyT , they are much appreciated. Should’ve also mentioned his size which is about 4.5-5 inches so would he still have juvenile colors at that size? And yes that is the exact same tail pattern! That’s the most similar picture I can saw to mine. But when he’s showing his normal (non flared) colors he has that same blue gill plate, and stripe by his dorsal fin. But the body is orange, not teal. Is there any chance this is a hybrid of some of those species? Cause he looks like a red head Solon wrasse, but without the blue body. Or will he just lose the orange and develop teal over time? Cause the picture I posted showed teal but normally when he’s swimming around u can’t see it at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you all for the responses @vetteguy53081 and @SaltyT , they are much appreciated. Should’ve also mentioned his size which is about 4.5-5 inches so would he still have juvenile colors at that size? And yes that is the exact same tail pattern! That’s the most similar picture I can saw to mine. But when he’s showing his normal (non flared) colors he has that same blue gill plate, and stripe by his dorsal fin. But the body is orange, not teal. Is there any chance this is a hybrid of some of those species? Cause he looks like a red head Solon wrasse, but without the blue body. Or will he just lose the orange and develop teal over time? Cause the picture I posted showed teal but normally when he’s swimming around u can’t see it at all.

Juvenile will change with age, opposed to size

 

[SaltyT]

Thank you all for the responses @vetteguy53081 and @SaltyT , they are much appreciated. Should’ve also mentioned his size which is about 4.5-5 inches so would he still have juvenile colors at that size? And yes that is the exact same tail pattern! That’s the most similar picture I can saw to mine. But when he’s showing his normal (non flared) colors he has that same blue gill plate, and stripe by his dorsal fin. But the body is orange, not teal. Is there any chance this is a hybrid of some of those species? Cause he looks like a red head Solon wrasse, but without the blue body. Or will he just lose the orange and develop teal over time? Cause the picture I posted showed teal but normally when he’s swimming around u can’t see it at all.

At 4.5 - 5" there would be no juvenile coloration like vette guy said because of the time it takes to grow to that size; however, female coloration is possible. C. aquamarinus does hybridize with other species in its complex. If you have another photo of him that was taken while he's awake we can take a second look.

 

[Cina05]

Hey so at the fish store I work at, we got in this “tricolor fairy wrasse” aka Red head fairy wrasse and I’ve seen a lot of those they all relatively similar. They look like this…
View attachment 2980052
But we got one that looked very different from the other. Here’s a couple pics of him. If anyone has any idea of its species please let me know! Look closely at the pattern on the tail… haven’t seen anything like that on many other fairy wrasse besides the lineatus wrasse. That pattern is also on his dorsal fin.
Pics were taken at night so that’s why he’s hiding and kinda flared up.
View attachment 2980053
View attachment 2980056
View attachment 2980057

I actually came across this article before finding your thread in my Google search. He looks like these guys: https://reefs.com/lubbocks-fairy-wr...bocki is a fish,wrasses in the aquarium trade.