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phases
April 6th, 2008, 09:11 PM
Is this a Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus/Red margined wrasse. I'm hoping for a positive identification so I can track one down.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r265/BaysideCorals/wrasse.jpg
MomentsofSanity
April 6th, 2008, 09:25 PM
The picture you link certainly does appear to be the Red-margined fairy wrasse to me.

Edit: Just to add this is not a species frequently imported and comes from deeper darker waters as an FYI.
tattoo282
April 6th, 2008, 09:27 PM
look here http://animal-world.com/newsfeed/?p=82
phases
April 6th, 2008, 09:36 PM
The picture you link certainly does appear to be the Red-margined fairy wrasse to me.

Edit: Just to add this is not a species frequently imported and comes from deeper darker waters as an FYI.


Yeah I'm not expecting to find one anytime soon. Its my unicorn.
reefer madness
April 7th, 2008, 06:14 AM
Here's a tidbit from an article by Henry C. Shultz III from Reefkeping Magazine (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/hcs3/index.php):


The Red-Margined fairy wrasse, Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus, is a highly sought-after, yet rarely imported, specimen. The lack of importation is likely due to the depths at which this fish spends the majority of its time. They primarily reside below 100 feet deep, and have been found in depths nearing 200 feet. The depth at which this fish is collected makes it a bad choice for today's brightly lit SPS aquariums. They are known to aggregate over open rubble and sand bottoms with small isolated patch reefs. They are among the largest Cirrhilabrus, approaching six inches in length. Only Cirrhilabrus melanomarginatus is larger (Randall, 1992). Specimens that make it to the aquarium trade are most likely collected from Fiji, though this species is also found in Tonga and Southern Japan. Males are usually shades of blue, purple, or red with a broad stroke of yellow just in front of the red on their tail. Yellow spots fade to pink as they stretch from the head back to the tail. Below is a picture of a drab (when compared to the male) female.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/hcs3/images/image020.jpg

Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus in a home aquarium. Photo courtesy of Greg Rothschild.


I have seen pics of these from Flores and Bali, Indonesia as well as Fiji and Kochi, Japan and there are some big time color variations.

Great looking fish!! :thumbsup: Good luck in your search!