My new Purple Wolf Fish (some ID help needed as well)

[AdamH]

I was was able to purchase one of my dream fish, the Erythrinus Erythinus, though this specimen was specifically labelled Erythrinus sp.Purple and I just wanted to check which she is (again I think it's a she based on her top fin not being that long).



Also, what an amazing fish regardless of the species specifics! On the first couple days of getting her, she seemed to be shy but accepted some hikari floating pellets which was a great sign. Since then she is fully the boss of the tank and is front and centre 24/7 very much showing off. I almost feel sorry for the worm she gets every now and then because wow she made very light work of it. She's in a 40 breeder rn and if she was a lazier fish as some wolves appear to be I think it would be fine, but given how active she is I feel an upgrade may be appropriate when she's a bit older.

 

[tlindsey]

I was was able to purchase one of my dream fish, the Erythrinus Erythinus, though this specimen was specifically labelled Erythrinus sp.Purple and I just wanted to check which she is (again I think it's a she based on her top fin not being that long).

View attachment 1553114View attachment 1553115

Also, what an amazing fish regardless of the species specifics! On the first couple days of getting her, she seemed to be shy but accepted some hikari floating pellets which was a great sign. Since then she is fully the boss of the tank and is front and centre 24/7 very much showing off. I almost feel sorry for the worm she gets every now and then because wow she made very light work of it. She's in a 40 breeder rn and if she was a lazier fish as some wolves appear to be I think it would be fine, but given how active she is I feel an upgrade may be appropriate when she's a bit older.

View attachment 1553117

Awesome pickup.
A few years ago a friend gave me a juvenile which looked very similar to your young wolf.

 

[tlindsey]

Old pic of the purple wolfish.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xVQ8XsUCVRB5WsUN6

 

[AdamH]

Old pic of the purple wolfish.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xVQ8XsUCVRB5WsUN6

Absolutely gorgeous, I love the darker colouration on it, almost looks like a dragon!

 

[Deadeye]

Cute little guy!
Doesn’t look too different than my standard red when I got it, maybe a bit less orange. I can’t imagine the young ones look too different based on variants.
Mine lives in a 36 bow front. He’s big but I wouldn’t say he really needs more space. A 40B should be perfect.
As a side note, try to keep the water level as high as possible. When it’s lower, the filter causes more splashing, which excites to jump (thinking there’s food) and hurt themselves.

 

[tlindsey]

As a side note, try to keep the water level as high as possible. When it’s lower, the filter causes more splashing, which excites to jump (thinking there’s food) and hurt themselves

Great advice.

 

[AdamH]

Cute little guy!
Doesn’t look too different than my standard red when I got it, maybe a bit less orange. I can’t imagine the young ones look too different based on variants.
Mine lives in a 36 bow front. He’s big but I wouldn’t say he really needs more space. A 40B should be perfect.
As a side note, try to keep the water level as high as possible. When it’s lower, the filter causes more splashing, which excites to jump (thinking there’s food) and hurt themselves.

Thanks for the tips, first couple of days I had her she was jumping but just lowered my spray bar a little and she barely does it anymore (not going to lie hearing a thump against the lid for the first time scared me so much hahaha). She definitely likes to breach out the water every now and then, not a full jump but she's almost half out of water which is definitely fun to watch. Did yours fight with it's reflection because I find mine definitely tries to!

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks for the tips, first couple of days I had her she was jumping but just lowered my spray bar a little and she barely does it anymore (not going to lie hearing a thump against the lid for the first time scared me so much hahaha). She definitely likes to breach out the water every now and then, not a full jump but she's almost half out of water which is definitely fun to watch. Did yours fight with it's reflection because I find mine definitely tries to!

I haven’t really noticed mine doing so, but it doesn’t surprise me. Red wolves haven’t been bred in captivity in large part because they are so aggressive to each other.

 

[DMD123]

She's in a 40 breeder rn and if she was a lazier fish as some wolves appear to be I think it would be fine, but given how active she is I feel an upgrade may be appropriate when she's a bit older.

Im kind of on the fence when it comes to recommending a tank size for these guys. I recently had to euthanize my red wolf due to health problems. It was 12" and it was a very active fish. This guy was raised in a 65B, basically the same footprint as the 40B, just taller. I really could have seen my fish moving to a 75g. I had a buddy raise one out that I was even bigger than mine (a good 13" fish for sure) and it was in a 75g and looked just right. So I guess a lot depends on the fish, but I can see the need for a bigger tank. Im in the process of starting up my tank again with another red wolf. Will see how the next one does in the 65B, maybe it will stay smaller?