Cirrhilabrus brunneus

[YKTea]

I finally managed to get pictures of it flashing, albeit horrible ones. it's cool how it develops a coppery pink patch on its dorsal flank when it is excited.

Cirrhilabrus brunneus is is closely allied to the C. lunatus complex. Coming from the Philippines, it is found in the wild together with C. cf. lanceolatus, as well as the Philippine variantion of Cirrhilabrus lunatus, which may as well be dubbed C. cf. lunatus because of its distinct form when compared to the Japanese type specimens.

There are very few examples of C. brunneus entering the trade, and aside from Dr. Hiroyuki Tanaka’s specimen in the earlier half of 2000, there has been almost no sightings.





here is how it looks like when it is unexcited.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Stunner of a fish.

 

[rachenbrazil]

Wow thanks for sharing such rare fish ! Can you tell us more about keeping conditions ?

 

[jaa1456]

That's a great looking fish. It's funny that you mention that it's so closely related to the lunatus. I saw an article not to long ago with the Japanese lunate wrasse and they were showing fish with almost the same coloration as a lunate. I believe it had more of a bluish/green hue instead of the black.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

love it! Thanks bud.

 

[YKTea]

Wow thanks for sharing such rare fish ! Can you tell us more about keeping conditions ?

similar to any other cirrhilabrus. peaceful fish, but does not tolerate others in its same complex from what i observe in my tank. especially if they are added in after it.

That's a great looking fish. It's funny that you mention that it's so closely related to the lunatus. I saw an article not to long ago with the Japanese lunate wrasse and they were showing fish with almost the same coloration as a lunate. I believe it had more of a bluish/green hue instead of the black.

Cirrhilabrus lunatus in general is a highly varied species. currently there are two distinct forms with numerous intermediates inbetween.

- the japanese form (type specimens and locale), and the philippines form.

in the japanese form, the colours can vary from reddish, pinkish or sometimes even greenish. colors can change according to their mood, and of course how far along they are in terms of male development. they can even change their colours to almost fully black, as seen below. however one thing that all japanese forms have in common is the yellow streak across their body.







and here is of one displaying



Koji has chimed in re. cirrhilabrus lunatus, and there is apparently a purple form that is only seen in a restricted region of japan. it is most often found in company with Cirrhilabrus katoi. this purple form is talked about and featured in the newest marine aquarist magazine in japan, edition no. 70.



here is the page showing the purple lunatus along with C. brunneus, philippines lunatus and squirei.



in the philippines form, the fishes lack the yellow band along the body. the overall body patterns consists of reticulated spot-streak pattern that is almost identical to C. cf. lanceolatus and C. squirei. the fins are black in terminal staged males.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Dd has this one for sale right now. From your description it would be phillipeans?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=212124

I have a phillipeans one I got from them a few weeks ago that is an absolute stunner. I really need to get some pics up soon.

 

[YKTea]

Dd has this one for sale right now. From your description it would be phillipeans?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=212124

I have a phillipeans one I got from them a few weeks ago that is an absolute stunner. I really need to get some pics up soon.

no this one is, as it is labelled, a japanese one.

you can make out the yellow streak on its flank just barely. when it settles down and colours up, it'll look stunning.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Thank you. I don't know if it would get along with my current one or I might have to have it.

 

[jaa1456]

My trio were the Japanese variants, unfortunately the females don't ship very well. My male resembled the third pic down of the Japanese ones pictured. I was tempted to order two more females but heard they were not doing well at the wholesaler. They had 19 females from what I was told and lost more than half of them in the first week.

 

[YKTea]

My trio were the Japanese variants, unfortunately the females don't ship very well. My male resembled the third pic down of the Japanese ones pictured. I was tempted to order two more females but heard they were not doing well at the wholesaler. They had 19 females from what I was told and lost more than half of them in the first week.

the females arrive extremely tiny usually. we had 40 and all fingernail sizes.

japanese fish are unique. depending on the season, the fish comes in different sizes. winter is usually when the larger sized fishes are collected. i am also not sure why.

we were hard pressed getting BH to catch us adult bellae gobies and lunatus, but in november we had them all in large adult sizes. and they just said it was collection season.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Since we have are now discussing a bunch of wrasses, did you see this stunner? Cirrhilabrus melanomarginatus, never even heard of it.

 

[nanoreefer1000]

I know lemon had 6 and gace away 3, got them for $3 each lol
IMO as adults with the diamond tail, they are insanely awesome.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

wow!

 

[aquaph8]

I've never heard of that one either, he looks huge?

 

[YKTea]

I did have 6 very tiny juvis years back, they eventually all grew large and aggressive i had to remove them. yes at $3 each. no one knew what they were.

C. melanomarginatus is a large fairy, and is quite similar to scotts in both appearance and temperament. males develop a very blunt rhomboid tail. the females are also similar to those of scotts, and are maroon and green. but not sure how similar they are, genetically. maximum size in the wild stated is 15cm.

here are some wild pics of displaying males.








it's not something i will keep though personally. it's too big and looks too much like a parrot fish than a cirrhilabrus. i also don't find it particularly attractive or colorful.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Thanks again for the info, scratched off the list.