Jim,
I am very excited about what is in store for 2009, as there seems to be more and more unique fish available to the US market than every before. We are finally starting to see more unique and unusual fish offered to the US, where in years past almost all of these fish were only offered to the Japanese market as these folks would pay the asking price for these beauties.
I firmly believe that the internet, and forums such as ReefCentral, play a major role in the development of this great hobby, as there appears to be more hard core marine fish enthusiasts in the US than every before.
Regarding
Cirrhilabrus spp., we are seeing more and more fish that in years past you would only see in books and on Japanese web sites. I can say that it will be very difficult to live up to your expectations though. I know this because you are the proud owner of a pair of
Cirrhilabrus marjorie, which were collected by Tony Nahacky, Pete Basabe, and Christopher Buerner in Fiji back in the spring of 2007. A very special expedition was made just to harvest this one species and only a dozen or so pairs were collected. These fish had never been offered in the aquarium trade prior to this expedition due to their remote geographic location, and the majority of the pairs were sold to the Japanese market. For others here on RC who are not familiar with this fish, it was identified in 2003 by Dr. Bruce Carlson, Gerry Allen, and Jack Randall, and was named after Bruce’s wife Marjorie.
I am truly optimistic about what’s in store for 2009, and look forward to what will pop up in the trade this year. Keep an eye out on
Drs. Foster and Smith LiveAquaria.com for the healthiest, most unique and unusual marine fish available anywhere in the US.