Did I find a true gem of an angelfish at my LFS? Shepardi???

[ghstrider]

I went in to my LFS and my friend tells me, "hey we got some cool hybrid looking angels." My eyebrows peak and he walks me over to a set of cubicles where I find a pair of flame hybrids. One was a tad smaller but had a more triangular body shape like the flame but was orange with thin black bars and appeared more like the false shepardi pics ive seen. The second one was about 1/2" bigger and was a more elongated shape like a rusty. It had the same orange color and very thin broken lines... Also had black gill spines unlike the first one that had orange spines like his body color. I had a feeling I was looking at something special so I called ccampbell and sent some pics. He informed me that my suspicions were correct and I was looking at a false shepardi pair most likely with the possibilty of one being a true. At $50 I wanted both but when they were placed together the fight ensued so they were separated and after a quick pellet meal, I took the longer one that resembles the true shepardi images ive found everywhere. I asked the origin and the LFS owner said she bought them as "phillipine flame angels" which is obviously mislabeled and possibly not even the correct origin as wholesalers down in Miami get monster shipments from all over the place every week and origin may have been mixed up. The LFS owner also said these were the only 2 for sale and in 33 years shes never seen any like these.

Im psyched regardless of whether its a true or false shapardi but curiousity is killing me to know what it is... All the textbook pics ive seen say shepardi but Im coming to the true experts on RC like copps, luiz rocha, ccampbell, etc for a little chat about it and maybe some healthy debate.

pics are coming in a second....

 

[ghstrider]

<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y364/garcia751/?action=view&current=3b106c2f.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y364/garcia751/3b106c2f.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

a quick video in the sump (now hes in the dt in an acclimation box)

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid1030.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy364%2Fgarcia751%2Ff4f1d435.mp4">

 

[snorvich]

Really cool fish! Definitely not a "phillipine flame angel"

 

[Luiz Rocha]

"True shepardi" are only found in Guam, and as far as I know they are not being exported from there. I am working on the genetics of some identical fish that Copps sent me, and so far everything indicates they are hybrids between C. loricula and C. ferrugata... Very cool fish indeed, and without a DNA test they are indistinguishable from true C. shepardi.

 

[ghstrider]

Thanks Luiz for chiming in! Does mine resemble a true shepardi more so than others youve seen? I know that only dna can verify but im curious as to your opinion.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Here is a picture of a C. shepardi in Guam...

So I would say yes, very similar.

 

[evo@32psi]

Very cool looking fish!!!!

 

[ghstrider]

Thanks guys! No matter what it is... That orange really pops! Im happy with my find.

 

[jcw]

I love these threads.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Vili_Shark]

Here is a picture of a C. shepardi in Guam...

So I would say yes, very similar.

I have seen over 50 specimen of so called "shephardi" that came from Cebu or Manila, they were all different from each other , but none was similar to this one.

 

[albano]

A LFS in our area, also has these available, but they're looking for $150

Hybrid Flame x Rusty Angels $150

 

[ccampbell57]

Buy that one!! That is a great specimen.

 

[ziyaadb]

wow awesome fish you are very very lucky

 

[Vili_Shark]

in HK they go for US200.00 approx.

 

[albano]

in HK they go for US200.00 approx.

SOOO, you're saying, I could make a profit! :idea:

Buy that one!! That is a great specimen.

IF, you're talking to me...I would get it, BUT, I need to confirm, that it will get along with my other angels...F. Bellus, pr.Zebra, F. Lamarcks, pr. Vanuatu Flames, Regal, Coral Beauty, and a Cherub

 

[ghstrider]

I know how much u guys like pics and video so heres my little guy in the acclimation box. You can also see the rest of my livestock in the video.

 

[ghstrider]

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1NPsahn4dsY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Sheol]

One very nice looking fish. But he lookes a bit bored in the vid, pacing the box. LOL
Well, it beats having someone shred him..

Matthew

 

[flfireman1]

Hey Eddie,

I ended up buying your guys little brother. Hes doing great so far. Here are some quick pics.
<a href="http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/?action=view&current=IMAG0009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/IMAG0009.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/?action=view&current=IMAG0030-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/IMAG0030-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And my true flame angel for comparison.
<a href="http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/?action=view&current=IMAG0023-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b420/flfireman/IMAG0023-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Due to body shape and color, mine definetly looks like a Flame X Rusty Hybrid. Either way, its a very cool looking fish. Hopefully I can post some better pics tomorrow.
Eric

 

[ghstrider]

Nice Eric....