First wild video of a peppermint angel and the expansion of its range

[copps]

Angelfish nerds, I received news from Hawaii that friend Dr. Richard Pyle not only succeeded in finding Centropyge boylei for the first time outside of Rarotonga, but succeeded in collecting one specimen that is now at the Waikiki Aquarium. Many specimens were seen at a depth of about 350 feet... at Moorea, more than 500 miles from the only other place it's been seen in the Cook Islands... he also just shared a video shot by Dave Pence on You Tube... I'll save other commentary for later!:celeb3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7N2YIhDvGA

Copps

 

[tcmfish]

Awesome! That poleni grouper looked a lot cooler in that video as well. Was that damsel a new species or something? Why did they focus on that fish for a while?

 

[Recty]

Very cool.

What are they breathing? His cough at 3:15 sounded like there was a decent amount of helium mixed in there.

So did he "record" this spot and then come back and collect this specimen? Or did they see this specimen and most likely catch another?

 

[copps]

Awesome! That poleni grouper looked a lot cooler in that video as well. Was that damsel a new species or something? Why did they focus on that fish for a while?

There are two chromis in the video... one large and one small... both are new records there and are still undescribed, but documented from elsewhere...

Very cool.

What are they breathing? His cough at 3:15 sounded like there was a decent amount of helium mixed in there.

So did he "record" this spot and then come back and collect this specimen? Or did they see this specimen and most likely catch another?

You can bet that at 350 they are diving trimix... which adds helium to lower the percentage of nitrogen and oxygen... the helium is used because using such a high proportion of nitrogen would get you narced, and too much oxygen would cause you to spit your regulator out and convulse due to oxygen poisoning... although the original C. boylei were collected by Rich over twenty years ago diving compressed air, resulting in the name of the second Centropyge they found being called C. narcosis...

What do you mean by "this specimen"? Look harder... there are a few...

Copps

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Very cool video! The Peppermint is beautiful, and it's interesting to see that Polleni in the middle of those C. multicolor angels. I'd love to dive that deep, but would be way to chicken to actually try it :worried:

So, since we know Peppermints aren't limited to the Cook Islands now, does that mean the price will come down to 4 digits..? lol

Is this another Peppermint, or something else? I spotted at least two of those, but can't tell if that's an angel or..?

 

[Recty]

What do you mean by "this specimen"? Look harder... there are a few...
Copps

Sweet. I watched it at work and pretty fast, I didnt see another of the other peppermints. I'll check again when I get home.

 

[geaux xman]

how many known captive peppermint angels exist and who has them?

 

[copps]

how many known captive peppermint angels exist and who has them?

Just one... in Nagoya, Japan...

Here's another...

That is going to be one cool exhibit in Waikiki... with hopes of Belonoperca pylei and Centropyge narcosis too...

Copps

 

[29reef]

Thanks for sharing John, it sounds like I went to Oahu one month too early! I hope to see some videos of the fish in captivity. So uncommon to see a video with so many of them in it! Thanks again.

 

[Blueline12]

Wow. Truly amazing.

 

[Overboard]

It is amazing how much life exists at that depth. Anthias, angels, groupers, and the color of the coral is intense. Great video and really exciting they have sighted the Peppermints elsewhere.

 

[velvetelvis]

Amazing. I love seeing images of fishes in their natural habitat...thanks for sharing this!

 

[Yurivd]

How big is the one that was colected an at what depth

 

[lebreef]

That is one great new piece of information! I just found a video of the collected fish!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=186358444808079

I hope the link works...

 

[auem]

fish on the left of polleni grouper looks close to c.abei.....is that a multicolor angel actually?

i somehow think same fish appeared muliple time..to find 3 peppermints in a 4min. video is too much for me actually...:celeb3:

 

[alton]

Thanks for posting

 

[SDguy]

Great video and info, John, thanks for sharing!

 

[WayneL333]

Awesome video John. How exciting! Thank you for sharing the video.

 

[auem]

i wonder how many calls from japan went to waikki already...:uzi:

 

[auem]

fish on the left of polleni grouper looks close to c.abei.....is that a multicolor angel actually?

i somehow think same fish appeared muliple time..to find 3 peppermints in a 4min. video is too much for me actually...:celeb3:

sorry,i mean to say Griffis' Angelfish...:headwally: