Let Them Flash!

[snorvich]

Hiroyuki, without seeming overly academic, it is not obvious to me that all species are separate and distinct. In some cases it appears as if there was genetic wandering. What are the criteria for determining a separate species of fish? Is it number of dorsal spines, or ?? Thanks in advance. By the way, the arrival of my P. bellae has been delayed until late June. But I have not forgotten about pictures.

 

[H.Tanaka]

snorvich,

Thank you for your comment and yes, it is mysteriou for us why ichthyologists divided these very similar individuals into valid species.

They were examined carefully anatomically by ichthyologists, based (not their coloration) especially upon scale count, lateral-line, bone structure, etc. The paper for description needs at least 3-4 pages in a journal and also they compare a new species with other similar or related spp. The distribution also is significant, and it can make an ichthyologist regard a specimen as a distinct or geographical variant.

For example, P. filamentosus has been a 7single' species but now it is divided by Rudie Kuiter & Gerald Allen into two, P. cyaneus and P. filamentosus. Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura also was long believed to be a 'single' one but now the similar C. solorensis is valid. C. solorensis was described in mid 1800's but it has been ignored by many ichthyologists and now recovered in the list.

There are some auguement among ichthyologists about similar spp. especially of Cirrhilabrus, eg. C. exquiaitus and T. temminckii. Some regard C. lyukyuensis as a valid species. Still confused group.

 

[Spikehs]

I am contemplating getting one of these fish, but my tank will be open top, what is the success rate for these fish in an open top tank?

 

[H.Tanaka]

Spikehs,

These fishes are notoriously known as jumpers, so it is risky to house these in a open top tank. They may fight, chase or be frightened by the keeper and then they would dart into crevices or jump out of the tank so quickly. Yes, they may collide with the top glass but it is the better. I have an experience that I found two specimens dead on the floor in the morning while I was keeping open top aquarium. The same thing will happen with dottybacks.

 

[H.Tanaka]

Next one is Paracheilinus lineopunctatus. Line-spot Flasher.

It ranges the Philippines and northern Indonesia around Sulawesi. It reaches 7.5cm at maximum. Deep red to scarlet body with six to seven filaments on dorsal fin and rounded caudal fin.

They are often standing up and posing to each other like this.

 

[BlueBadger]

Will Flasher's be able to Live in a BB tank or are there certain types I should avoid.

Dan

 

[H.Tanaka]

Bluebadger,

Yes, you can keep fairies in BB tank well; they are not sand sleepers, and they sleep with their own "cocoon" among or under the rocks or corals. They need open space for free swimming and many crevices to hide, but no need of complicated surroundings in the tank.

 

[H.Tanaka]

It is 6cm long male from the Philippines or northern Indonesia around n. Sulawesi. It is a usual coloration.

It is now displaying. Filaments turned white and also the back changed blue. Two bluish white areas appeared on body.

 

[oct2274]

none of the older pics are showing.....can this be fixed? I really want to see all the pics

 

[H.Tanaka]

oct2274,

Thanks for your interest. Yes, I hope to show all the pics I have posted but there is few space to keep them in my file, so I should have deleted several pics.

I will show all the ones in a lower res or sizes soon.

 

[H.Tanaka]

Paracheilinus species in alphabetical order in color.

This thread shows 4 spp.; angulatus ~ carpenteri

P. angulatus

P. attenuatus

P. bellae

P. carpenteri

 

[H.Tanaka]

This shows 4spp; cyaneus ~ hemitaeniatus

P. cyaneus

P. filamentosus

P. flavianalis

P. hemitaeniatus

 

[H.Tanaka]

This showcase illustrates 4 spp.; lineopunctatus ~ piscilineatus

P. lineopunctatus

P. mccoskeri

P. octotaenia

P. piscilineatus

 

[H.Tanaka]

This depicts photos of P. rubricaudalis. It comes from Fiji and Vanuatu only.

P. rubricaudalis

P. togeanensis is a very rare species found only around easter sulawesi, Indonesia and the photo will be shown soon.

 

[NexDog]

These photos are amazing. For anyone that is interested, Hiroyuki has written a book on Fairy and Flasher Wrasses with all these pics and hundreds more. It has been printed in a kind of paper version and Hiroyuki has received an offer to print it in full hardback. I'm trying to convince him to go-ahead but he says the collection is not yet complete. I suggested he go ahead anyway and do a Part II in a few years. I have his Angelfishes book in hardback that he gave me as a gift and it is simply stunning. I really want to see the Wrasses book in hardback too!

 

[H.Tanaka]

Paracheilinus togeanensis, Togean Flasher in its natural habitat, Sulawesi. It is known with a very few specimens ever collected and photographed. It has not entered the aquarium trade.
It is similar to P. angulatus but P. togeanensis has a distinct, rounded dorsal fin.

NexDog,
Many thanks for your comment, and yes now I am waiting for a reply from the publishing company in Italy. One of the editors might accept my book on wrasses, however I would wait until several species would be described, and they will hopefully be done within a year. At least four new species (2 from Indonesia, 1 from s. Japan to Philippines, and 1 from Kenya) and two subspecies of Cirrhilabrus will be named by Allen, et al.

 

[pisces5296]

This thread should be a sticky a lot of information and pics

 

[NexDog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7318806#post7318806 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H.Tanaka
NexDog,
Many thanks for your comment, and yes now I am waiting for a reply from the publishing company in Italy. One of the editors might accept my book on wrasses, however I would wait until several species would be described, and they will hopefully be done within a year. At least four new species (2 from Indonesia, 1 from s. Japan to Philippines, and 1 from Kenya) and two subspecies of Cirrhilabrus will be named by Allen, et al.

Ah well, a year is not too long to wait.

 

[pisces5296]

Yes it is

 

[H.Tanaka]

Paracheilinus species (upper) photographed in Osprey Reef off northen Great Barrier Reef (T. Yamazumi photo).

It is similar to P. mccoskeri (lower) but has a robust filament on D fin and also a wide red area on A fin without any blue spot. It was observed by the photographer making a harem of up to ten individuals on occasion. No specimen available, no examination, so I should avoid to regard it as a new one at present.