Mark's 180 Starfire upgrade
- Thread starter JohnL
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Tofumushrooman
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Very nice Mark, Beautiful fish for any tank 
copps
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Hey Mark, I just got your PM, and I could say with near 100% certainty that this a Z. rostratum/scopas hybrid from Christmas Island. I could say that it is 100% not a full scopas of any color... with the only minute other chance that it's a full rostratum, but highly unlikely. You may want to post your other photo from the other thread... The long snout and high black dorsal say rostratum all the way...
Hybridization of scopas and rostratum is well documented and they've been occurring more and more frequently... this is probably due to two reasons... black tangs are practically fished out of Christmas Island, where most all of the collection of rostratum occurs. They actually have a fairly decent range, but not at collection sites of the industry. They are also common nowhere in their range... further leading to the high price... A few recent trips have gone to other islands in the Line Islands to get rostratum also... and they've garnered high prices in Hawaii at the wholesale level. From what I've seen, the wholesale price of the hybrids is about 40-50% less than full rostratum, so you may have a gripe if you care... I wouldn't though, as it is an equally cool fish. Another factor that may be contributing is that with so few black tangs left they are breeding more and more into the scopas population there, as it's well documented that hybridization generally occurs when the rare species could not find a mate and spawns with another closely related species... I've asked many ichthyologists to explain this and the best answer I got was this... In Europe about 30,000 to 35,000 years ago it's pretty understood that we **** sapiens coexisted with H. neanderthalis... say you got caught up in a tribe of neanderthals for a few months... after a few months the females actually might become somewhat attractive!
So, with all that said here are shots of my two guys... as you could see when small full Z. rostratum are jet black, only getting the "silverback" as they grow...
Hybridization of scopas and rostratum is well documented and they've been occurring more and more frequently... this is probably due to two reasons... black tangs are practically fished out of Christmas Island, where most all of the collection of rostratum occurs. They actually have a fairly decent range, but not at collection sites of the industry. They are also common nowhere in their range... further leading to the high price... A few recent trips have gone to other islands in the Line Islands to get rostratum also... and they've garnered high prices in Hawaii at the wholesale level. From what I've seen, the wholesale price of the hybrids is about 40-50% less than full rostratum, so you may have a gripe if you care... I wouldn't though, as it is an equally cool fish. Another factor that may be contributing is that with so few black tangs left they are breeding more and more into the scopas population there, as it's well documented that hybridization generally occurs when the rare species could not find a mate and spawns with another closely related species... I've asked many ichthyologists to explain this and the best answer I got was this... In Europe about 30,000 to 35,000 years ago it's pretty understood that we **** sapiens coexisted with H. neanderthalis... say you got caught up in a tribe of neanderthals for a few months... after a few months the females actually might become somewhat attractive!
So, with all that said here are shots of my two guys... as you could see when small full Z. rostratum are jet black, only getting the "silverback" as they grow...
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12795069#post12795069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tfp
wow
Thanks Tim for stopping by
I only have an achilles and dussumier in my display as my maculiceps passed due to a fungus after WW3 with the achilles.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12795772#post12795772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by racerw
Mark beautifulI am jealous I love the tiny fish. Good luck with the introduction
Thanks Stacie. I am a sucker for small fish as well. I have it in a small breeder getting it fully acclimated. It is eating mysis and brine already. I have had the lights off all day to ease the aggression. I plan on releasing him tonight before bed and only turning on the VHO's tomorrow.
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