New Batfish...Looking for ID

[JustinReef]

No pic quite yet but I just picked up a new Batfish. I have seen them a few times at my LFS but they never eat so I don't buy them. This time, the two they had were eating very well so I bought one. I kind of wish I had bought both now actually but I don't know much about them.

I will take a pic tomorrow but for now describe him and see if anyone has an idea of what species it may be. All I know is it must be from the Platax family. It looks like a mutated Bangaii Cardinal. Black and white with huge long fins of course.

Anyone have them or know much about them???

 

[JustinReef]

Ok, found an ID. Platax tiera. Its going to be interesting to see how long I can keep this guy since I have a shallow tank. Hes about 6" tall now but the guy at the LFS said they grow very fast. He will no doubt end up in my brothers 600G tank. I just could not believe how friendly they are...I finally found a fish that is as friendly as my puffers!

I was just reading that even in the wild, they are very curious and will approach divers. Very cool fish.

 

[JustinReef]

Ok nevermind, I think its Platax batavianus based on its fins. They are very jagged like the pictures I see of Platax batavianus and the Platax tiera seems to have smooth fins.

I will get a pic though for someone who knows a bit more about them.

 

[Antiloser24]

Uhh :mad2: You lucky dog !!! :mad2: I have been looking for platax batavanus for like ever. I found one once but it was extremely expensive. Do you mind telling me how much you paid for it ??!

 

[JustinReef]

Well I need to get a picture and make sure it is indeed platax batavanus but my LFS gave him to me for $30 because they were not sure which species he was...they get two species in and one is $30 and the other is $130. They know me well and just went with $30

 

[Antiloser24]

Wow !!! i am sooo jelous and i dont even see a pic yet. I saw one years back at about 18" high, for 450$. I was dying for it, but i didnt want to spend that much. Would your lfs ship the other one to the U.S. ?!?! lol jk "]

 

[JustinReef]

I wish I had my camera but my fiance has it and she is out.

Its very hard to tell still if hes a platax batavianus or platax tiera. I was leaning towards tiera because he does not have all the zebra strips like most of the pics of batavianus I was seeing but then I read that batavianus don't have all the strips when young. Im not sure if thats accurate but my LFS said they thought he was starting to get more stripes. His fins look more like batavianus to me. They are "jagged" (sorry for bad description) instead of smooth. One of his fins is very badly damaged which is another reason they sold him cheap. I hope it heals nicely. The top of it is just bone now

Do you know if batavianus have all the Zebra stripes their whole lives or not?

 

[JustinReef]

I found some pictures of the web and will try to explain which he looks like.

This was called a platax batavianus juvenile:

This was called a pre-adult platax batavianus:

This one was called pre adult as well:

Mine looks like a mix between the last one and the second one. I guess mostly like the second one...So Im wondering if he is already a pre adult and changing color and pattern??? I wish I had seen him as a juvenile if thats the case!

Anyone have a pic of what they look like as an adult?

 

[JustinReef]

I just read on fishbase that they only have the Zebra coloring as babies, so Im pretty sure he is a platax batavianus but young adult. Problem is going to be how big they get...My brother is getting a new fish in a year or so!

 

[agreeive?fish]

nice find either way...i picked up my 1st batfish a week ago the orbic one i like him...

 

[Antiloser24]

Yea you most likely do have batavanus, and im jelous ... What are his current tank mates ??? And you do kow that they are extremely prone to ich . So be careful.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12610513#post12610513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Antiloser24
Yea you most likely do have batavanus, and im jelous ... What are his current tank mates ??? And you do kow that they are extremely prone to ich . So be careful.

No tank mates yet, he is in QT. And yes he has ich very bad. I have started hypo already. He is still eating very well and is very active.

Im a little worried about his one fin that is really torn up but I guess it will grow back.