Post the rarest fish species you have personally seen!

[TheFishTeen]

Yup, another one of those threads. I want to conduct a project to see what the rare import rates are in different locations around the world for different species of fish. After I have a good amount of data I can then put it all in a chart and see the import/retail rates of different cities.

To participate, post the name (scientific or common) of the fish, a photo if possible (does not need to be the actual specimen you saw, just a represent of the same specimen). Post the location in which you saw the specimen.

For example, here is my contribution: Please note everything was seen in Los Angeles, California:

Personifer Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus meredithi.

Declivis Butterflyfish, Chaetodon declivis.

Goldflake Angel, Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus. Male.

Black Longnose Tang, Zebrasoma rostratum (Adult).

Newly considered 'rare' because of dramatic drop in import rates:
Chevron Tang, Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis. *ADULT*

Kiri Triggerfish, Xanthichthys kiritimati

Threadfin Lookdown (Selene vomer)

May not be considered rare to some, but there is currently a yellow scopes tang (the same yellow x scopas hybrid that the white tang and the tricolor scopas tang known as some of the rarest tangs of all time)

Others not so rare, yet uncommon:
Scribbled Angelfish
Misbar Maroon Clownfish
Achilles Tang
Lots of assorted Angler/Frogfish
Blotched Anthias (My avatar)

So what did you see and where? Happy Posting!

 

[Toddrtrex]

2 that I own.

C. deborai (( Used to be thought of a blue color morph of C. nox, but is now its own species )). To the best of my knowledge (( and I am sure that there are more out there )), this is one of 3 (( at least in the US ))

Eating a NLS pellet

And an C. venustus -- not all that rare, just don't see them as often as the other dwarf angels.

Need to get an updated picture, the yellow goes all the way to the top now that it has grown.

 

[TheFishTeen]

2 that I own.

C. deborai (( Used to be thought of a blue color morph of C. nox, but is now its own species )). To the best of my knowledge (( and I am sure that there are more out there )), this is one of 3 (( at least in the US ))

Eating a NLS pellet

And an C. venustus -- not all that rare, just don't see them as often as the other dwarf angels.

Need to get an updated picture, the yellow goes all the way to the top now that it has grown.

Nice! Your Centropyge deborah is such an amazing dwarf angel! You are a very lucky person...

 

[reefsafe]

great thread. keep em coming!

 

[snorvich]

Wow, gorgeous pictures Todd! Especially fond of C. venustus.

 

[TheFishTeen]

Toddrtrex, what state and city were these acquired in?

 

[ENTMogul]

Picture under my name.. True Personifer and Scribbled and I saw them in my tank.

btw TheFishTeen, the picture you posted above is of an actual True Personifer (Chaetodontoplus Personifer) not a Meredithi or "false Personifer".

 

[TheFishTeen]

Picture under my name.. True Personifer and Scribbled and I saw them in my tank.

btw TheFishTeen, the picture you posted above is of an actual True Personifer (Chaetodontoplus Personifer) not a Meredithi or "false Personifer".

Good point! The true personifier has a stripe through its tail. I did in fact see the true personifier. The per. in your avatar is a false.

 

[SDguy]

I saw a bandit angel while snorkling in 8 ft of water. It was pretty neat.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Not my picture (it's Gasman's)... But I saw this one in person..

 

[pacislandaqua]

seen in the wild or in an aquarium setting? Ive seen tons in aquariums!

 

[pacislandaqua]

All in Hawaii:

Angels:
osaka venusta pygmy
interruptus
true personifer/false
scribbled
colini
hybrids lemons with some intense colors
1/2" regals
fishers x potters hybrid
bandits

Tangs:

black, black color morph of a blue tang, albino yellow, black x scopas, yellow scopas,

butterflies:

raccoon x lined hybrid, marshall island hybrid tinkers, tinkers, declives, roa sp butterflies at the waikiki aquarium

wrasses:

lineatus, laboutei, bathyphilus, flame, rhomboids, bellae, johnsoni, earlei, lightning, saddle hybrid,

many more

 

[roktsintst]

kevin what is the osaka venusta pygmy?

 

[BL1]

Here's a goldflake I photographed for my LFS. I almost upgraded my tank just for him.

This one was sold in Fayetteville, NC

 

[AlexS95]

I've seen a Japanese Dragon Eel and a few Black Tangs. That's about it for me... XD

 

[reppo13]

All in Hawaii:

Angels:
osaka venusta pygmy
interruptus
true personifer/false
scribbled
colini
hybrids lemons with some intense colors
1/2" regals
fishers x potters hybrid
bandits

Tangs:

black, black color morph of a blue tang, albino yellow, black x scopas, yellow scopas,

butterflies:

raccoon x lined hybrid, marshall island hybrid tinkers, tinkers, declives, roa sp butterflies at the waikiki aquarium

wrasses:

lineatus, laboutei, bathyphilus, flame, rhomboids, bellae, johnsoni, earlei, lightning, saddle hybrid,

many more

The new website is awesome for those who haven't seen it! Great job!!

 

[Mark]

I saw this guy diving:

And this fish tank was pretty wild:

 

[TheFishTeen]

Thank You all for your contributions. If you read the introduction this thread is for people who have seen rare specimens either for sale or already housed in an aquarium, but the most important part is WHERE. The point of this thread is so I can create a chart of the rare import rates for different cities. From there I will determine what city has the highest rare specimen import rate, and of what species. Please post WHERE you saw them. Thank You.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Wow, gorgeous pictures Todd! Especially fond of C. venustus.

Thanks Steve. I really like that guy, very personal and inquisitive.

Toddrtrex, what state and city were these acquired in?

I am in the 'burbs of Chicago, IL. Picked them both up from the Diver's Den section of LA.

 

[CDP13075]

I read this one was kind of rare after I got it.....Tomini Tang. I haven't seen one anywhere else.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150089917914424&set=a.10150089917789424