Pseudanthias ventralis hawaiiensis availability

[suta4242]

Just wondering about the availability of this species.

I realise ventralis from elsewhere are more readily sourced but there don't seem to be threads about this fish and I'm wondering why.

Is there a problem with their collection or shipping - or is the demand not there presumably because the other ventralis are cheaper?

Thanks for in advance for any insight. :wave:

 

[A_Z]

Try contacting Pacific Island Aquatics on their availability. I have seen a couple listed from time to time.

 

[copps]

There are a few reasons P. hawaiiensis are not really collected much for the trade... they are found deep, which itself is not an issue... but ask anyone who has collected them and they will explain the HEADACHE they are to collect, decompress, and adapt. The worldwide demand for Hawaiian fish is huge, so collectors in HI concentrate on other species... add to this that relatively recently ventralis were found in the Marshalls and are being collected there with regularity, and relatively cheap. There are collectors who have the ability to get them in HI and can on special order... be aware that males of all of this ventralis complex should be left in the ocean as they are much more a headache to adapt than smaller females... here is a link to a thread where I show wild photos I took of hawaiiensis, along with captive shots of my Marshallese ventralis...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068950

Copps