purple scorpion fish

[FMarini]

actually I'd like to comment on this---
Yes-its a lavender color-however it may have come in darker, and has slowly lost its dark coloration.

What I wanted to discuss fish as this is the second Rhinopias that I've seen that has intermediate characteristics of both R frondosa and R eschmyers. Jay Hemdal has mentioned this before- but I've not personally seen it in photos- transitional fish, rhinopias which contains a mix of the two characteristics which define the species.
For example
If you look at the atlanta fish clubs rhinopias you'll notice that it has occellate patterning althou reduced-which is a key marker for R frondosa. Next, it has window pane like pectroal fins- also a key marker for R frondosa
However it has the maxillary mustache extensions which is marker for R eschmeryers. Next, it has NO (zero) subocular projections-which is a "keying" indicator for Eschmeyers (R frondosa has 1 or more sets of subocular projections). So if i were to key this fish out- it would be more R eschmeyers than R frondosa- but the oscillates & pec fins-what to do.

I had to do the same w/ this fish shown by Jason Chen earlier this week--
http://www.pbase.com/seafan/image/110963722
anyone care to guess what species

 

[FMarini]

Atreyu917--
can you get "o0o the mutt o0o" guy from your reef club to post here or contact me-- I'd like to get a better image of his fish for my upcoming book-
I'd like to show these transitional fish

 

[JGHA]

I think it could of been a leaf fish, very similar to a rhinophias but definitely not as expensive. heres a link http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1313138206_d5b8b278b6.jpg

 

[FMarini]

yes-- thats a leaf fish (Taenianotus triacanthus), not a rhinopias--
primarily from Hawa'ii

 

[namxas]

and how venomous is it actually? life threatening?

venomous, yes, life threatening, no (unless you're allergic to the venom).

 

[Mental1]

Nahhh -- a leaf fish really? Jason Chen's??? It's snout looks much longer and more like a rhino than a leaf fish. What makes it a leaf fish?

 

[FMarini]

sherri--
I guess i'm confuised too.
we're talkin about different things here.
The links above Greg's post (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/...d5b8b278b6.jpg)is a leaffish, and I'm discussing those transitional Rhinopias fronodas which appears in the atlanta reefclub website (http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37659) or at jasons site (http://www.pbase.com/seafan/image/110963722)

 

[Mental1]

Okay -- then what was the leaffish link for? A guess? Anyway, I really like the look of those rhino's -- they are really cool. Seeing them makes me tempted again. That tank he had is still empty. No fish. Sigh. Do you think toxins released from toadstools could bother a rhino? Off topic I know but someone said that maybe that was an issue. I think the Jason photo is more frondosa -- that's my guess.

 

[timdam]

quick question, as i have never owned or known anyone to own one.

How do these fish act? do they just sit in one spot on the bottom the whole time? do they walk around? is it cool when they eat?

 

[namxas]

quick question, as i have never owned or known anyone to own one.

How do these fish act? do they just sit in one spot on the bottom the whole time? do they walk around? is it cool when they eat?

Rhinopias, like most other scorps are mostly sedentary. while they CAN swim, they typically don't do so (they have no swim bladder, so it's tuff for them). they prefer to crutch around the bottom on their lacy-looking pectorals.

that being said, they do recognize the "food god" and will crutch over to beg for a handout. altho i think it's simply an "individual fish temperament" thing, our frondosa is more "outgoing" than the Eschmeyer's, but on the same token is more mellow when i'm cleaning their respective tanx.

as far as eating is concerned, to me, "cool" is having a fish that eats well and is weaned onto frozen. both fish take a variety of fare from a modified feeding stick. to be honest, eating consists of a lightning-quick gulp and a swallow.

here's a couple of vids of the frondosa eating and crutching around (if you look closely, in the second vid, you can see that the fish is shedding its cuticle):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR6PPY8qVnA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v01EjvKMZMY

that's pretty much a full day for a Rhino...

 

[timdam]

cool. thanks for the info. i shoulda just bought that purple one!

 

[rduong89]

i have both scorpions

purple rhino

purple leaf

 

[Mental1]

Do you have a purple tank? The colors are excellent!

 

[rduong89]

for some reason i cannot grow coralline algae. =( in the pic of the leaf fish there were supplements but in the rhino there wasn't.

 

[Mental1]

Coraline does not like high nitrates .... and it wants Ca. Your fish are beautiful. I am weakening to try another rhino .... how long have you had yours?

 

[rduong89]

my rhino is fairly new. about maybe 2 weeks i would say.

 

[timdam]

that's awesome! u should pet it! how can u resist a cute fish like that! i guess i can't get one cuz i would want to pet it.

 

[rduong89]

that's awesome! u should pet it! how can u resist a cute fish like that! i guess i can't get one cuz i would want to pet it.

lol good luck petting it...

 

[atreyu917]

I'll pm him about it an see if I can get him to contact you!

 

[timdam]

hey namxas, what's that grass in your tank? can u put that stuff in FOWLR tanks?