Red Tail flasher P. rubricaudalis

[hogfanreefer]

Does anyone keep one or know where you can find one? Been looking for several months but can't seem to find one.

How common is the color variant with the very yellow anal fin? Is that just natural variation or is that from a specific locale?

 

[eatbreakfast]

LADD has them periodically. The very yellow anal fin is pretty common on the specimens collected from Vanuatu.

 

[hogfanreefer]

LADD has them periodically. The very yellow anal fin is pretty common on the specimens collected from Vanuatu.

Thanks so much. I want to add one more flasher (currently have a P. mccoskeri and P. attenuatus). I remember last year seeing them on LA/DD all the time, just not in the last few months. Is P. octotaneia to big/aggressive for my smaller diamond tail and McCoskers? That's the other one I was considering.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I think you should be able to get away with adding a P. octotaenia, particularly since you have other flashers. Although circumstances and experiences vary there are a few on the forums that have mixed them without too much issue.

 

[aquaph8]

I have a red tail, no yellow anal fin though. Mine is pretty low on totem pole so he keeps a pretty low profile so as not to draw any attention from my marjorie. I also have P. octotaenia and my experience with them is the females are very easy going but once they start changing to male they can be little bold, but not anymore so than your average cirrhilabrus. If you do get one, go with a female and let her change, they ship so much better IMO.

 

[d-man]

The diamond tail may keep the 8line at bay. And your tank is 6ft long which gives ample room for them. I have a quartet of 8 lines in my QT at moment.
1 is male, 1submale, 2females.
Make sure u use an acclimation box with intro

 

[hogfanreefer]

Thanks guys. My diamond tail is pretty small and the most shy fish in my tank except for my firefish. I have a large Reef Gently acclimation box and always use it for new fish. Guess I'll see which one I can find a great health specimen of and choose that one!

 

[Baldguy]

I'd love to run across one this yellow. It is supposed to be a red tail flasher but I wonder if it's a hybrid.

 

[hogfanreefer]

I'd love to run across one this yellow. It is supposed to be a red tail flasher but I wonder if it's a hybrid.

Yep that would be the holy grail of red tail flashers for sure!

 

[eatbreakfast]

I'd love to run across one this yellow. It is supposed to be a red tail flasher but I wonder if it's a hybrid.

That is an example of nuptial coloration. It will not normally be showing this coloring even while flashing towards rivals or other planktivores.

 

[evolved]

LADD has them periodically. The very yellow anal fin is pretty common on the specimens collected from Vanuatu.

Yup

I think you should be able to get away with adding a P. octotaenia, particularly since you have other flashers. Although circumstances and experiences vary there are a few on the forums that have mixed them without too much issue.

In my experience, octotaenia will be better distracted by other Cirrhilabrus rather than rival Paracheilinus. It's a physically big species within Paracheilinus; as big as the smaller Cirrhilabrus species.