shock_therapy
New member
hey all, my lfs just got five of these(sailfin anthias,Rabaulichthys spp.) guys in. i can't find any info on them anywhere so i was wondering if anyone here has kept them before.
thx joe
thx joe
Sailfin Anthias
- Thread starter shock_therapy
- Start date
Terra Ferma
New member
I kept two of them for about 6 months many years ago...ended up selling them for reasons that I cannot remember.
They were pretty easy going. Ate mysis and brine right off the bat. Didn't have a problem with their Liopropoma tank mates but can't speak about relations with tangs, angels, etc. They are really spectacular fish when their raise their sails, which they did often. I've been trying to track some down again for years with no luck - aren't easy to come up on. They look like jumpers so I wouldn't get them unless your tank top can be fully covered with something.
Mine came from Indo and were not expensive. The only ones I have seen lately are the Japanese ones which go for a pretty penny. If you got the tank I say get them - you won't be regret it.
They were pretty easy going. Ate mysis and brine right off the bat. Didn't have a problem with their Liopropoma tank mates but can't speak about relations with tangs, angels, etc. They are really spectacular fish when their raise their sails, which they did often. I've been trying to track some down again for years with no luck - aren't easy to come up on. They look like jumpers so I wouldn't get them unless your tank top can be fully covered with something.
Mine came from Indo and were not expensive. The only ones I have seen lately are the Japanese ones which go for a pretty penny. If you got the tank I say get them - you won't be regret it.
Jordani
New member
There pretty rare. Heres some quotes from a reef blog.
"While at LiveAquaria I had the chance to observe and photograph one of the first Rabaulichthys Anthias to make its way to the U.S., via wholesaler Russo’s Reef. This genus is commonly referred to as Sailfin Anthias for their large dorsal fin, as seen in the photo below of Rabaulichthys altipinnis by Dr. Jack Randall."
"The exact species, of the two specimens, that LiveAquaria acquired are unknown. It shares many characteristics with R. altipinnis and R. suzukii. Interestingly, Randall and Pyle came across 40 Rabaulichthys specimens that were dredged up from 40m at the Caroline Islands. No meristic differences from R. altipinnis were found, with the only physical difference being a more slender body shape. Given the poor condition of the dredged fish and the lack of meristical differences, Randall and Pyle decided to wait for additional specimens and observations before potentially describing a new species."
"The Rabaulichthys sp. that went to LiveAquaria does exhibit a body that is more slender than R. altipinnis–however they were collected in the Coral Sea, a few thousand km south of the Caroline Islands where Randall and Pyle found this undescribed “morph”. Additionally R. suzukii from Japan and R. stigmaticus from the Maldives also feature a slender body shape, but they differ from this specimen and R. altipinnis in coloration.
Rabaulichthys can be particularly finicky and easy to scare fish. This specimen was extremely difficult to photograph–had it not been for a tight fitting lid it would have jumped out of the aquarium on a number of occasions. Unfortunately we never did see it raise it’s dorsal fin–but check out this photo from the collection outfit Cairns Marine (Thanks Joe): Male Rabaulichthys sp. Displaying Dorsal.
The male’s stunning dorsal display is paired with rapid swimming motions, as used during courtship much like Cirrhilabrus Wrasses. Perhaps the additional female LiveAquaria has will be able to illicit the male to do a little showing off…"
"While at LiveAquaria I had the chance to observe and photograph one of the first Rabaulichthys Anthias to make its way to the U.S., via wholesaler Russo’s Reef. This genus is commonly referred to as Sailfin Anthias for their large dorsal fin, as seen in the photo below of Rabaulichthys altipinnis by Dr. Jack Randall."
"The exact species, of the two specimens, that LiveAquaria acquired are unknown. It shares many characteristics with R. altipinnis and R. suzukii. Interestingly, Randall and Pyle came across 40 Rabaulichthys specimens that were dredged up from 40m at the Caroline Islands. No meristic differences from R. altipinnis were found, with the only physical difference being a more slender body shape. Given the poor condition of the dredged fish and the lack of meristical differences, Randall and Pyle decided to wait for additional specimens and observations before potentially describing a new species."
"The Rabaulichthys sp. that went to LiveAquaria does exhibit a body that is more slender than R. altipinnis–however they were collected in the Coral Sea, a few thousand km south of the Caroline Islands where Randall and Pyle found this undescribed “morph”. Additionally R. suzukii from Japan and R. stigmaticus from the Maldives also feature a slender body shape, but they differ from this specimen and R. altipinnis in coloration.
Rabaulichthys can be particularly finicky and easy to scare fish. This specimen was extremely difficult to photograph–had it not been for a tight fitting lid it would have jumped out of the aquarium on a number of occasions. Unfortunately we never did see it raise it’s dorsal fin–but check out this photo from the collection outfit Cairns Marine (Thanks Joe): Male Rabaulichthys sp. Displaying Dorsal.
The male’s stunning dorsal display is paired with rapid swimming motions, as used during courtship much like Cirrhilabrus Wrasses. Perhaps the additional female LiveAquaria has will be able to illicit the male to do a little showing off…"
shock_therapy
New member
thank you for all the info. there not looking so hot right now. so ill leave em there for a week to see how the handled shipping. there are one of the coolest fish ive seen though, its hard to resist!
glassbox-design
New member
FYI: There is quoting, and then there is lifting images and reproducing 95% of an article without citing. One is fair use, the other is copyright infringement.
