I feel the need to comment on this post. I don't care about the cost of the fish, but I DO CARE that people are bashing the true Personnifer Angel. Have any of you seen a True Personifer in full front mask? If you do, it will take your breath away. The vibrancy of the mask is so much more apparent on the true species rather than the Meredithi.
We had a full male blue masked Personifer in our LFS 800 gallon system years ago, he remained in the system for quite a while, and he was huge, and his mask was spectacular.
For those of you who cannot understand the difference in paying the extra money for the Personifer, I would first see in person the adult version of each fish before making such statements.
A Personifer is much better looking as an adult IMO.
As this is the first/second specimen offered for sale in the USA I think it's fair to say that 99.9% of board posters will not have seen the mask in real life. This also goes for the people probably looking to buy the fish from LADD. That being said we have seen it in pictures, so we have a fair idea of what to expect.
Honestly I think people seriously allow rarity to influence their opinions on beauty in a significant manner. If you showed This fish to a novice next to half a dozen large more common angels this would be one of the last picked out of the lineup on looks alone. Now we know it's rare, it is valued more highly, but I don't think that we should use that as an excuse to pretend that it looks better. It's being sold for rarity, not looks. If it's easier to justify the price by pretending it's the prettiest fish to ever hit private aquaria, whatever floats your boat.
Side note, just tested the theory with my wife. Showed her adult pictures of four large angels, this was the least favorite. Not even close, and she knows nothing about the availability of any of the fish. I think most of us would experience similar results if asking other non-specialists.
I'm not saying that this fish could not look nice in an appropriate tank, with the right tank mates. I'm saying that for less money I think (and most people seem to think) you could get a better looking fish, with equally interesting character. Or at least a very similar looking fish.
I am not bashing those who choose to buy this fish, as it's their money and they can do what they please with it, but let's be honest about why this fish is so interesting (rarity) and not try and make excuses to justify our wants and needs. I would pay more for some fish for other reasons, and I can't say everyone agrees with me, but I like to think I'm honest when explaining it. I'd pay more for a pair of Fu Manchu lions than a pair of dwarf fuzzies. Many people would not agree with that, but it's what I like. I don't need to pretend that the Fu lions would be more active (unlikely the case) to justify my decision.
