Cirrhilabrus earlei and rhomboidalis

[Len]

bronco, I've never owned the D50 but know several people who do. It's a great camera that will serve you well. Some of the D50 is more advanced then my D1X .... technology sure advances fast!

Mr. Tanaka, great to see you posting in Reefs.org! Thanks for the compliments on the photos. Those were quick snap shots and I hope to take better pics when I have time. FYI: I have bigger image files then what I posted in case anyone is interested

The female C.earlei has a similiar appearance to the male, only it has no vivid colors on its dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. The stripes on its body are also more faded. The female's caudal tail is also much smaller, with a flat rear portion whereas the male's caudal is more rounded/diamond shaped (a lot like the C.rhomboidalis). Simply, the females are less colorful and have smaller fins then the male.

I've always loved C.rhomboidalis, so there was no way I was passing them up this time, no matter how "common" they've become. I wonder who else is collecting around the Kwajalein atoll.

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Many thanks, Matt. I am very happy to join this ( I am sorry Bronco, for not doing; I cannot do on your threads).

Yes, I have been keeping marine species for over thirty years and now am concentrated on the Fairy and Flasher Wrasses (these fifteen years) and have been photographing so many species, but yet several have not been shipped to Japan.

C. bathyphilus is one of the rarities in our country and also too expensive yet so only limited persons can afford . I have kept four males and a female of the species from Vanuatu (Efate Island); the male of Vanuatu (Efate) form is differing from those from northeastern Australia in coloration as you know. and also another form is known from Tanna Island, just south of Efate (both Vanuatu). The Australian form has once been avaiolable to Japan (only female).

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Many thanks, Len.

Females, yes, are slightly less colorful than males of the same species and thans for your nice information.

I am very fond of your great phyotos and keep me (and also everyone) informed.

 

[bronco7777]

Matt,

Brian Greene brought this site to my attention. I usually frequent other reef boards like RC and RAG. I have a pretty extensive thread about fairy wrasses at RC. Since I bought some Johnsoni's from Brian and he knew my interest for the Earle's, he was nice enough to point me to this site and thread.

Hiroyuki is the wrasse expert I was talking about in my last post.

Since Hiroyuki and Len are the first to keep the Earle's, it is good to have a thread like this to share information on this new fairy now available to the trade.

 

[bronco7777]

Hiroyuki,

No problem about not posting pictures on RC. I know you always keep up with the thread anyways.

I have some new pictures that I hope to send you soon.

I've also sent Blue Harbor Aquatics an email about the Cirrhilabrus lunatus. It seems that have a black version available on their web site. I'd like to purchase that fish if possible.

According to Brian I might be able to have the Johnsoni's by Tuesday. If not at the latest Wednesday. I'll send you pictures as soon as they arrive.

 

[Len]

Hiroyuki,

Incredible fish! I don't believe I've ever seen them here in the US, and I've never seen a photo of the C.roseafascia ever before. What an incredible caudal tail! It's probably too subtropical for most reef tanks, but I'd be incredibly tempted to setup a special tank to house a harem of those

 

[Len]

Here's some photos of the earleis from today. They've colored up a bit more as you can tell from the photos. So far, care for them has been the same as any Cirrhilabrus. These guys eat like pigs.

 

[Len]

Here's photos showing the female (I admittedly have ignored photographing her because the male is so much prettier )

 

[Len]

Sorry, here's a mundane C.rhomboidalis photo I had to share

 

[bronco7777]

Very nice Len! Keep 'em coming. You are surely not going to bore us with any of those.
I'll try sending you a picture of my rhomboid here soon.

 

[Len]

I can photograph fish all day Here's the female today.

 

[bronco7777]

Here's my Rhomboid, asleep in his cocoon at night

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[bronco7777]

Sorry, didn't post the picture correctly. Lets try this...[/img]

 

[Len]

Nice. My wrasses have never slept where I could photograph them. How long have you had your rhomboid, and are you keeping it singly?

 

[bronco7777]

Here's a very recent addition that is very similar to a rhomboid. This is a Pyle's fairy. Looks like a rhomboid but with one very large difference. The dorsal fin is red. Also, the tail has a blue rim on the end.

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[bronco7777]

One other major difference with the Pyle. The females are a totally different color (pink). As shown in this picture:

[/img]

 

[bronco7777]

I've had that male for two years. I had a female but lost her to a heater accident while I was away in a business trip.

 

[bgreene]

Hey Len,

We've actually been finding that C.roseafascia is more widespread than previously believed, I think it's now known from Fiji and Samoa, but deep like the C earlei's.

-Brian

 

[Meloco14]

Wow gorgeous pics guys, youre making me want to set up a wrasse tank now!

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Thanks all,

This is another new comer from deep Cebu, male, 7cm long.

It is yet to be described but I hear that an ichthyologist will name it this year, by using Iriomote specimens and those from Taiwan...... is this right ?, Brian. Brian and colleague have collected some in Taiwan. It ranges southern Japan to at least Cebu and may reach 10 cm or more.