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Anonymous
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Wow! These are amazing photos! Dr. Tanaka, any nice shots of some rare Paracheilinus spp.?
Cirrhilabrus earlei and rhomboidalis
- Thread starter Len
- Start date
I've never kept two pairs of Cirrhilabrus in the same tank before. I've only kept two or three different male specimens in the same tank, but never pairs. It's interesting to observe their aggression. The males of either species never bothers with the female of the other species. The C.earlei male is currently dominant over the C.rhomboidalis. This may change when the male C.rhomboidis gets much bigger. On the other hand, the female C.rhomboidalis is the dominant female Fairy Wrasse in the tank. It will do a little chasing (not often and nothing serious) of the female C.rhomboidalis.
I've noticed the Cirrihilabrus will often demonstrate aggression territorial posturing at night along the sides of the glass. I presume this is because the outside room is dark and the lighting of the tank creates reflections within the tank on the glass. It's interesting to watch the C.rhomboidalis flare its fins at its own reflection The only problem is sometimes the male C.earlei thinks the rhomboid is displaying aggression towards it and will "fight" back. I might have to keep the lights on at night, or perhaps devise some other method to eliminate that reflection. In a tank where you are only keeping one male Cirrhilabrus specimen, it's probably a desirable thing to have him "fight" his own reflection as it will help maintain the male morphology traits.
I've noticed the Cirrihilabrus will often demonstrate aggression territorial posturing at night along the sides of the glass. I presume this is because the outside room is dark and the lighting of the tank creates reflections within the tank on the glass. It's interesting to watch the C.rhomboidalis flare its fins at its own reflection The only problem is sometimes the male C.earlei thinks the rhomboid is displaying aggression towards it and will "fight" back. I might have to keep the lights on at night, or perhaps devise some other method to eliminate that reflection. In a tank where you are only keeping one male Cirrhilabrus specimen, it's probably a desirable thing to have him "fight" his own reflection as it will help maintain the male morphology traits.
Len":1tzrblpf said:
Did you mean earlei here?
Fascinating to watch the interactions isn't it? One of my favorite new pastimes is watching the fish in the 20,000 g tank at the aquarium. There's a group of yellow tangs, hippo tangs, powder browns, powder blues, and achilles. A couple scopas as well. Tangs singly are so boring to me, but in large groups they really start to have interesting behaviors.
Ya, oops. The female C.rhomboidalis > female C.earlei.
I was thinking about just having one black tang in my new tank, but maybe i'll get another tang. However, when my Chevron passed away after 7 years in my tank (within 72 hours after I introduced a diseased C.griffisi ), the black tang seemed a lot more at peace by itself .... almost boring even
I was thinking about just having one black tang in my new tank, but maybe i'll get another tang. However, when my Chevron passed away after 7 years in my tank (within 72 hours after I introduced a diseased C.griffisi
), the black tang seemed a lot more at peace by itself .... almost boring even Dear Len,
That's right !
Any male of Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus will excite at the 'enemy' before his eyes, just appeared on the glass; the enemy is himself. I will take shots in the evening or at night, and put off all the lights but the tank one. Then he will find it on a mirror (of the glass) and then he will change colors to prepare attack it. Then I could have a chance to photograph of the moment of his excitement. I always cover all tank with a black boards except top and front to make the glass mirrors.
Here is a shot of a male (11cm) of Cirrhilabrus lineatus that was kept ALONE without any other animal in the tank. He will change his colors in the dark at around 8:00 PM (next photo).
That's right !
Any male of Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus will excite at the 'enemy' before his eyes, just appeared on the glass; the enemy is himself. I will take shots in the evening or at night, and put off all the lights but the tank one. Then he will find it on a mirror (of the glass) and then he will change colors to prepare attack it. Then I could have a chance to photograph of the moment of his excitement. I always cover all tank with a black boards except top and front to make the glass mirrors.
Here is a shot of a male (11cm) of Cirrhilabrus lineatus that was kept ALONE without any other animal in the tank. He will change his colors in the dark at around 8:00 PM (next photo).
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Len":32tzpbw3 said:Ya, oops. The female C.rhomboidalis > female C.earlei.
I was thinking about just having one black tang in my new tank, but maybe i'll get another tang. However, when my Chevron passed away after 7 years in my tank (within 72 hours after I introduced a diseased C.griffisi
I think you should get a magnificent foxface and a tomini tang.
This is his 'displaying' coloration with a great excitement (me, too). He showed such coloration only once, and this ended within 10 seconds. I could have got only two shots. I am sorry; it is out of focus, and it is the first shot.
I hope you can find some differences between the two (normal colors, shown above and displaying one). I experienced with many other species in this manner of photographing.
I hope you can find some differences between the two (normal colors, shown above and displaying one). I experienced with many other species in this manner of photographing.
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Thank you, Len and NKT.
Those are nice photos.
I have experienced some gorgeous colorations with excitement; shown here are displaying males of;
1 C. rubriventralis
2 C. rubrisquamis
3 C. condei
4 C. sanguineus
Three of these are illustrated in a new book "World Atlas of Marine Fishes" (Kuiter & Debelius, 2006) just published at TMC-Publishing, UK.
Those are nice photos.
I have experienced some gorgeous colorations with excitement; shown here are displaying males of;
1 C. rubriventralis
2 C. rubrisquamis
3 C. condei
4 C. sanguineus
Three of these are illustrated in a new book "World Atlas of Marine Fishes" (Kuiter & Debelius, 2006) just published at TMC-Publishing, UK.
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Many thanks, NKT.
The depth is only 30 cm ! Yes, all were taken at my home; all were aquarium sources, and I took them at night. The tank is surrounded by black boards and I use live rocks and dead corals only on the sands.
No females were there and I keep various males only when I took photos of them.
C. sanguineus (8cm) comes only from off west coast of Mauritius (endemic), C. condei (7cm) from Vanuatu, C. rubriventralis (6.5cm) from Sri Lanka, and C. rubrisquamis (9cm) from Maldives. C. sanguineus is the rarest among them, approximately 1 individual per three to four years in Japanese market. One of the rarest species as aquarium pet.
C. condei is also rare but can be seen at shops on occasion. C. rubriventralis is the commonest among the four, but those from Sri Lanka is slightly different from thiose from Red Sea in having black and red pelvic fins (mostly red in Red Sea specimens). C. rubrisquamis is not so commonly seen but on a fairly regular basis.
I do not (cannot) dive so my shots of Fairies & Flashers are taken in aquaria. I have been keeping 29 species of Cirrhilabrus until now; 13 are yet to be kept at my hand.
The depth is only 30 cm ! Yes, all were taken at my home; all were aquarium sources, and I took them at night. The tank is surrounded by black boards and I use live rocks and dead corals only on the sands.
No females were there and I keep various males only when I took photos of them.
C. sanguineus (8cm) comes only from off west coast of Mauritius (endemic), C. condei (7cm) from Vanuatu, C. rubriventralis (6.5cm) from Sri Lanka, and C. rubrisquamis (9cm) from Maldives. C. sanguineus is the rarest among them, approximately 1 individual per three to four years in Japanese market. One of the rarest species as aquarium pet.
C. condei is also rare but can be seen at shops on occasion. C. rubriventralis is the commonest among the four, but those from Sri Lanka is slightly different from thiose from Red Sea in having black and red pelvic fins (mostly red in Red Sea specimens). C. rubrisquamis is not so commonly seen but on a fairly regular basis.
I do not (cannot) dive so my shots of Fairies & Flashers are taken in aquaria. I have been keeping 29 species of Cirrhilabrus until now; 13 are yet to be kept at my hand.
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Orangeback fairy. This is a diving view of the fish but you'll notice his head is displaying a white tone which is typical in displaying fairies. The back is also a brighter orange.
[/img]http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Orangeback_flashing_2006.JPG[/img][/img]
[/img]http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Orangeback_flashing_2006.JPG[/img][/img]
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