Pacific Abyss On Discovery...

[Mattmcf]

Is anyone else watching this program? The whole thing takes place in Indonesia. The scientists are collecting new species of reef fish. They are showing how divers go in and net fish on the reef, many recognized from this forum like fairy wrasses, pairs of wantanabe angels, and pairs of mandarins. If you missed it and have TEVO/DVR i would definately recomend it!

[JAS5LF]

Yep, great visuals of reefs and reef fish, inverts, etc.

[Nicholas89]

Yeah, I watched it. Awesome show, they really showed some neat new species too.

That blue damsel fish was something else. I was also real fond of that butterfly fish they showed.

Too bad my tivo was being used by...desperate house wives..

[Sheol]

That damsel, & that new species of Angel. It had to be some kind of apolemicthys. Looked like a Griffiths that got a color make-over. I wish they would have discussed the new fish a BIT more, but than this was about diving. Also, that new species of Prognathodes butterfly. WOW!

Matthew

[marinelife]

I have the DVR set for later tonight to get it. I wish it was on HD

[Sheol]

I almost forgot, the corals were great too, though they didn't talk about them. There was a killer shot of a Diploastrea!
And lots of other Favids & about a million Montiporas. LOL

Matthew

[bc explore reef]

I like the way they threw in the comment about the threat to Mandarin fish being collected for aquariums...hehe...

And also the decompression of the fish from 400', did you see all the air that came out of that thing, looked like he just squeezed the little guy?? I am interested in knowing how they do that...

I know that they are breathing tri-mix at 400' but seemed like they came up pretty quickly, I thought t takes like 2 hours to decompress at that depth?? Regardless those guys are hardcore divers...Great show!

[Mark75]

[i

And also the decompression of the fish from 400', did you see all the air that came out of that thing, looked like he just squeezed the little guy?? I am interested in knowing how they do that...

[/B]

You use a syringe and needle with out the plunger attached, peirce the swim bladder just below and behind the pectoral fin. I use this same procedure to release air from fish caught deep in tournaments. If you do not "fizz" the fish they die quickly, if you let out to much air they sink. It is best to do with the fish under water so you can feel when the fish rest normally in the water.

[superfirefly]

I liked the shots of the large anemones with all the skunk clowns in them. My questions are what kind of anemones where they and if I remember correctly they were at 65'. At that depth I can't imagine there would be a lot of light so why do we consider these animals to be high light animals?

[LobsterOfJustice]

There's a lot more light than you think at 65'.

[RWillieK]

I thought it was an excellent show as well - great montiporas - there were a great 'field' of them on one of the last shots in the water - awesome greenish color.

Robbie

[SJGreene]

For anyone that went to MACNA XIX in Pittsburgh, I think this was the same group of guys who were shown in the clip by Dr. Allen on Saturday night. The one where the guys were way down deep and using the Helium, chasing the angel fish. I say part of the show last night and I'm almost certain it's the same footage. My guess is that what was shown at MACNA was some of the un-edited tape.

[Mattmcf]

pretty damn funny watching them chase the fish while they were on helium.

[Sheol]

LOL. Yeah, while they were talking like Donald Duck's sons & competing over the same fish!
I loved all the Favia/favids in that one shot..
But apart from all the new fish species & info on Deepwater collecting ( which was totally fascinating BTW) I loved Mike's Solo deep dive in that Newt Suit. First time I've seen one in Public use though the Navy's had them for awhile. Really neat. I'd love them to do a follow up on the fish & more use of the suit.

Matthew

[Ctimpson]

the anemone was a carpet with the skunk clowns...Awesome show...

[pledosophy]

I missed it. Did a search and found no more repeats. Is the title of the show Pacific Abyss.

Off to the Discovery Website.

[superfirefly]

The science channel is airing it the last weekend of Oct. I think.

[uscharalph]

Anyone know if and when it shows again?

[USC-fan]

oct 21 12-2 pm DSC

[Sheol]

I was wrong on the angel. Its, at least temporarily, in Centropyge.
Centropyge abei is the name. Pretty nice pic of it down in Reef fishes Forum. I wonder if they named that Butterflyfish, since they showed a good shot of him & that incredible little damsel. Anyone know if an official or preliminary naming & description has taken place?
I'll tape it next time its on. The good thing about TDC or Animal Planet is they ALWAYS show re-runs eventually..

Matthew
Just how many new fish were found on this expedition?

[luke33]

The damsel was cool but what about the new butterfly....now that was somethin! And the size of that carpet! WOW, you'd have to dedicate your whole tank to it if you had a 125g!

[Sheol]

Yep. I think its a new Prognathodes. Neat fish, but I'm an angel fanatic. Oh, which reminds me, that G. bellus angel pair was great. Not a new species, but cool.
I've almost forgotten about the new dottyback. A new Pseudochromis species. I know they also said they found a new species of Squirrelfish.
****
New species list
1 new Angelfish Centropyge abei
1 new Butterflyfish- Prognathodes sp. (?)
1 new damsel
1 new Dottyback- Pseudochromis sp. (?)
1 new Squirrelfish.
And I believe that is an incomplete list. I'd have sold my soul to be on that dive boat!

Matthew

[USC-fan]

its back on!

[LukFox]

Does anyone know what that fish they show right before the bellus angels is? It's the long kind of soapfish looking one with the coloration of a bimaculatus anthias.