What rare angel is the least owned?

[copps]

Here's a few wild images of C. abei described earlier this year courtesy of the Coral Reef Research Foundation in Palau where the fish was photographed at about 400 feet from a manned submersible. The holotype shown above was also collected there. Thanks to Lori at CRRF and as always Mr. Tanaka for the leads! Makes you wonder how many unseen species are lurking in the depths...

[Vili_Shark]

C.narcosis and C.abei are rare, I dont think C.abei was ever offered for sale as it is so new.
C.narcosis was, but very rare.

Largeangels, nice collection, you have any of them together in the same tank?

[LargeAngels]

vili_Shark: Most of them. BUT that didn't happen overnight and I've found that some angels just have a personality of their own and don't play well with others so over the years some have been removed. Asfur, blueface and emperor didn't play nicely with others. Oh, I forgot to add the little gray poma.

[JamesJR]

what about the geniacanthus angels? there are several of them that are pretty rare too.

[Hormigaquatica]

You know, Ive been trying to find a good, clear photo of C. abei ever since I first heard of the discovery/description... thanks to both for posting those

[Project Reef]

Yup, that looks like a totally smooth angel John. I'd love to have one.

[coralite]

Is it me or is C. abei really reminiscent of the rarest angel of all, chaetodontoplus ballinae? Perhaps there is some convergent evolution going on with the deep water color pattern?

[Angel*Fish]

Originally posted by coralite
Is it me or is C. abei really reminiscent of the rarest angel of all, chaetodontoplus ballinae? Perhaps there is some convergent evolution going on with the deep water color pattern?

Not really, it's a conscious effort on the part of the Centropyges themselves to confuse scientists & cause this type of speculation (Sorry - too much coffee naturally selects this type of posting)

[SARBoy]

What a cracking thread. thanks for the great read guys. of all the angels i would love to keep a Potter's. have never seen one in the UK, does anybody have one here or know how much they reatail for?

[JamesJR]

Wow, that is really kind of funny how different things can be in europe than in the united states as far as aquarium keeping goes. You guys have an easier time getting some fish and vice versa.
It would be pretty hard to get Potter's in the UK as they come from Hawaii. We have a hard enough time getting them in good shape and keeping them in north america, so I would advise you be very picky about who you get them from.

I read in an article once about this guy who visited an aquarium ocnferance in germany and how impressed the germans were with the yellow tangs the aquarium had and paid almost no attention to all the purple tangs.

[SARBoy]

Yellow tangs now two a penny over here. failing a potters i would go for a rusty but have only seen one over here and at the time i had a 10g so that was a no go. looking at my tank as i write i think i may have to go bigger befor i even think of a purchace. At the moment i am just doing home work.

[sedgro]

I just returned from Oahu (Hawaii). I did a couple dives with a collector friend of mine. I have never seen so many Potter's angels! Seems like there was a harem every 10 ft or so. This was all at about 100 ft of depth. This was the best photo I manage to snap(Potters in center):



The ones I followed seemed to eat mostly algae and detritus.
I had him (my friend) collect me a small pair which I brought back as checked baggage. I paid $15 each for them. So far, so good. For whatever reason, this angel has developed a poor track record in the US. I think, like any other fish, the care they get before you receive them has a lot to do with their survivability. I also brought back a 1.5 cm goldflake (not from Hawaii, but transits through there).

john

[jmicky41]

Wow, a 1.5cm goldflake, that is way under an inch. Do you have a pic?

[zemuron114]

sedgro - who did you dive with?

i think he meant 1.5" goldflake. 1.5cm is barely noticeable.. lol i have a 1" goldflake in my reef at home.

[JamesJR]

I bet there aren't many people who have a holacanthus africanus either. I saw one online for sale today and I had never seen one offered before. they didn't say what it cost but I bet it is outrageous.

[SARBoy]

Am very jealous. A pair of potters hand picked of $15 thats like £7.50. Most damesels cost that much over here. I guess i would have to factor in the diving lessons, flights and accommadation. life can seem so unfair.

[fishsoldseprtly]

I am actually getting a mated pair of Multi-Barred angels next week. Hope they do well.

[coralite]

Warren, Do you really think that a fish collector just happened to witness a pair of angels mate in the wild and then succeeded in capturing both fish? Isn;t it more likely that they are just selling you any two old fish which happen to get along? come on, if someone sells you a "mated" pair and they aren't clownfish or african cichlids, I'd say they are full of detritus. And for your sake I hope you dont have your heart set on keeping multi bar angels very long as their captive track record is mighty bleak.

[Tremelle]

JamesJR, have you called Tom to inquire as to how much it cost? I purchased my Chrysurus and Blueline angels from him. He has good quality fish. I may drop him a line to find out the cost.

[triggerfish1976]

RCT has a section on their site that talks about Debelius. I am wondering if he sent his first batch to Japan.
I hope they become avail. in the US soon.

[LargeAngels]

RCT will not be doing anything for the next 3 years, but then he will come back stronger.

[triggerfish1976]

Sorry about that last post. It was posted out of context in reply to a much earlier post.

Getting back on topic:
Does anyone know if it is possible to collect Ballinae Angels? A LFS claims they can get them, Blue Potters, and G. Personatus Angels but I think he is full of it. Granted he is asking TOP $ for them but I still think the Ballinae and Blue Potters claims are B.S.

[JamesJR]

Originally posted by triggerfish1976
Sorry about that last post. It was posted out of context in reply to a much earlier post.

Getting back on topic:
Does anyone know if it is possible to collect Ballinae Angels? A LFS claims they can get them, Blue Potters, and G. Personatus Angels but I think he is full of it. Granted he is asking TOP $ for them but I still think the Ballinae and Blue Potters claims are B.S.

Balllinae angelfish are protected by the australian government and they are not allowing any to be collected. Blue potters, I have only heard of a few specimens ever being found in the wild or offered for sale. Tell me what this guy at the fish store is smoking because it sounds like good stuff!

[coralite]

ditto on james's statements. Blue potters are rare freaks which are likely to be sold to the highest bidder and Ballina angels can only be collected by permits which are reserved for scientific research, vis-a-vis, joe shmoe hobbyist aint getting one. Not only is the ballina a protected species but it also lives in a marine protected area where fishing (of any kind) is prohibited.

[triggerfish1976]

I knew Ballinae were protected but was not sure of the extent. He also claims be able to get Peppermint Angels as well. I pretty much knew he was on something but you never know what some people can and cannot get in this hobby with the right connections.