Cirrhilabrus earlei and rhomboidalis

[Len]

Just a heads up, but I might split this thread up to two or three different threads There's so much covered in this awesome thread that I think a couple more specific threads might be nicer. If you disagree though, speak up before I do it (since I can't merge threads later )

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Thank you very much for your nice pics, Bronco.

Yes, it needs some patience and time to get such photos of displaying.

Here is a new comer from Kenya, C. exquisitus, the Exquisite Fairy Wrasse, some 10 cm long in display. The Indian Ocean form has a red marking behind eye.

 

[Len]

I was transfix but a very cool behavior my male rhomboid displayed today during feeding. Here's a link to the discussion in the General Reef Discussion:
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=961616

 

[Len]

Do all Cirrhilabrus make mucus nets when they sleep? All the ones I've previously kept do (well over a dozen species). However, the C.earlei, on the past two nights, does not.

 

[bronco7777]

Len,

All Cirrhilabrus should be cocoon makers. I currently house 14 different types of fairy wrasses and I have owned countless other and they are all mucus net makers. However one thing to keep in mind is that fairy wrasses are also sometimes sleepwalkers. They may sleepwalk because something crawled on then and briefly startled them or because another fish bumped them for space in a rock. If that occurs, the fish will move out of its mucus cocoon and move into another area and may not necessarily make another cocoon. I've seen my wrasses start with a cocoon, only to move around and not have a cocoon for the rest of the night. I suspect that may be the case with the earlei. I'd continue to watch them and I think eventually you will see them make their nets. It's a natural protection method for when they are at their most vulnerable state. No fairy wrasse digs in the sand for sleeping purposes.

 

[bgreene]

Hey Len,

I haven't noticed either. I'd be very interested to find out if they do or not. Not sure if I mentioned this already on this forum, but the C. earlei do act differently than other Cirrhilabrus spp. in the wild. Males tend to be dissassociated from females, who aggregate in small clusters on the reef slope. The males also tend to dive into small holes in the reef face rather than run like other Cirrhilabrus when startled. It would be interesting to find any other behavioral differences from other Cirrhilabrus, given that this is one of the deepest dwelling of all Cirrhilabrus spp.

-Brian

 

[Len]

Maybe C.earlei is the only species that does not. I'll keep observing, but so far, all it does is wedge itself in the rocks. Very interesting

 

[Len]

The C.rhomboidalis female is by far the most aggressive of the four wrasses. It even sometimes goes for the male C.earlei. Leave it to the female to dominant attention The other wrasses are now extremely peaceful.

 

[Anonymous]

田中先生

Reefs.orgへようこそう！私はもうすぐイギリスに戻りますけどこの四年間日本のすごい珊瑚礁と魚を楽しめることが大変光栄だと存じていおります。

日本語の間違いを許してください！

Tom

(translation: Welcome to Reefs.org, Tanaka-sensei. I'll soon return to the UK, but it's been a privilege to enjoy the fish and reefs of Japan over the last four years. Please forgive mistakes in Japanese!)

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Dear Burntom,

Thank you very much and your Japanese is very good. Well, do you know me ? I am sorry for the question; I hope you are well.
Please keep me informed and enjoy yourself with your own fishes also from now in your country.

I am to appear in Fuji-TV next morning (Saturday) for a very short while, around 8:00AM. No fish on film ? :? I have no idea; I will talk about flu in Miyazaki as a medical doctor .

All The Best, Hiroyuki

 

[Anonymous]

No, I'm afraid we've never met, Tanaka-san, but I'm enjoying these photos and thought I'd add my welcome to those of others!

I'll try and catch you on Fuji TV tomorrow!

Tom

 

[Len]

I'm gonna bore you all with a few more C.earlei photos

 

[Len]

I love his dorsal fins

 

[Len]

Peek a boo

 

[Len]

My previous Cirrhilabrus specimens didn't pick at the rocks too often, but I find both the C.earlei and C.rhomboidalis forage my rocks all the time.

 

[Len]

The female is quite pretty too

 

[Len]

To get an idea how small she is, here she is swimming below a N.helfrichi (no bigger then any firefish).

 

[Anonymous]

:roll: yawn....

J/K Thanks for the twilight link, I now have yet another site that wants my paychecks :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Wow Len, very pretty! I had a look at the link and I'm guessing you don't want these to be jumping out of the tank. Too precious by far.

Though considering the depth, the beauty and the fact you have a pair, I'd say worth every cent. :wink:

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

LEN,

Very nice. I hope to see my own as soon as possible.......