Recent content by Hiroyuki Tanaka

Many thanks, muchosarah, Yes, I am a nature lover in a sense, and also love aquarium species as well. I like untouched reefs more than aquatic sceneries, but it is much easier to see fishes and reefs in home. The fish is Chaetodon rafflessi, only 2cm at a yacht harbor in Miyazaki City. The...

Two forms of Helfrich's Dartfish, Nemateleotris helfrichi. They became popular among aquarists, and will thrive well in captivities. The one with a purplish head is said to come from the Cook Islands, and always command a high price.

Here is an unusual Chaetodon burgessi, 7cm. It has a yellow eye-band that is black in typical individuals. Some specimens surely possess such a yellow band there, especially those from Kumejima, Okinawa (see Scott Michael, Reef Fishes), but it seems rare.

Thanks, Matt. No, I have not seen the species yet, and it is extremely rare in market. I too really hope to see it. The photo shows the female P. kaleidos, 65mm from Indonesia that will be sold on occasion.

Thanks and yes, it is too bad. Here is a photo of a male Pseudojuloides kaleidos, 8cm from Indonesia (at a shop). It is rarely available. Perhaps it also denies any foods.

Recently I got a beautiful Pseudojuloides severnsi, male 8cm but unfortunately it soon died without acclimation; it did not accept any food offered.

Hi Jacky, They are great ! P. attenuatus is still rarely seen in our market. I hope that you can keep them successfully.

Here is a newly introduced dottyback photo. It seems Pictichromis diadema, but has a broader pink band. It is some 60 mm, and said to have been collected in Cebu, the Philippines. It is very well in my fish-only tank, and is not so aggressive towards other smaller inhabitants. Gerry...

Thanks. Your calling my name in Japanese is very good. Yes, it seems a hybrid, not a new species, but has a bright reddish orange body. I think that C. ferrugata does not occur around Cebu, southern Philippines where my specimen has been collected. C. loriculus or C. shepardi will be...

Here is a new comer, Centropyge shepardi to a shop B-Box Aquarium in Saitama, just north of Tokyo. It was bright orange on body with fewer dark bands. Also it was very active around the tank and doing well. As you know the species was found also in Ogasawara and in Hachijo-jima Island...

At least three (or four) individuals of the species have been imported to a dealer in Osaka and two of which were sold to the shop Vessell in Gunma Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. Nearly two months have passed since they arrived there, but they seem still lively. I have not seen them yet, and...

Steve, What a nice fish it is ! It seems scarce in the wild, and you should be praised by ichthyologists, too. How long is it ? You may find other individuals born at the same time there ! Anyway I hope that you can find a customer soon. Hiroyuki Tanaka, MD

Thanks, Escaped Ape, Here is a shot of Paracheilinus mccoskeri, from Kenya, male 70mm in display. A rarely seen form. It has much more reddish areas on fins rather than those in the 'true' mccoaskeri from the Maldives, etc. It may prove to be a valid species by DNA study.

Centropyge abei- fans, I wrote an article for the next issue of Reef Life, and hopefully it would be out soon. I included some U/W shots from Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. Best Wishes, Hiroyuki

Hi, It is good. There are many good shops there. My tank is very simple, being decorated with rocks and ornamental dead corals only, and a glass cover on the top. Here is a newly introdiced Flaming Angel, only 25 mm TL. I purchased it at a shop in Saitama, just north of Tokyo through their...