yikai

this tiny flame is just as rare as the yellow scopas. the origin of this flame angel is from the Philippines. Almost all the flames you see for sale are collected from Marshall islands and the surrounding areas. Very few come from Hawaii where they are locally rare. Even fewer come from Philippines, where they are at their limit in terms of their distribution. Philippine flames are more orange in color, and because are rare locally finding a mate of the same species is not as easy and they more often than not, mate with the more abundant and closely related rusty angel to produce rusty x flame, or false shepardi angel offsprings. yes, a normal flame from marshall/christmas islands is so much easier and nicer to obtain. a normal hawaiian yellow tang is so much yellower and nicer than the brown scopas. but knowing the story behind these unusual fish makes it all the more enjoyable and special! just sharing in case some people are wondering what all the fuss is about for these 2 normal looking fish.

it's a colloquial name. they're referring to this http://catalogue.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk/Detail.aspx?sku=11314

H. thompsoni at LADD! i always wanted a business suit butterfly

the black tail and black ventral fins stand bright orange blotches stands out so nicely. but look at those evil eyes. it's unkeepable!

when will we get to see canary damsel here? i love that juvi tinker. HK have been getting many juvi tinkers recently.

dejong new shipment. what blue gobies are these? and an amazing juvenile lunula trigger!

This pair of tangs look like Yellow tangs, but do not be fooled. they are not! These are philippine brown tangs (Zebrasoma scopas), but are colored an unusually bright yellow. Variation in colors for the brown tang is normal, and some exhibit "yellower" coloration. but i have never seen anything like this before. these are the yellowest most beautiful brown tangs i've ever seen. I had a discussion with Julian Sprung, Jake Adams, Tony Vargas and Bob Fenner. We all agreed on the species being Z. scopas (brown tang), based on collection location, juvenile characteristics such as spots and striped seen here. so for those who want to own a "yellow-brown" tang, the two babies (2 inch each) are in a nano tank in iwarna. not sure if aunty is willing to sell but those who want to grow these special fish into adults can go and see/try.

magnificently yellow brown tang. a yellow scopas!

Cryptocentrus leucostictus and Amblyeleotris latifasciata from today iwarna philippine shipment

Koi aberrant P. fuscus from today's shipment at iwarna.

Sorry for late update. Iwarna soft coral - xenia, mushrooms, yuma, clove, seafans, zoas Today philippine shipment at iwarna.

a photo from koji's shop from 10 years ago. despite the abundant interrupta angels, look carefull and what do you see? a hotumatua angel from easter island! now there's no collection and the fish is MIA for a long time.

a school of very rare and deepwater Chromis mirationis in japan.

cairns marine colini with a baby regal angel. look at how small the colini is. small sizes like this do much better in captivity. cairns marine are MAC certified and only net catch their fish. so colinis from australia are never drugged with cyanide. live expectancy increases dramatically. however it is still a difficult fish that is shy and need coaxing to get feeding.

pic updates on the deepwater hawaiian fish. gorgeous excelsa and basabei butterflies. the excelsa is amazing. caramel gold color with tapering bone white stripes. i love how the 3rd dorsal spine is so long! a peek at the very shy Liopropom aurora!

a video by rufus on the hawaiian treasure throve. all that's missing is a personatus for a clean sweep of all hawaiian gems!

Bali soft corals @ iwarna.

we are getting oculus in out next order. he told me these are going to MACNA, and he will catch for us next time. as for kamoharai, i will request from koji again.

niger angel. 6cm!

very good response. the tiny potters is very rare. I wish it were same if we had ordered basabei and excelsa. we need buyers for these butterflies!

no update pics of the goldenback trigger and fuscipinnis anthias? yes sanguineus hog is rare, and a 2cm one is even rarer. amazing shipment by rufus. he had fish that are a hundred times rarer than these and all went to japan. we r blessed to hav him as a supplier and with more interest in uncommon fish, we can get better stuff next time too!

MACNA 2013 fish from Koji wada. an amazing collection. Ocoulus blennies, 15cm juvenile dragon moray eel and 3 Kamohara blennies to ORA. joining this entourage are nippon butterflies and interrupta angels.

joe is very knowledgable and a conscientious reefer. you can tell he researches alot and reads many pdf papers. i have much to learn from him here!

goldenback triggers are rare and one of the most beautiful. they are also peaceful and reefsafe planktivores with small mouths. a great show fish for a big reef or a FOWLR tank.