Plectranthias azumanus?

[Northwest_Scapes_]

I've seen this one on NY Aquatic for a while and now it's at a $300 discount and if it goes even lower, I may have to snag it for my NPS Reef. Being rarely seen there's not much info I can find on it but my only concern is that if it has a chance of eating my Possum Wrasse. The Plectranthias is about 3" and my Possum is about 2". I don't know too much about Plectranthias so any input is helpful

 

[Slocke]

Being part of the anthias subfamily and being quite small I wouldn’t worry though they are a fish that does better in the low 70s. @ISpeakForTheSeas?

I would google perchlet (like the geometric) care guides. Most say they are shy, peaceful(except to some bottom fish), and like more dimly lit tanks so they may be right for you.

 

[Northwest_Scapes_]

Being part of the anthias subfamily and being quite small I wouldn’t worry though they are a fish that does better in the low 70s. @ISpeakForTheSeas?

I would google perchlet (like the geometric) care guides. Most say they are shy, peaceful(except to some bottom fish), and like more dimly lit tanks so they may be right for you.

AFAIK their behavior is like hawkfish so it should be fine in my tank, I can probably lower the temp down to 72 as well, it's unfortunate they're so rare besides the Geometric since I'd imagine they all have similar care besides temp and lighting but you never know haha

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

There's a good deal of dispute on how many species there actually are in the genus and how many of them are or are not the species known as Plectranthias azumanus, but we'll stick with that name and won't get into the weeds of that discussion.

Plectranthias azumanus (A.K.A. Zalanthias azumanus, which is considered an unaccepted synonym) is a true deepwater (60-280m deep by one source, 30-400m by another; I've seen specimens reportedly caught down at 290m), mesophotic and rariphotic reef-associated, bottom-dwelling species. Their reported approximate temperature range (which, to my understanding, is largely seasonal) is 8 to 18C (or 46.4 to 64.4F); so given the temperature range and depth, yeah, a coldwater, dimly lit tank would probably be necessary. They reportedly grow to ~12cm (though depending on how the whole disputed taxonomy thing breaks down, they could go up to ~15cm).

If the specimen for sale is actually one of the disputed junior synonym species, such as P. melanesius, P. kelloggi, or P. maculicauda, then the temperature may be a bit warmer, but I would still expect that maintaining one at normal reef temps would drastically shorten its lifespan.

 

[Northwest_Scapes_]

There's a good deal of dispute on how many species there actually are in the genus and how many of them are or are not the species known as Plectranthias azumanus, but we'll stick with that name and won't get into the weeds of that discussion.

Plectranthias azumanus (A.K.A. Zalanthias azumanus, which is considered an unaccepted synonym) is a true deepwater (60-280m deep by one source, 30-400m by another; I've seen specimens reportedly caught down at 290m), mesophotic and rariphotic reef-associated, bottom-dwelling species. Their reported approximate temperature range (which, to my understanding, is largely seasonal) is 8 to 18C (or 46.4 to 64.4F); so given the temperature range and depth, yeah, a coldwater, dimly lit tank would probably be necessary. They reportedly grow to ~12cm (though depending on how the whole disputed taxonomy thing breaks down, they could go up to ~15cm).

If the specimen for sale is actually one of the disputed junior synonym species, such as P. melanesius, P. kelloggi, or P. maculicauda, then the temperature may be a bit warmer, but I would still expect that maintaining one at normal reef temps would drastically shorten its lifespan.

Thank you! I see, at that size I think it'll be a little too big for my tank. I'll pass on it for now

 

[MantisShrimpMan]

@Northwest_Scapes_ how big is your tank?

One other thing worth adding, I personally think a lot of people underestimate the challenges associated with cold water fish.

Last year I took the risk and kept a Catalina goby in a non-specific system for a while. With that said, I didn’t have corals, so I felt comfortable running the system more around 74 than the typical 77-80 region, but even then I’m pretty sure Catalina gobies are moreso fans of being in like 68, which was something I wasn’t going to be willing to replicate given my other livestock, nor was I able to because of the lack of a chiller or fan on a hooded AIO (JBJ Cubey, similar to a biocube)

ultimately though, I’m pretty sure my Catalina goby died for unrelated reasons. At the time I was a foolish noob, using Reef Nutrition mysisfeast as my primary food, meaning I was feeding a goby using shrimp chunks that were, on average, like 2-3 times as big as its mouth. I think that was what led to malnutrition and thus its demise. If I could find another Catalina in the future I’d give it another shot but elect for something like oyster feast or roefeast with much smaller particulate sizes.

 

[Northwest_Scapes_]

@Northwest_Scapes_ how big is your tank?

One other thing worth adding, I personally think a lot of people underestimate the challenges associated with cold water fish.

Last year I took the risk and kept a Catalina goby in a non-specific system for a while. With that said, I didn’t have corals, so I felt comfortable running the system more around 74 than the typical 77-80 region, but even then I’m pretty sure Catalina gobies are moreso fans of being in like 68, which was something I wasn’t going to be willing to replicate given my other livestock, nor was I able to because of the lack of a chiller or fan on a hooded AIO (JBJ Cubey, similar to a biocube)

ultimately though, I’m pretty sure my Catalina goby died for unrelated reasons. At the time I was a foolish noob, using Reef Nutrition mysisfeast as my primary food, meaning I was feeding a goby using shrimp chunks that were, on average, like 2-3 times as big as its mouth. I think that was what led to malnutrition and thus its demise. If I could find another Catalina in the future I’d give it another shot but elect for something like oyster feast or roefeast with much smaller particulate sizes.

It's a 30 Gallon, I'm running it at 74F since it's all NPS Corals and some deepwater fish. They mentioned their's was being held at 72 so even if it did fit the tank, I'm not sure I'd be able to turn the temp down fast enough.
You're right about the Catalina Gobies, those guys like it colddd. 60F is what a lot of public aquariums keep their's at and 65F is generally the "warmest" they'll be fine at and even then they don't really live that long, only a few years at most. My LFS had gotten one in a few months ago that I wanted to take since it was being held in a tropical system but I don't have a tank running at 60F so I passed on it since it wouldn't really be that much better, hope that guy went to a proper home but I doubt it unfortunately