Show off your tilefish!

[i cant think]

Here’s a question, out of all 13 tilefish that have been and/or are available still, which would you guys love to see in person?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Here’s a question, out of all 13 tilefish that have been and/or are available still, which would you guys love to see in person?

My favorite in order:
1. Marcosi
2. Purpureus
3. Starckii
4. Chlupatyi
5. Randalli
6. Luteus
7. Fourmanoiri
8. Oreni

 

[i cant think]

I’ve just seen a photo of H. cuniculus labelled as H. chlupatyi. I wonder if the reason why “Flashing” tilefish go grey is because they are instead the Dusky Tilefish, H. cuniculus. But also as a genuine genus, any fish from Hoplolatilus is rare to find so that may make it even harder to identify each fish as a 100% identification.

Here’s a photo of H. cuniculus (If I had to guess, possibly a mature specimen).

against my Chlupatyi (Older photo due to the chlupatyi jumping yesterday and still not out - Kind of worrying but he did eat yesterday and isn’t flashing today).

 

[sc50964]

Does it look healthy to you all? Honestly, I thought luteus had a full yellow body? I sent them an email asking what it is eating and requesting a video of the fish, to see how it's behaving.

These are fourmanoiri. I recently got two and they look just like this.

 

[i cant think]

He came out a few minutes ago so I took advantage of it haha, Fed them AND got a video showing how he flashes when eating and not stressed :)
Some photos before feeding time

I want more… I’d gladly try grabbing a fronticinctus if I had a “bright” specimen infront of me.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Well, the new marcosi and fourmanoiri showed up today. Unfortunately I didn't get pics as they're too skittish. The fourmanoiri moved into the same burrow as the current marcosi, which shares the burrow with the 2 aurora gobies, the yellow watchman goby, and the candy cane pistol shrimp. The new marcosi moved into an abandoned shrimp goby burrow, since my aurora gobies decided to pair up.

The new marcosi has a small wound on it's side, but I'm hoping it will heal quickly. It's also smaller, only about 2.5" long. Both new tilefish came out and ate already, which is promising.

Don't mind the dinoflagellates in the pics. They're slowly going away now that the nitrates are finally coming up.

 

[Tcook]

Well, the new marcosi and fourmanoiri showed up today. Unfortunately I didn't get pics as they're too skittish. The fourmanoiri moved into the same burrow as the current marcosi, which shares the burrow with the 2 aurora gobies, the yellow watchman goby, and the candy cane pistol shrimp. The new marcosi moved into an abandoned shrimp goby burrow, since my aurora gobies decided to pair up.

The new marcosi has a small wound on it's side, but I'm hoping it will heal quickly. It's also smaller, only about 2.5" long. Both new tilefish came out and ate already, which is promising.

Don't mind the dinoflagellates in the pics. They're slowly going away now that the nitrates are finally coming up.

Wow. You gotten a lot of nice fish recently. Looking forward to pics when they settle in.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Wow. You gotten a lot of nice fish recently. Looking forward to pics when they settle in.

Tax return was pretty good this year, so wife and I splurged on the tanks. These finished the stock for this tank, but we're also setting up a 65 gallon reef, another fluval evo, and a 47 gallon, and still adding corals to my wife's fluval evo. So we snagged a few things for those as well. Hence the 40-some frags on the frag racks in the 75 gallon, a breeder box with a clown pair and their bubbletip, another breeder box full of maxi mini nems, a quarantine with a breeding group of red stoplight cardinals, and another holding tank with a bunch of baby clowns, a Rolland's damsel, and the helfrichi firefish pair.

Adding some pics of the 20 gallon holding tank, since I know most tilefish lovers also like firefish.

 

[Tcook]

Tax return was pretty good this year, so wife and I splurged on the tanks. These finished the stock for this tank, but we're also setting up a 65 gallon reef, another fluval evo, and a 47 gallon, and still adding corals to my wife's fluval evo. So we snagged a few things for those as well. Hence the 40-some frags on the frag racks in the 75 gallon, a breeder box with a clown pair and their bubbletip, another breeder box full of maxi mini nems, a quarantine with a breeding group of red stoplight cardinals, and another holding tank with a bunch of baby clowns, a Rolland's damsel, and the helfrichi firefish pair.

Adding some pics of the 20 gallon holding tank, since I know most tilefish lovers also like firefish.

Exciting days ahead for you two.

 

[i cant think]

Well, the new marcosi and fourmanoiri showed up today. Unfortunately I didn't get pics as they're too skittish. The fourmanoiri moved into the same burrow as the current marcosi, which shares the burrow with the 2 aurora gobies, the yellow watchman goby, and the candy cane pistol shrimp. The new marcosi moved into an abandoned shrimp goby burrow, since my aurora gobies decided to pair up.

The new marcosi has a small wound on it's side, but I'm hoping it will heal quickly. It's also smaller, only about 2.5" long. Both new tilefish came out and ate already, which is promising.

Don't mind the dinoflagellates in the pics. They're slowly going away now that the nitrates are finally coming up.

2.5 inch?! The only other tilefish I’ve seen come in at that size was Hoplolatilus chlupatyi. That’s lucky you got the Marcosi at that size. I assume he’ll pair with the other marcosi soon, if they haven’t bothered eachother then that’s good news. Even better on how in the wild they’re a social fish so it’s definitely best to have groups of them.
Even better news to hear that your guys are straight away! Cant wait to see photos of the fourmanoiri when it’s established, bet he’s a beautiful specimen.

I’m still waiting on a nice specimen to come into my LFS, think I’ll pass on a purpureus or starcki and wait for a luteus, marcosi, fronticinctus or another chlupatyi. From what I’ve read chlupatyi flash more when in pairs/groups so I may try grab a second if I found one that was smaller and healthy.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Someone finally came out of hiding today!

 

[i cant think]

Someone finally came out of hiding today!

Man he’s beautiful! How’s the second Marcosi?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Man he’s beautiful! How’s the second Marcosi?

Wife thinks she saw it's tail sticking out today back in one of the caves. Still hasn't come out of hiding at all. Trying to leave them be and let them settle as much as possible.

 

[Tcook]

Someone finally came out of hiding today!

Be interesting to see how he feeds when he is settled in. Probably at high speed like a tarpon after a bait ball.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Be interesting to see how he feeds when he is settled in. Probably at high speed like a tarpon after a bait ball.

That's how the first marcosi I added eats, so hoping that he and the second marcosi will do the same. Just need time to settle in to the tank.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Sneaking out under the blues...

 

[i cant think]

When I went to get a Griessinger’s goby guess what I saw, a Oreni tilefish. I didn’t bring it home (Asking price was £840) and it was sold. I could’ve gotten 10% off because I was offered it the other day but passed. I’m rather glad I did pass since they look relatively bland in person. Plus it wasn’t on the top of my wanted list anyway.
IMO Oreni tilefish are more of a collectors fish, due to the rarity. Wonder what collectors do when a fish is no longer a rarity and it’s price drops due to it becoming more frequent. Do they keep the fish it trade it in?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Update: unfortunately one of the skunk tiles was dead on the bottom of the tank this morning. Not sure what happened or which one it was, or if the 2nd one is even still in there. Have only seen 1 at a time and the CUC could definitely remove a body in no time.

The fourmanoiri tilefish is starting to come out more often and is eating mysis now.

 

[Tcook]

Update: unfortunately one of the skunk tiles was dead on the bottom of the tank this morning. Not sure what happened or which one it was, or if the 2nd one is even still in there. Have only seen 1 at a time and the CUC could definitely remove a body in no time.

The fourmanoiri tilefish is starting to come out more often and is eating mysis now.

Sad to hear hopefully the other 2 do well. These fish make me nervous. My 2 tiles are eating well in the observation tank but I think I am going to keep them there for a couple more weeks.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Sad to hear hopefully the other 2 do well. These fish make me nervous. My 2 tiles are eating well in the observation tank but I think I am going to keep them there for a couple more weeks.

I moved mine all directly to the display hoping that the peaceful dither fish and plenty of burrows and rockwork would help them settle and feel safe. Apparently not. :(