Split-fin Flashlight Fish ??? + picture

[capo larzo]

I already posted this on another world-wide forum but to get a broader range, and from locals and LIRA members (maybe?), plus i like it over here much better, i wanted to post this again. Im hoping someone has some experience with these fishes.


I owned the same type of flashlight fish years ago that i just currently purchased. However I do not recall quite a bit. Through photographic and anatomical comparison, I believe it is the Split-fin Flashlight fish aka Anomalops katoptron. But other scientific names are also popping up as well, usually in reference to the Flashlight fish, describing a fish that spends its days in the deep, at the mouths of Coelocanth caves, making its way to the surface after the sun has set to feed on zooplankton/micro-fauna and then return to much greater depths.
This fish I'm talking about is called Photoblepheron palpebratus. Now if this is just a synonymous scientific classification in regards to Anomalops katoptron then this fish needs my public aquarium and its resources to be kept thriving.
However, i dont believe it is. Fishbase.org discusses how a larger version of the fish is found at deeper depths. "version" or however they word it exactly could mean many things. But the smaller fish i have was caught in shallow water, on the reef in the Indo-Pacific, as discussed with the source. I also believe this fish does not swim to the great depths discussed about other fish that are similar and in question.
Any ideas on the differences here? I also recall another species name being something like steinitzi, dont remember the Genus before it tho.
And of the different scientific names?
Any captive care EXPERIENCE??? :irked:
I work at that public aquarium, where i intern and aquarist.
I have the means and the capability to make this fish thrive if all goes as planned, God willing.
Pics from quarantine will follow.
Thanks for any info. :scratchch

 

[MIKE NY]

From what I've read and pics I've seen I think you are correct in your classification The Photoblepheron Palpebratus from the Indo-Pacific and the other species Steinitzi which has the same genus Photoblepheron from the Red Sea have a simular body structure which appears to be shorter and stockier than your species. The only ones I have seen in captivity are at The Long Island Aquarium (formally Atlantis Marine World).... sorry I don't know what genus of flashlights they were, but it was very cool watching them flashing around in total darkness...LOL If I remember Mike(MGNY) got a few of them awhile back...maybe PM him to see how things went with them....he posts here as well as on the LIRA forum on RC....good luck with yours

 

[meloncoral]

I have seen these at stores for sale. Very expensive$$$$
I have never seen one eat frozen food
Has anyone ever bought one and kept it alive in a regular tank at home?

 

[mgny]

just saw this guys. I do have one in my 180 now. Pets warehouse had 5 or so come in in Nov. Only one survived past a week or so there. I had no intention of taking the last one home until one of the guys there mentioned he was eating! This amazed me since i had no luck with the 3 i ordered years back. I also hit a dead end trying to find anyone in the country who had sucess in their reef tank. Well i have one now who is an eating machine in the dark only. He hides under a giant true undata colony when the lights are on. The second the lights go out he appears and flys around the tank all night looking for food. Mysis is the food of choice . Has to be one of the coolest thing you can see .... amazes me every day! Side benefit is my LIPA bill went down immediately... couldn't wait to shut the lights down!! Hope to do a bigger tank soon, would be incredible to have 3 or 4 cruisin around. I think the key is to make sure they eat before you take one home. You guys are welcome to come by and check him out. Would have to be 8:30 pm or later when the light go out.

 

[capo larzo]

So to follow up, I had three in an 80 frag tank from deep blue professionals (48"x24"x16"). The first one i bought i kept in a quarantine tank at first, and for one reason or another, the tank had a very low ph. So i got number one outta there but he eventually didnt make it, which i had a feeling would be the case.
As for numbers two and three, i had a feeling they needed more space, so into the pond they went!
The pond is very big and has very small fish in it right now, a few different species of grouper at juvenile sizes, and the two splitfin flashlights. But ive also been maintaining a large school of feeder killi fish for any of the above fish to dine on.
So at night a few hours after lights out, i soak freeze dried Plankton (Zoo- not Phyto-) in a vitamin and some freshwater. Then i dump them in the pond and watch these two ORBS of light flash on and off and flittering around the pond. Its always amazing to watch! Ive had them now since the day after this thread was started and theyve already grown quite visibly!

 

[meloncoral]

just saw this guys. I do have one in my 180 now. Pets warehouse had 5 or so come in in Nov. Only one survived past a week or so there. I had no intention of taking the last one home until one of the guys there mentioned he was eating! This amazed me since i had no luck with the 3 i ordered years back. I also hit a dead end trying to find anyone in the country who had sucess in their reef tank. Well i have one now who is an eating machine in the dark only. He hides under a giant true undata colony when the lights are on. The second the lights go out he appears and flys around the tank all night looking for food. Mysis is the food of choice . Has to be one of the coolest thing you can see .... amazes me every day! Side benefit is my LIPA bill went down immediately... couldn't wait to shut the lights down!! Hope to do a bigger tank soon, would be incredible to have 3 or 4 cruisin around. I think the key is to make sure they eat before you take one home. You guys are welcome to come by and check him out. Would have to be 8:30 pm or later when the light go out.

Very cool

I just noticed you answered this post from a few weeks ago that is so awesome. You have to post some pics or something. I have seen those at stores only once or twice a year. R u planning on getting a school?

 

[mgny]

Hopefully can get a few more down the road when i upgrade the tank. Not even sure if they will coexist in a tank as a school so will have to research first. meantime this guy is killer!

 

[meloncoral]

I have seen them in a school in tanks for weeks at a time ....with no problems fighting or anything . They all stayed together and seemed happy. Im sure they all have a dominance order and whatnot. The only thing I can see being a issue is adding more in a tank with established one is possibly the one who has been in the tank for a while may be aggressive towards the new ones..typical with most established fish. Def a good idea to add more together at the same time when you upgrade to a new tank