Cookeolus japonicus is an uber cool super spectacular Big Eye that is very seldom seen. The ridiculous length and color on those ventral fins need no description and lends a sinister almost devilish look to the fish. Although seldom seen in the trade, C. japonicus is a very wide ranging fish and is circumglobal in its distribution. The deepwater nature is what lends this fish its elusive nature. Cookeolus japonicus can be found at depths of up to 400m, but are more commonly observed at around 150-200m.
Another cool and uncommon Big Eye is the Pristigenys niphonia pictured above. As with Cookeolus japonicus, the Japanese Big Eye is a deep water fish that is seldom seen in the trade. It is found in a slightly shallower depth of 80-100m, but that is still pretty deep as far as reef fishes go. The Japanese Big Eye is found all over the Indo-West Pacific, including Australia. The pretty guy above was caught from New South Wales, Australia, and is still for sale on the Diver’s Den on LiveAquaria. If you happen to have a peaceful, dimly lit tank that’s suited for this fish, you might want to consider.
Here’s a precious video of a juvenile P. niphonia making it’s home in a little soda can that has sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Awwww it’s almost as cute as a kitten.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1CgCVa52po&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l7yxK0a1LA&feature=related[/youtube]
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