KAMIHATA FISH IND. LTD. is the largest wholesaler of freshwater fish and plants, marine fish, goldfish, reptiles, and small animals in Japan. The larger KAMIHATA group includes Hikari, which is known globally for its high-quality food.
Historically KAMIHATA FISH IND. LTD. has produced Yellow Tangs, Candy Basslets, and Pygmy angelfish. Last year, they successfully bred Bandit angels and distributed them to DeJong, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan (they confirmed they were the ones to breed these when we spoke over email).
This year, they’ve broken ground with another successful spawn – a hybrid between Paracentropyge venusta and Paracentropyge multifasciata. While these hybrids can rarely occur in the wild, to my knowledge, this is the first time these species have ever been successfully hybridized in captivity.
I spoke with Satoru Yamamoto, who oversees the marine section of KAMIHATA FISH IND. LTD. and asked if they planned to scale up these hybrids commercially. He told me the following:
“Yes, we are trying to breed those hybrid angels; however, you know it’s very difficult because this miracle only occurs when two kinds of pairs spawn in close proximity to each other at the same time, causing their sperm and eggs to mix together.”
KAMIHATA succeeded in raising two of the hybrids. These two specimens will be sold to Japanese marine shops later this month.
With KAMIHATA’s historic track record, I have great hope that in the coming years, these hybrids will find their way onto the international market. If KAMIHATA succeeds in this, they’ll likely become one of the most demanded marine fish on the planet, as they represent nearly everything people want out of angelfish in one specimen. They’re true dwarfs and don’t surpass four inches, have impeccable coloration, and have striking patterns.
Congratulations to KAMIHATA FISH IND. LTD., and let’s wish them all luck in their future endeavors.
