Is there something like a dictionary of fish?

barnaby416 · 07/26/2016, 03:15 PM

I got this but don't know the name, I tried searching on the web and the closest thing is fresh water leaf fish, but mine is living in my salt water tank.

It is on its second life. After acclimatizing it I went out for dinner, and found it on my hardwood floor when I got home.

LeafFish.jpg

mcgyvr · 07/26/2016, 03:51 PM

matted filefish... and yes they are a jumper and feed on aiptasia.. Then start going after corals if you don't feed it..

Suggestion: Research your fish/corals,etc.. BEFORE you purchase them.. Many fish aren't reef safe or need specific diets or blah blah..

mcgyvr · 07/26/2016, 03:52 PM

I'm sure there is an "Encyclopedia" or "Pocket Guide" of marine/freshwater fish,etc.. Search amazon or a book store if you still have one..
Here is one example..
https://www.amazon.com/PocketExpert-...rine+fish+book

But I typically just go here because they have MOST of what you will find in any local/online fish store
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/a...plies.cfm?c=15

OrQidz · 07/26/2016, 10:46 PM

Yep, file fish. Just browsing the categories at live aquaria will be helpful in recognizing at least what type of fish you're seeing. Damsel, wrasse, filefish, angel, etc all look a certain way that you'll learn to recognize. Then you're at least in the general neighborhood to narrow down what you've got. I have one of those pocket guide to reef fishes and it's handy to have.

But overall, I agree, ask the LFS what it is and do your research so it's a good fit for your tank.

Breadman03 · 07/26/2016, 10:55 PM

There's an app called Aquaribase that can be quite helpful, though my best LFS is in a dead zone for data...

eastlake · 07/27/2016, 06:15 AM

the pocket expert book mentioned above is a great book and it errs on the conservative side as well. Before my copy was stolen, story for another day, I always had it in my back pocket to check anything I hadn't seen before and double check stuff I already had a good idea about.

mcgyvr · 07/27/2016, 08:05 AM

If needed I would simply check live aquaria as I was sitting in the LFS...Smart phones are great

barnaby416 · 07/27/2016, 11:29 AM

Thanks mcgyvr. It likes frozen brine shrimp but I have to train it to eat pallets, otherwise it will go hungry when I go on vacation in October. I picked it because it has been in a coral tank for months without any problem.

mcgyvr · 07/27/2016, 12:03 PM

Mine jumped out too.. I never could find it... 6 months later my wife found it on the floor and picked it up thinking it was a piece of cardboard in the shape of a fish and the cats were playing with it..
She brought it to me an asked where I got that... I said "you mean the dried out filefish"... She screamed and threw it at me..

I laughed hard that day..

07/26/2016, 03:15 PM	#1
barnaby416 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 12	Is there something like a dictionary of fish? I got this but don't know the name, I tried searching on the web and the closest thing is fresh water leaf fish, but mine is living in my salt water tank. It is on its second life. After acclimatizing it I went out for dinner, and found it on my hardwood floor when I got home. LeafFish.jpg

07/26/2016, 03:51 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	matted filefish... and yes they are a jumper and feed on aiptasia.. Then start going after corals if you don't feed it.. Suggestion: Research your fish/corals,etc.. BEFORE you purchase them.. Many fish aren't reef safe or need specific diets or blah blah.. __________________ Who me?

07/26/2016, 03:52 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I'm sure there is an "Encyclopedia" or "Pocket Guide" of marine/freshwater fish,etc.. Search amazon or a book store if you still have one.. Here is one example.. https://www.amazon.com/PocketExpert-...rine+fish+book But I typically just go here because they have MOST of what you will find in any local/online fish store http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/a...plies.cfm?c=15 __________________ Who me?

07/27/2016, 08:05 AM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If needed I would simply check live aquaria as I was sitting in the LFS...Smart phones are great __________________ Who me?

07/27/2016, 12:03 PM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Mine jumped out too.. I never could find it... 6 months later my wife found it on the floor and picked it up thinking it was a piece of cardboard in the shape of a fish and the cats were playing with it.. She brought it to me an asked where I got that... I said "you mean the dried out filefish"... She screamed and threw it at me.. I laughed hard that day.. __________________ Who me?

07/26/2016, 10:46 PM	#4
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Yep, file fish. Just browsing the categories at live aquaria will be helpful in recognizing at least what type of fish you're seeing. Damsel, wrasse, filefish, angel, etc all look a certain way that you'll learn to recognize. Then you're at least in the general neighborhood to narrow down what you've got. I have one of those pocket guide to reef fishes and it's handy to have. But overall, I agree, ask the LFS what it is and do your research so it's a good fit for your tank.

07/26/2016, 10:55 PM	#5
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	There's an app called Aquaribase that can be quite helpful, though my best LFS is in a dead zone for data...

07/27/2016, 06:15 AM	#6
eastlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: willoughby Posts: 648	the pocket expert book mentioned above is a great book and it errs on the conservative side as well. Before my copy was stolen, story for another day, I always had it in my back pocket to check anything I hadn't seen before and double check stuff I already had a good idea about.

07/27/2016, 11:29 AM	#8
barnaby416 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 12	Thanks mcgyvr. It likes frozen brine shrimp but I have to train it to eat pallets, otherwise it will go hungry when I go on vacation in October. I picked it because it has been in a coral tank for months without any problem.