Reef fish Identification help

MarkD40 · 07/12/2007, 12:33 PM

I just got back from Cancun. Spent hours snorkeling and saw several species of adult and juvenile reef fish that I could not identify. Any web sites you know of that will help me? I could buy a book or go to the library but I really don't want to. Thanks.

sir_dudeguy · 07/12/2007, 12:52 PM

liveaquaria.com

marinecenter.com

marinedepotlive.com

and many other online fish stores....

kkyyllee · 07/12/2007, 01:00 PM

google images

MarkD40 · 07/12/2007, 01:19 PM

Some of these fish are not fish you would see in an aquarium. I have been involved in the hobby for many years and can identify nearly all of the reef fish you would see in the typical reef aquarium. One species schooled in the surf and would take bread from your hand. They were silver with long yellow dorsal and ventral fins and a very flat body and a scissors shaped tail. They were about 10-12" long.

sir_dudeguy · 07/12/2007, 01:45 PM

yellowtails???

marduc · 07/12/2007, 01:47 PM

http://www.reef.org/webres/gallery/carib/gallery1.htm

not exactly comprehensive but its got a few.

sounds like a yellow tailed snapper perhaps, either that or a goatfish.

MarkD40 · 07/12/2007, 02:34 PM

Sir dude-Not them. Not a goatfish.

matthewdmueller · 07/12/2007, 02:38 PM

Sounds like Jack. Where they real fast?

MarkD40 · 07/12/2007, 04:16 PM

Yes, very fast. I thought they might be a species of Jack. My 14 year old asked me how much money I would give him if he caught one with his bare hands. I told him I would give him $2000.00. He spent hours trying to catch one but I knew it was a safe bet!
I will research and post the answer. I was trying to take the easy way out.

07/12/2007, 12:33 PM	#1
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	Reef fish Identification help I just got back from Cancun. Spent hours snorkeling and saw several species of adult and juvenile reef fish that I could not identify. Any web sites you know of that will help me? I could buy a book or go to the library but I really don't want to. Thanks. __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.

07/12/2007, 12:52 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	liveaquaria.com marinecenter.com marinedepotlive.com and many other online fish stores.... __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/12/2007, 01:19 PM	#4
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	Some of these fish are not fish you would see in an aquarium. I have been involved in the hobby for many years and can identify nearly all of the reef fish you would see in the typical reef aquarium. One species schooled in the surf and would take bread from your hand. They were silver with long yellow dorsal and ventral fins and a very flat body and a scissors shaped tail. They were about 10-12" long. __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.

07/12/2007, 01:45 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	yellowtails??? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/12/2007, 02:34 PM	#7
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	Sir dude-Not them. Not a goatfish. __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.

07/12/2007, 01:00 PM	#3
kkyyllee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: rescue ca Posts: 963	google images

07/12/2007, 01:47 PM	#6
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	http://www.reef.org/webres/gallery/carib/gallery1.htm not exactly comprehensive but its got a few. sounds like a yellow tailed snapper perhaps, either that or a goatfish.

07/12/2007, 02:38 PM	#8
matthewdmueller Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 173	Sounds like Jack. Where they real fast?

07/12/2007, 04:16 PM	#9
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	Yes, very fast. I thought they might be a species of Jack. My 14 year old asked me how much money I would give him if he caught one with his bare hands. I told him I would give him $2000.00. He spent hours trying to catch one but I knew it was a safe bet! I will research and post the answer. I was trying to take the easy way out. __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.