What is my new fish? Please help me ID

ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
That lateral line "break" where it starts higher on the back and then drops to the midline on the back 1/3 should be pretty diagnostic as well...very cool fish I must say (haven't seen one) though would be prettier if it would stay blue
sigh. Hope you have the right tank to house it though :( this looks like one of those purchases that may be regretable for most hobbyists
 
findjustin

findjustin

New Member
I have found out that it is a tilefish Malacanthus latovittatus blue blanquillo
We have decided that our 250 tank will be best suited for this new addition once it leaves the hospital tank.
 
john,jr

john,jr

Member
Originally Posted by findjustin
http:///forum/post/2612185
Bought a new fish guy at the FS says it's called a mini dolphin but I know it has to be something else. This is a saltwater fish but can not find it anywhere. But can not id it. It is in a hospital tanks for a while but is eating and getting along well but would like to know the fish id. I have attached a picture thanks for your help.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2612376
Looks like a cleaner wrasse from the gills back. The head is totally different. Almost more like some type of Tilefish.
Are you sure it's 7" long? Looks more like 3-4".
A big cigar is 6-7" long. Is it really that big? Just trying to help.

Hmmm. Good eating too if they get big enough.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Wow, tilefish, thought for sure it was a wrasse with that mouth. My apologies for the bad ID, should have known it was something else, with the lack (relative) of pelvic fins.
One cool stat about the Blanquillo is that it will enter brackish waters. So if you need to treat Ich, hypo shouldn't be a problem
Be sure to keep a tight lid on that 250!
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Hey, IMO, it is really uncommon stuff. Yours was a great match actually...it is really surprising how similar they are. I wonder if the ranges overlap at all?
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Actually, they have some very similar habits. Mostly the fact that they dive into the sand when frightened. I see lots of them (different color/kind) on the grass-sand flats in The Keys. They just hang about 6"-12" above the bottom and dive into the sand when you get close.
But that one really does look like a cleaner wrasse. I wonder if it's a opportunistic snipper of fins and such while mimicing a cleaner?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Malacanthus latovittatus--

Hologymnosus annulatus --

Very, very much so. In fact, looking at the maps, so much, I wonder if there isn't some miss ID's there....
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I suspect there are misidentifications. One of the things that took me on the wrasse thing was a picture from Fenner. But I am also interested in terms of coloration...are they mimics? One a highly predatory fish that looks very much like a rather innocuous one...sorry to go off on a biological tangent.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2614203
I suspect there are misidentifications. One of the things that took me on the wrasse thing was a picture from Fenner. But I am also interested in terms of coloration...are they mimics? One a highly predatory fish that looks very much like a rather innocuous one...sorry to go off on a biological tangent.
I dunno. What would that tilefish eat in the wild? I know they're zooplanktivorous, which doesn't tell me much, and I know large tilefish (the type GrouperGenius is talking about eating) have the diet, typical of large fish (mackerel, swordfish, kingfish, etc). But the Blanquillo's do eat meaty foods. Are they really 'safe' to be around? Or perhaps are they mimicing something else? I thought of remoras for some reason.

But yea, a 16" ringed wrasse would be something to watch while diving lol.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
LOL...look at this part of the description from fishbase
Juvenile H. annulatus very closely resemble juvenile Malacanthus latovittatus
The tile fish is a predator of benthic inverts - crustaceans and such but the wrasse is a more active predator of small fish and such.
 
afboundguy

afboundguy

Member
Originally Posted by myerst22
http:///forum/post/2612428
Okay does anyone else think how ridiculous it is to get a fish blindly. Do some research before you buy a fish. Proof in my point, if it is a cleaner it will die a pre-maturely. How much is that long blue thing in the window? It's $xx.xx. It looks good I'll take it. What is it? Who knows, but it's cool!!! Come on!!!! Tim
I have to agree 100%
This was the first thought I had when I read the thread. NEVER EVER buy a fish unless you know what it is. I would also never go back to that LFS. They should have known what fish it was when they purchased it before they sold it to you.
 
findjustin

findjustin

New Member
I have to admit both type of fish certainly look very similar to eachother. Again thanks for all helping and I have called the LFS and informed him of what he is selling and told him where he could research the fish. I think he is giving us a store credit for educating him on his product. I have to admit he is usally very good with his information. And after reasearching the tailfish it is not sold often like other saltwater fish. Thanks again for being so helpful all. I also know it is not good to buy something you do not know what it is. I felt safe getting it because I know the LFS would take it back and we have several tanks and one was sure to fit it. I guess its because I never saw another fish like it I reacted quickly to purchase.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
YOu are not the first, nor the last, to purchase a fish without research. While many people do jump on this, the fact is that you came and did some work - yes after the fact but nonetheless while the fish was in QT (also unusual
). Many people never do this research or do it when it is eating everything in their display.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Originally Posted by findjustin
http:///forum/post/2614795
I have to admit both type of fish certainly look very similar to eachother. Again thanks for all helping and I have called the LFS and informed him of what he is selling and told him where he could research the fish. I think he is giving us a store credit for educating him on his product. I have to admit he is usally very food with his information. And after reasearching the tailfish it is not sold often like other saltwater fish. Thanks again for being so helpful all. I also know it is not good to buy something you do not know what it is. I felt safe getting it because I know the LFS would take it back and we have several tanks and one was sure to fit it. I guess its because I never saw another fish like it I reacted quickly to purchase.

Justin, at one time or another, we have all done it. Just try not to make a habit of it.
Cool darn fish though.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2614825
Justin, at one time or another, we have all done it. Just try not to make a habit of it.
Cool darn fish though.

I want to take a moment to shove my size 12 foot down my throat.
I apologize for calling you Justin. I had read the story the other day and I have been kinda hectic tonight and posted without thinking properly.
My family's prayers are with you for a safe return.
 
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