What kind of fish is there?

[artifact]

Hello. I'm a designer, and I'm working on a commercial for St. Croix Island in the US Virgin Islands. I need to find a fish native to the area that specifically has long flowing fins, almost like hair. Color or shape doesn't really matter. I just need long fins that flow like ribbons through the water. Does anyone know of such a fish and where I could find a reference of one??
Thanks!
Ted

 

[rickstar]

lion fish?

 

[artifact]

yeah, considered that, but it's too fierce looking.
thx though

 

[sato]

Not alot of fisht hat I can think of with long flowing fins off the top of my head but you could try the undulating fins of a trigger? Im sure there is at least 1 species native to the virgin islands.

 

[dogstar]

Might want to look at some of the larger Western Atlantic Angelfish sp. They dont really have that flowing finage like FW goldfish or betas do but few salt water fish will.

 

[guineawhop]

not sure if the queen goes around the virgin islands but it definitely spreads a wide range from the bahamas all the way down to brazil. but the queen angel has nice fines.

 

[fishnerd]

Lionfish are indopacific (not from the Caribbean)
Queen Angel could work.
I would check into a Queen Trigger with tail streamers. They are pretty fish, and have the "plumage". They also are native to the Caribbean

 

[ophiura]

I was thinking queen trigger as well.

 

[feixjai]

i dont know if this fish is native to the area but i would suggest an pink square anthias.

 

[exile415]

Lionfish?

 

[ophiura]

Both the lionfish, and anthias, are Pacific fish, as are most "common" fish in the hobby. Very few that we see in the hobby are Caribbean fish.

 

[harlequin]

You might as well call lions native fish now, they are reproducing up and down the coast although i havent read any reports of them as far south as the Carribean.
Flying Fish have long flowing fins for obvious reason.
Lookdowns are a good one
Sailfin Blennies
Jackknife-fish
African Pompano
Atlantic Spadefish
Ocean Sunfish
Those are my best guesses on Atlantic fish. Ours arent quite as flowing as Pacific and freshwater fish

 

[ophiura]

lionfish in Atlantic?

Why hobbyists get a bad name....
I still won't give call 'em local tho.

 

[harlequin]

Where have you been Oph? I think the first one was spotted 5 or 6 years ago. Since then they have been spotted even way up north in New Jersey down to I know Greys Reef in GA and I believe farther south even. Cold water and the funny thing is they are thriving especially with very few predators around.

 

[dogstar]

Ted, If your still intrested, again, nothing thats flowing hair like, but they are NATIVE to the area..
A couple eels
A couple grammas
A couple jawfish, yellowheaded is sweet:yes: :yes:
Jacknife Drum

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by Harlequin
Where have you been Oph?
LOL. Well I knew about it, though I didn't realize they were quite doing SO well. I had heard sighting reports That's very unfortunate indeed.....

 

[scubadoo]

Unfortunately blamed on the hobbyists as releasing them into the Atlantic. I have read articles that even suggest Hurricane Andrew was the cause as many folks realesed their fish into the ocean or some were simply washed away by the tidal surge and into the ocean.
Another theory is they made their way in bilges (spell) on large ships in the Pacific later traveling through the Panama Canal...only to find a home in the Atlantic. Most dismiss this as highly unlikely.

 

[ophiura]

The bilge theory works well for many invert introductions - but I don't think it is as likely for larval lionfish. But then it is a possibility. Major area or research....