Help IDing a fish..

[kittah]

Okay, first of all let me say hi! I'm a newb here... I've got 2 freshwater tanks, and am aplnning for my very first saltwater tank! (goody!) I'm a little anal retentive, so I am diagramming, meticulously planning, etc. anyways.. on to my question..
I saw a fish about a year ago at my LFS.. and now I can't remember the name of it. I thought it was hilarious because it reminded me of a cross-dressing fish. Its a saltwater fish, that sort of looks like a panther grouper or a dragonet bodywise. It is not the clown trigger, (many fish places have suggested him) but it sort of has isolated prints like the clown trigger. Its white with black polkadots on its tail fin, and has an array of prints, strips, spots in different colors on different places on his body. I know this is a terrible description, but he was so silly looking! Well, thanks for reading my question, and I hope to find the name of my mystery fish!

 

[California Ron]

Sounds like a cardinal fish to me.

 

[fraservet]

sounds like the pyjama cardinal (sphaeramia nematoptera)

pyjama cardinal

 

[kittah]

A guy at the fish store said the same thing, but it wasn't that fish either. *bangs head* Any other ideas? Thanks for the replies!

 

[fraservet]

hmm, it is very difficult without a picture - and your description confuses me as panther groupers and dragonets have quite different shapes IMO.

some Tobys have the kind of markings you mention, or possibly some sort of wrasse.

I would recommend you flick thorugh a copy of the pocket guide "marine fishes" by scott michael next time you are in your lfs - most of them have it either for sale or available for reference, or even dr burgess atlas of marine fishes.

Alternatively, if you could draw a rough picture and post it or e-mail me, we might be able to get further.

 

[steelhealr]

Banggai cardinalfish. SH

 

[kittah]

I'm just thinking of the neato little flowy fins. I flipped through marine fishes.. but alas.. nothing. I'm going out of my mind! Also, its definitely not a cardinalfish. The fins are more.. billowy? Hard to explain. =(

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

I don't really know too much about salt water fish but i am learning fast, at a guess it kind of sounds like a picasso triggerfish did it look anything like the fish in this link http/www.divegallery.com/trigger_Picasso.htm

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[Ed4567]

The fins are more.. billowy?

Batfish
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=22

or filefish?
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=30