Id These Two?

[MoonstruckMuse]

So recently on a trip to Southern Florida, we spent some time on the beach and ran into these. The water was under 2 feet deep. I thought the little black one was a strange puffer at first, but I have no idea. He was under 2", black with goldish circles (almost leopard print looking). Loved how he swam - his tail did this little whirligig motion it almost looked like, and was nibbling at some sea vegetation.

This big guy made me nervous - what was he doing so close to shore! Lots of big shiny teeth, haha. Well over a foot, probably around 18"?

Any ideas? I'm obsessed with freshwater fish, specifically cichlids, but would love to at least be able to recognize some basic saltwater ones.

 

[bronzecat]

No idea on the first pics, but the big fish looks like a Barracuda.

 

[TigerIssey]

I thought Barracuda on the second picture too.

 

[bronzecat]

Yeh they're scary Saw one when snorkling off Dominican Republic

 

[TigerIssey]

I saw some in the Red Sea, did not like it coming at you at all. Funny I can't remember snorkelling off Dominican, I know I did though. Barbados just remember Turtles, Kenya can't remember either.

 

[SkiFletch]

Huh, not really sure about the first black guy, never seen that before. The second is definitely a Barracuda. Try swimming on a reef with a school of 30+ of them at least 3' long each swimming over your head . They're actually pretty docile, especially when swimming around as small juveniles like that.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

Haha I told my friends it was a barracuda at first, but 5 seconds later was like... #### is a thing like that doing this far upshore! Eep! Good to know that they aren't as crazy mean as they're made out to be at that size.

Could the little black one be some kind of boxfish? I'm just so super-curious now.