What fish is this?

DerekG4 · 08/14/2018, 09:02 PM

I work at a fish store and a shipment of fish came in today which included one of these. This is the first time I ever see this fish and I have no idea what it is. Manager ended up labeling it as “Dolphin Shark” for $30.99. I tried googling it but nothing under that name came up. I’d rather ask you guys than ask my boss to see if I can get more information out of this fish.

I know the pic isn’t too good, but it’s black and white, with the white having a slight blue hue under certain lighting (kind of like how a white clown would be), long body, has a cleaner wrasse-like tail, hovers around the sand like a dartfish, and it swims like a dottyback or a fang blenny (kind of “slithers” around then has a sudden choppy stop while moving it’s fins and tail. Not too good at explaining this I know

)

Honestly it looks like a pretty cool fish, if it’s reef safe, fish friendly, and doesn’t get very big, I may take it for myself.

João A M Gomes · 08/15/2018, 05:08 AM

Looks like a juvenile Malacanthus latovittatus. It can grow to about 40cm. Very nice fish!

eastlake · 08/15/2018, 06:11 AM

^ I think you hit the nail on the head

DerekG4 · 08/15/2018, 06:53 AM

Thank you, I managed to find it now.

From what I gathered, it usually swims around and also makes a small burrow near rocks, is coral safe, May eat small inverts and maybe small fish, and it gets big like you said. Correct me if I’m wrong on the other stuff.

It’s otherwise a pretty neat fish. If I didn’t have already my zebra barred dartfish,
I’d probably take it.

nereefpat · 08/15/2018, 07:41 AM

Tilefish, huh? Interesting.

Would be too big for me.

DerekG4 · 08/15/2018, 01:06 PM

Is there a general “what *animal name* is this?” Thread here somewhere? There’s more fish I’d like to ask about. A grouper like fish and some sort of goby, I’ll take a picture of them in a moment

DerekG4 · 08/16/2018, 04:29 PM

Alrighty, what about these?

I know ones a goby, it occasionally takes a mouthful of sand. Acts almost like a
Bullet goby.

The other I’m not entirely convinced if it’s a grouper. Has a strange mouth for one but otherwise acts just like a grouper. Sometimes it’ll sit down and sometimes it’ll just hover around over the sand. Doesn’t seem to be very mean, doesn’t mess with the blue headed wrasses he’s with at least. Takes down silversides soon as it hits the surface.

eastlake · 08/17/2018, 06:25 AM

The first one looks like Serranus subligarius, segrest is calling it a belted sandfish. You can pretty much expect it to be laid back and not attack its tank mates, unless it'll fit in its mouth, then you can kiss it goodbye. And the second one looks like Amblygobius linki or a link's goby.

DerekG4 · 08/18/2018, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastlake

The first one looks like Serranus subligarius, segrest is calling it a belted sandfish. You can pretty much expect it to be laid back and not attack its tank mates, unless it'll fit in its mouth, then you can kiss it goodbye. And the second one looks like Amblygobius linki or a link's goby.

Thanks, it was definitely those 2.

08/15/2018, 07:41 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Tilefish, huh? Interesting. Would be too big for me. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

08/15/2018, 05:08 AM	#2
João A M Gomes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portimão, Portugal Posts: 31	Looks like a juvenile Malacanthus latovittatus. It can grow to about 40cm. Very nice fish!

08/15/2018, 06:11 AM	#3
eastlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: willoughby Posts: 648	^ I think you hit the nail on the head

08/15/2018, 06:53 AM	#4
DerekG4 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 142	Thank you, I managed to find it now. From what I gathered, it usually swims around and also makes a small burrow near rocks, is coral safe, May eat small inverts and maybe small fish, and it gets big like you said. Correct me if I’m wrong on the other stuff. It’s otherwise a pretty neat fish. If I didn’t have already my zebra barred dartfish, I’d probably take it.

08/15/2018, 01:06 PM	#6
DerekG4 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 142	Is there a general “what animal name is this?” Thread here somewhere? There’s more fish I’d like to ask about. A grouper like fish and some sort of goby, I’ll take a picture of them in a moment

08/17/2018, 06:25 AM	#8
eastlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: willoughby Posts: 648	The first one looks like Serranus subligarius, segrest is calling it a belted sandfish. You can pretty much expect it to be laid back and not attack its tank mates, unless it'll fit in its mouth, then you can kiss it goodbye. And the second one looks like Amblygobius linki or a link's goby.