Hitchhiker Fish ID

[porky]

One of coolest parts about having a reef tank is that you discover new creatures all the time. This morning Mishelle called me down to the tank and said what the heck is this?
I went ahead and snagged him just in case... sorry for the bad pics.

I just want to know what it is? Is it reefsafe?

It's very small probably 3" max. The body is somewhat translucent with a black stripe that looks to go to it's tail.
I only bought one coral @ the swap and it was too small of a frag for a fish to hitchhike.

Here's a short video because it was hard to get a good pic.
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/Porky_Porkie/?action=view&current=unknownfish3.flv

I've searched all over and no luck.

 

[Shmax]

Looks like you've got yourself a pearlfish. I'll try and find some info for you, but basically they live inside sea cucumbers... and sea hares. We've seen a few lately. Weird looking critter, almost looks prehistoric.

 

[Shmax]

Here you go:

http://www.answers.com/topic/pearlfish-3

 

[porky]

That's it! Thanks a lot!
Wow you really know your stuff man. You work @ Phishy's right?
That makes sense too because my tank is full of cucumbers and I just p/u a couple about a week ago.
Well obviously I can't keep it w/all my cukes.
So anybody want this thing?

 

[Shmax]

From what I understand they don't harm the host, although I'm sure they probably don't "like" having a fish live inside their cloaca....

 

[MarineFishGuy]

According to the link Chris posted, these guys have an obligatory Commensal relationship with the holothurians.

Where commensal is defined as:
"An organism participating in a symbiotic relationship in which one species derives some benefit while the other is unaffected."

In other words, without a sea cucumber host, this guy will not survive.

It goes on to say it resides in the host body during the day and comes out at night to feed.

So if you put it back in the aquarium, it may be able to find a host again.

Although it notes some inquiline pearlfishes are parasitic and feed on the holothurian host. I cannot find a good reference for "inquiline" pearlfishes at the moment however.

 

[hollback]

Some other info I found said that the ones that feed on their host always remain in them. Since you caught your free swimming, I'm guessing that it would be "cuke safe".

 

[porky]

Oh I'm sure it wouldn't have troulbe finding another host as I have probably 6 or more in my 125.
But it can't be healthy for the cuke can it?
I dunno man I'm gonna have a hard time putting this "butt fish" back into my tank full of cucumbers.

 

[serpentman]

Another reason I am glad I am not a sea cucumber....

 

[Norm R]

<a>Originally posted</a> by hollback
Some other info I found said that the ones that feed on their host always remain in them. Since you caught your free swimming, I'm guessing that it would be "cuke safe".

Or it killed the first one and it's looking for a new home. :eek1:

 

[Shmax]

We had a lady come in freaking out, she had seen one poking it's head out of the rear end of the sea hare she had just bought! Haha, anyway, she took it back home and it re-hosted the sea hare, but didn't survive long. I think it's a neat addition to the tank, but that's just me!

 

[porky]

Okay so after reading the links posted and doing a little more research I added Mr. Buttfish back to the tank shortly after this post. And I am happy to report that he was spotted this morning near a nice large yellow cuke.
Thanks guys!

 

[jh2pizza]

This is where it would be great to have a little 10 gal tank set up to play with. Add the fish and host and watch the buttfish.