ID Help and Reef Safe?

[marino420td]

I caught this fish (and three others like it) on a recent trip to Panama City, FL. It looks like a type of blenny. There were thousands of them grazing on the algae covered rocks.

Can someone give me a positive id on it?

Is it reef safe?

Kind of hard to see but he is there.

 

[marino420td]

^^^

 

[ckuhndog77]

says pacific one:

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/fish/blennies/Cirripectes/Calboapicalis.htm

maybe one of these other is it:
http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/blennies.htm

 

[marino420td]

Great site Craig. I don't think that is it because I collected this fish in Florida.

I think it is one of these two.
http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/fish/blennies/Labrisomus/Lbucciferus.htm

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/fish/blennies/Labrisomus/Lkalisherae.htm

Not much information on them.

 

[Amphiprion]

Is there any way you can get a side shot of the fish? I doubt it is either of the two species that you listed, seeing as how they are tropical--so their distribution is limited to the southern parts of florida and the Caribbean. There is only one species found around here (and that area) with any regularity, and that is Labrisomus nuchipinnis. Yours may be a juvenile, hence not displaying the characteristic coloration.

 

[marino420td]

These are the best shots I could get.

These fish have a red comb on the top of their head which you can barely see in one picture.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

you should really be careful about collecting fish, putting them in your tank, and THEN finding out what they are.
What if it were some protected species?

 

[marino420td]

I researched BEFORE my trip and I knew that blennies were fair game. See attached link. I am just having a difficult time pinpointing their identification. Also , they were so plentiful there is no way they were endangered.

http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm

 

[Angel*Fish]

They are so very cute! And how nice they got to go straight to your house as opposed to the collectors and the shippers and the wholesalers and the LFS!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Marino:
I dont mean to sound "holier than thou", but you did collect fish which you do not know the species. I am very impressed that you did some research, most people would not have taken this step, so you obviously do have a strong interest in ecology and conservation. However, the statements you made are nonetheless concerning, because you did collect these fish not knowing what they were (aside from knowing they are blennies). The fact that these fish appear plentiful is not a good speculation- this is exactly what hunters of passenger pigeons assumed, and we know what happeneed to them.

At any rate, you did take steps which I admit were ethical and logical, so perhaps my previous post was a bit aggressive. I just fear the action of collecting fish and containing them in aquariums without research as to their care and husbandry can be problematic and generally discouraged. But then again, I would hope anyone using this forum would also have the ability and presenece to avoid this scenario.

 

[Amphiprion]

Thanks for the new pictures. They are not Labrisomids, but Blenniids--juvenile Scartella cristata (molly miller blennies). The little red patch of cirrhi on the head is a distinguishing characteristic. They are primarily herbivorous, but some have reported them to occasionally nip and pester corals (while some may be more severe). They can be aggressive toward eachother and that many may not work out when they get older.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901627#post7901627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
Thanks for the new pictures. They are not Labrisomids, but Blenniids--juvenile Scartella cristata (molly miller blennies). The little red patch of cirrhi on the head is a distinguishing characteristic. They are primarily herbivorous, but some have reported them to occasionally nip and pester corals (while some may be more severe). They can be aggressive toward each other and that many may not work out when they get older.

While that's very informative, you have completely ignored the most important characteristic of these fish which is that they are extremely cute.

 

[marino420td]

Thanks for the correct identification Amphiprion!

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901721#post7901721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angel*Fish
While that's very informative, you have completely ignored the most important characteristic of these fish which is that they are extremely cute.

I was thinking along the lines of 'precious', but extremely cute will also work

Oh, and you are very welcome, Marino.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7903561#post7903561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
I was thinking along the lines of 'precious', but extremely cute will also work

LOL

 

[SuperNerd]

Yes those things are adoreable.
If they are molly millers...will they also help control aiptasia?

 

[Sheol]

Used to see tons of those when I was diving in the Keys, but you had to look close to the reef to spot them!

Matthew

 

[Chasmodes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901627#post7901627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
Thanks for the new pictures. They are not Labrisomids, but Blenniids--juvenile Scartella cristata (molly miller blennies). The little red patch of cirrhi on the head is a distinguishing characteristic. They are primarily herbivorous, but some have reported them to occasionally nip and pester corals (while some may be more severe). They can be aggressive toward eachother and that many may not work out when they get older.

Exactly. Amphiprion, you know your blennies. I once had a Molly Miller, great very active blenny with a ton of personality. He was primarily a meat eater but fed once in awhile on algae. I kept him a FO system, so I couldn't give anyone info on how they'd behave with corals. They are considered omnivores...I'd say that they are great fish but keep and eye on them around ornamental shrimps, etc.

These fish are cool enough that they almost deserve their own biotope tank!

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8052185#post8052185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hypsoblennius


These fish are cool enough that they almost deserve their own biotope tank!

If they actually eat aiptasia, I have a biotope primed and ready for one of these
At least the aiptasia are ready --- we'll just tell this fish it's a different part of the Caribbean he's never seen....