ID this Scorp
- Thread starter AlexS95
- Start date
NH reefer kid
New member
Haha idk but the third pic down is awesome
AlexS95
Active member
He was sold as a Scorpaenodes caribbaeus, but after seeing Greg and Renee's pictures, I was almost positive it wasn't one of those.
silentcivilian
New member
Looks like a Flasher Scorp to me, and ive seen them in the market more and more too. Just a inch too big and wrong ocean to be a flasher. Ill be interested to see what Namxas says it is, cause I have a feeling he will know.
AlexS95
Active member
I took a tape measure to him while he was floating, so I'm fairly confident in it.
So he is pretty much just laying on the sand, he hasn't perched on the rocks or anything yet.
silentcivilian
New member
I found this photo online, found in the carrib, and they call it a spotted scorp.
Spotted Scorpionfish
Scorpaena plumieri
Size: 7 to 15 in. (18 to 38 cm) Depth: 5-50 ft. (2-15 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico
Spotted Scorpionfish
Scorpaena plumieri
Size: 7 to 15 in. (18 to 38 cm) Depth: 5-50 ft. (2-15 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico
Bruno21447
New member
wow he is way cool
DoubleM 10
Active member
Looks like a devils scorp to me. Very nice find. Wish they had stuff like that by me
AlexS95
Active member
Well, the guy I got him from still has 3 left, two this size and one smaller, but he about to go on vacation in a week so he's selling all his stock for low prices right now. He get's like a 50% FedEx discount so 2 day to me was less than $17. Check him out if you want, he usually has way more stock but with the sales everyone's buying it quick... :eek2: Just thought I'd throw that out there in case anybody wants one.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Definitely not a caribbaeus, which are actually fairly easily ID'd. As mentioned, if nothing else, the size says "no" to the reef scorp.
This fish looks to be Scorpaenopsis barbata (the bearded scorp), based on the interorbital ridge arrangement, the dark marking at the posterior of the eyes which extends rearward, and kind of spreads downward around the eye , and a few other morphological traits of the head (opercular spines, other ridges, etc), as well as the eye size, which are much larger than S. diabolus.
At any rate, based on the photos and vid we have to go by at this time, that would be my best ID. The only problem with my ID is that according to fish base, the bearded scorp isn't found in the Caribbean. Are you pretty sure it came from there?
If you can get a ray count on the fins, it might help nail it down.
Perhaps Frank can weigh in as well.
This fish looks to be Scorpaenopsis barbata (the bearded scorp), based on the interorbital ridge arrangement, the dark marking at the posterior of the eyes which extends rearward, and kind of spreads downward around the eye , and a few other morphological traits of the head (opercular spines, other ridges, etc), as well as the eye size, which are much larger than S. diabolus.
At any rate, based on the photos and vid we have to go by at this time, that would be my best ID. The only problem with my ID is that according to fish base, the bearded scorp isn't found in the Caribbean. Are you pretty sure it came from there?
If you can get a ray count on the fins, it might help nail it down.
Perhaps Frank can weigh in as well.
Last edited:
silentcivilian
New member
Thats why I was going with Scorpaena plumieri, its not common in our hobby, but common in that area... umm common markings..
The white spots on the topside of the pectoral fins of spotted scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri, are visible when the animal is disturbed.
They have fleshy plumes (cirri) over the eyes, which combined with the characteristic skin flaps around the head and their mottled wide-range of brown coloring makes them blend into the reef or rocky bottoms so that they become virtually invisible. This species also has brilliant white spots on black on the insides of the pectoral fins (hence their name) which are only displayed when threatened or swimming. Another distinctive feature includes three dark bars on their tail.
Dorsalspines (total): 12; Dorsalsoft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5. Occipital pit present; three to four spines on part of preorbital overlapping maxillary; large white spots on dark background on inner basal part of pectoral fin
Wild life span is approx 14 years or greater.
The white spots on the topside of the pectoral fins of spotted scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri, are visible when the animal is disturbed.
They have fleshy plumes (cirri) over the eyes, which combined with the characteristic skin flaps around the head and their mottled wide-range of brown coloring makes them blend into the reef or rocky bottoms so that they become virtually invisible. This species also has brilliant white spots on black on the insides of the pectoral fins (hence their name) which are only displayed when threatened or swimming. Another distinctive feature includes three dark bars on their tail.
Dorsalspines (total): 12; Dorsalsoft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5. Occipital pit present; three to four spines on part of preorbital overlapping maxillary; large white spots on dark background on inner basal part of pectoral fin
Wild life span is approx 14 years or greater.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Odd that a fish they hung "pacific spotted scorpionfish" on is found in the Atlantic and NOT the pacific...go figure. I guess the Gulf is close enuff?
The fish in question's eyes seem a tad large, but the key here will be to look for the white spots on the inner base of the pectorals, as I do see three dark bars on its tail.
The photos are a tad "close" which is good in one way for seeing minute head detail, but sometimes make seeing "the fish" harder.
The fish in question's eyes seem a tad large, but the key here will be to look for the white spots on the inner base of the pectorals, as I do see three dark bars on its tail.
The photos are a tad "close" which is good in one way for seeing minute head detail, but sometimes make seeing "the fish" harder.
silentcivilian
New member
Haha, yes, I also thought that was odd, thats why the first time I saw the name, I passed by it.. it wasnt till another page of various carrib fish, that I saw it again.. I was like hmm.. odd, that isnt the pacific.
But.. Did you take a video of it by chance when you were transporting it via bag, so you can go check out the color markings?
If not, when you feed, ive done this to do a full body check of my stone time to time, if feed a couple smaller fish by lance, then I use the claw to feed the next one, and I dont release the food, he/she will bite down and then attack it to kill it, by that time you can have lifted, twirled and checked the whole body within a second or two to ensure that the fish is ok and check the coloring.. and keeps their primal side in check, dont want them to become too accustomed to tank life do we
Also lets you look at growth, not the length kind, but the chub in the middle, lets you know if you are over or under feeding.. if he is very chub chub.. cut back a bit.
But.. Did you take a video of it by chance when you were transporting it via bag, so you can go check out the color markings?
If not, when you feed, ive done this to do a full body check of my stone time to time, if feed a couple smaller fish by lance, then I use the claw to feed the next one, and I dont release the food, he/she will bite down and then attack it to kill it, by that time you can have lifted, twirled and checked the whole body within a second or two to ensure that the fish is ok and check the coloring.. and keeps their primal side in check, dont want them to become too accustomed to tank life do we
Also lets you look at growth, not the length kind, but the chub in the middle, lets you know if you are over or under feeding.. if he is very chub chub.. cut back a bit.
silentcivilian
New member
Call me crazy, but he does look a little like the little man I got that I am having a tank built for.. what you think Alex?? Little the same?
silentcivilian
New member
Nah, he been hiding too well to get any good pictures beyond that. But same patterns, just mines more purple then browny red. Though I would try to get a underside shot if you can.. for identifying. Thats been the mystery, my guy has some black spots scattered around the underside with some bright yellows and reds with a orange chest.
Last edited:
Similar threads
