need a red sea fish ID

[dylan87]

this was the friendliest fish i have ever snorkeled around i would eventually like to get one but cant get an ID for it. it was in the RED SEA in the south sinai egypt

 

[Madjamey]

That is a parrot fish (Scaridae ). They get very big and chew rocks turning it into rubble.

 

[dylan87]

it would more than likely be the sole inhabitant of my 220 so im not worried about that. that is if i can ever find anyone selling one which so far has been a no go. i should have said i knew it was a parrot fish but didnt know what kind of parrot fish

 

[davelin315]

Very big as in too big for hobbyist aquariums. I have seen them upwards of 2' long and probably weighing around 15-20 lbs... plus you get the added bonus that since their teeth have fused into bone crushers, if it decided to take a bite out of anything, your glass included, they probably would be very successful.

I've seen some very small parrotfish available, bicolors I think, but I think even those get fairly large.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

might be this one,
http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&aq=&oq=&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS339US340&q=Scarus+collana&biw=1280&bih=656

 

[Recty]

http://www.fishbase.org/identificat...reacode=&c_code=&spines=&fins=&sortby=species

I looked through the list, there is even one called a Red Sea Parrotfish. However, the scale color doesnt look right to me to match your fish.

 

[snorvich]

I vaguely recall that there is a Parrot Fish that would work. Anyone remember?

 

[Barracuda]

Snorvich,

That would be the "Quoyi' parrot fish.

 

[Curious George]

Aren't parrots darn near impossible to feed in the home aquarium? I have never seen one successfuly kept. They come up for sale every once in a while at the LFS. The bi-colors are real tempting too.

Long time ago I remember reading people making "Vacation Blocks" that were loaded with food and appetizing because they were solid.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Most parrotfish will literally turn your LR to sand. Eat the rock, digest the algae, poop the sand. The pooping is an actual sandstorm and really does account for much sand on the reefs.

 

[Jasanden]

I vaguely recall that there is a Parrot Fish that would work. Anyone remember?

Maybe. Bi color parrotfish


Wow ! 35 ". Should have check before I posted.

 

[copps]

The fish you photographed is a male Scarus ferrugineus.

Snorvich, I think the one you're thinking of is Scarus quoyi.

Copps

 

[dylan87]

copps i think your right but but do to there eating habits im pretty sure any overflow system would be toast so ill just have to look at the pic

 

[copps]

Smart decision Dylan... I wrote a paper on the Scarus species of the Galapagos Islands and their distribution between different islands when I studied there in 1998 (there is not much in the way of angels there)... These fish get huge and make beaches with the coral they munch... and speaking of eating habits here's a shot of one of my meals in Micronesia ... fried Scarus! It's amazing how good the meat is considering what they eat!

Copps

 

[MrTuskfish]

Smart decision Dylan... I wrote a paper on the Scarus species of the Galapagos Islands and their distribution between different islands when I studied there in 1998 (there is not much in the way of angels there)... These fish get huge and make beaches with the coral they munch... and speaking of eating habits here's a shot of one of my meals in Micronesia ... fried Scarus! It's amazing how good the meat is considering what they eat!



Copps

........and lobsters eat carrion.

 

[copps]

........and lobsters eat carrion.

Mmm... lobster...

 

[auem]

Smart decision Dylan... I wrote a paper on the Scarus species of the Galapagos Islands and their distribution between different islands when I studied there in 1998 (there is not much in the way of angels there)... These fish get huge and make beaches with the coral they munch... and speaking of eating habits here's a shot of one of my meals in Micronesia ... fried Scarus! It's amazing how good the meat is considering what they eat!

Copps

eew..:wildone:..2 bowls of rice,salads and the whole fish....no gravy!!...i couldn't digest that..:twitch:

 

[copps]

eew..:wildone:..2 bowls of rice,salads and the whole fish....no gravy!!...i couldn't digest that..:twitch:

It's okay, the calcium carbonate in its gut acted like nature's antacid...

 

[MrTuskfish]

When I lived in the Fla Keys, right out of college eons ago, we ate parrotfish all the time. Take a spear gun to the nearest seawall and pick out dinner without even getting your hands wet. Very mild, buttery fish. Lionfish is supposed to be equally delicious and eating it from the Keys is a public service.