Tailess passer?

[Jordani]

It appears this passer angelfish has no tail? Anybody know anything about it?

 

[copps]

I don't know the specifics of that fish, but I've seen this with other angels and reef fish...it appears the fish lost the tail perhaps from predation when it was post larval or very young and grew out... not really my thing but it's very interesting that these fish are able to survive!

 

[Luiz Rocha]

True Copps, I've also seen some like these, including a large grouper once. I have no idea how the grouper was able to hunt without a tail, but it looked healthy (other than the missing tail). Some fish are just able to survive like that.

 

[alexrex20]

I caught a tail-less spadefish once. It didn't look like a recent injury. We figured a fish that has survived thus far, deserves better than ending up on our dinner plate. We released it.

After hours and hours watching fish, I can see how a fish could survive without a tail. Much of an angel's "normal" swimming is done with their pectoral fins.

 

[copps]

I finally dug up this photo! This is a bandit collected by Rufus Kimura on Oahu a few years back...

Copps

 

[michael_cb_125]

Awesome Picture John!

~Michael

 

[jimroth]

A store in NYC I used to go to had a huge severum (cichlid) that was just like that.