Crazy new fish... or is it a lizard?

addict · 04-14-2004, 06:54 PM

Well, we stopped in at the LFS last evening to see what they had got in new stock, and we found something new that we hadn't seen... a Lizard Blenny.
He is just the coolest little fish, with a great disposition and colorful markings. It gets the name 'Lizard' because his head resembles a lizard's... even down to the way he moves his eyes independently of one another.
It kinda gives you the willies when he gives you the staredown with both eyes forward.

It's adopted my christmas tree worm rock as his perch, and I was able to get a shot of it watching the current for food to float by.
He hasn't tried to chase any of the other inhabitants so far, preferring to be on the hunt instead... but we'll see how long that lasts... LiveAquaria lists them as a semi-aggressive species.

Gina · 04-14-2004, 07:34 PM

He is really awesome! Do they burrow holes are just hide out in the rock?

addict · 04-14-2004, 07:43 PM

The description at Liveaquaria says they're found in rubble-zones in the Indo-pacific, so I'm pretty sure they're a rock hider... the LFS had it labeled as a 'Sand Hopper', but I couldn't find any information under that name... I had to look it up by photo... those pesky LFS'...

mps9506 · 04-14-2004, 07:52 PM

I've had similar specimens that we labeled as red spotted sand perch. I don't think they are the same though. Might want to look that one up also as the sand perch will eat ornamental shrimp and hermit crabs on occasion.
I'm pretty sure the sand perch and lizard blenny are different though.
Mike

addict · 04-14-2004, 08:07 PM

Thanks for the heads-up Mike.

I'm almost 100% sure that it's a Lizard Blenny... this is the picture from LiveAquaria, which looks identical to this fish.
I'll keep an eye on him... he hasn't paid any attention to my pistol shrimp or my 1" long cleaner shrimp, so hopefully I made the right identification.

Gumby · 04-15-2004, 08:30 AM

RA

try this website for blenny id's.

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/1024frameset.htm

addict · 04-15-2004, 12:17 PM

Thanks for the link there Gumby.
I did some more looking around, and discovered that the Lizard Blenny and Red-Spotted Sand Perch are one and the same.
The taxonomic name of this fish is Parapercis schauinslandi.
It seems that most of the fish in this genus are carnivorous, but mostly opportunistic feeders.
We'll see how it behaves... so far it's ignored my small shrimp, so hopefully it stays that way.

TDEVIL · 04-15-2004, 06:31 PM

looks cool, David, keep us posted

Jay

cheeks69 · 04-15-2004, 06:41 PM

watch out reefer addict in time he'll go after your shrimp ! I had one and he looked so innocent but in time I had to get rid if him.

Tarasco · 04-15-2004, 09:04 PM

Cool lookin' fish!

proud2bcanadian · 04-15-2004, 09:29 PM

Really nice fish!!

mps9506 · 04-15-2004, 10:48 PM

I don't have my book by scott michaels anymore, but I remember only seeing the sand perch in there, according to him he states they "will" eat shrimp.
Keep him well fed, hopefully he will do good.
Personally for me the only blennies that will find their way into my tank are the ones that munch on algae. I love my bicolor...
Mike

stellamn · 04-16-2004, 09:34 AM

I have one of these....bought it labled as "Red Checkerboard Blenny" about 6 months ago. According to my reading, they can get up to 8 inches long.

He has great personality and is a voracious eater. He is definitely the "king" of my tank. Oh yeah, he was 2 inches long when I bought him, he's now about 4.

Jodi

addict · 04-16-2004, 12:27 PM

Wow, thanks for the experience info everybody... looks I made a goof on this buy.

I consulted LiveAquaria before adding him to the tank... normally if something eats anything else normally in a reef tank they mention "Reef Safe... with Caution"... this time they didn't have that listing.
Ah well, if he starts misbehaving I'll do a little fishing...

Thanks again.

04-14-2004, 06:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Crazy new fish... or is it a lizard? Well, we stopped in at the LFS last evening to see what they had got in new stock, and we found something new that we hadn't seen... a Lizard Blenny. He is just the coolest little fish, with a great disposition and colorful markings. It gets the name 'Lizard' because his head resembles a lizard's... even down to the way he moves his eyes independently of one another. It kinda gives you the willies when he gives you the staredown with both eyes forward. It's adopted my christmas tree worm rock as his perch, and I was able to get a shot of it watching the current for food to float by. He hasn't tried to chase any of the other inhabitants so far, preferring to be on the hunt instead... but we'll see how long that lasts... LiveAquaria lists them as a semi-aggressive species. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-14-2004, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	He is really awesome! Do they burrow holes are just hide out in the rock? __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

04-14-2004, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	The description at Liveaquaria says they're found in rubble-zones in the Indo-pacific, so I'm pretty sure they're a rock hider... the LFS had it labeled as a 'Sand Hopper', but I couldn't find any information under that name... I had to look it up by photo... those pesky LFS'... __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-14-2004, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the heads-up Mike. I'm almost 100% sure that it's a Lizard Blenny... this is the picture from LiveAquaria, which looks identical to this fish. I'll keep an eye on him... he hasn't paid any attention to my pistol shrimp or my 1" long cleaner shrimp, so hopefully I made the right identification. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-15-2004, 08:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gumby Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miamisburg OH Posts: 449 View Gallery Karma Komment	RA try this website for blenny id's. http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/1024frameset.htm __________________ Seeking Reefer Enlightenment i am the lorax, i speak for the trees 75g: 140+ lbs LR, 90+ lbs LS, 20+/- g sump (LR & Macro) coral beauty, bicolor blenny ,java scott damsel,2 clowns, 6 line wrasse diff kinds of shrooms, diff zooas, diff star polyps, frogspawn and hammer 2 - #4 Hydor Koralia's; TERM II Lighting - Current Extreme 260 watts

04-14-2004, 07:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've had similar specimens that we labeled as red spotted sand perch. I don't think they are the same though. Might want to look that one up also as the sand perch will eat ornamental shrimp and hermit crabs on occasion. I'm pretty sure the sand perch and lizard blenny are different though. Mike

04-15-2004, 12:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the link there Gumby. I did some more looking around, and discovered that the Lizard Blenny and Red-Spotted Sand Perch are one and the same. The taxonomic name of this fish is Parapercis schauinslandi. It seems that most of the fish in this genus are carnivorous, but mostly opportunistic feeders. We'll see how it behaves... so far it's ignored my small shrimp, so hopefully it stays that way. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-15-2004, 06:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	looks cool, David, keep us posted Jay __________________ my web site <-- needs updated

04-15-2004, 06:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	watch out reefer addict in time he'll go after your shrimp ! I had one and he looked so innocent but in time I had to get rid if him. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein Last edited by cheeks69 : 04-15-2004 at 09:42 PM.

04-15-2004, 09:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cool lookin' fish! __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

04-15-2004, 09:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
proud2bcanadian Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 709 View Gallery Karma Komment	Really nice fish!! __________________ David Liles

04-15-2004, 10:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	I don't have my book by scott michaels anymore, but I remember only seeing the sand perch in there, according to him he states they "will" eat shrimp. Keep him well fed, hopefully he will do good. Personally for me the only blennies that will find their way into my tank are the ones that munch on algae. I love my bicolor... Mike

04-16-2004, 09:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
stellamn Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 15 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have one of these....bought it labled as "Red Checkerboard Blenny" about 6 months ago. According to my reading, they can get up to 8 inches long. He has great personality and is a voracious eater. He is definitely the "king" of my tank. Oh yeah, he was 2 inches long when I bought him, he's now about 4. Jodi __________________ President, Rochester Marine Aqarium Club

04-16-2004, 12:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Wow, thanks for the experience info everybody... looks I made a goof on this buy. I consulted LiveAquaria before adding him to the tank... normally if something eats anything else normally in a reef tank they mention "Reef Safe... with Caution"... this time they didn't have that listing. Ah well, if he starts misbehaving I'll do a little fishing... Thanks again. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

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