Help identifying this strange fish

bronco7777 · 09-06-2004, 09:31 PM

I just cam back from getting my open water diving certification in Destin Florida. While I was relaxing at the shoreline of the beach I came across this fish that was swimming at the very edge of the shoreline. It looks like a cross between a angel and a butterfly. However the face is too rounded to be a butterfly and the dorsal fins to pointed to be a angel.
Could this be some type of batfish???? I know its a wild guess, but I've looked all over for indentification and I can't find anything.

This guy is so docile I picked him up with my bare hands and he's already taking frozen mysis shrimp.

Can someone please indentify what I have. Perhaps some local residents in the Panhandle???

LuckyInk · 09-06-2004, 09:37 PM

That would be a juvenile Atlantic Spadefish.
They get much bigger and are quite tasty!

LuckyInk · 09-06-2004, 09:39 PM

By the way, he looks very sick. Those spots are a bad sign... Could be why he was so lethargic when you caught him.

bronco7777 · 09-06-2004, 09:44 PM

Luckyink,

Thanks for the ID on the fish.

Looking at the fish closeup he seems okay. He's swimming normally, and quite attentive. I put 1/4 of a mysis cube and he just sucked it all down in a matter of seconds.

He's really small....about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in length. Could those spots be juvenile markings?

I know that in the shoreline he looked as if he was pitch black in color. However, once I had him in the hospital tank, the stripes showed up along with the spots.

Witfull · 09-06-2004, 09:47 PM

heres a link to them..i was looking it up as Lucky was beating me to the post...good job LI!

http://www.fishsanibel.com/fish/ephippidae.htm

LuckyInk · 09-06-2004, 09:49 PM

Pitch black in color? Definitely a spadefish. As for the spots, I googled a for a few pics and did find another small spadefish with those same spots. Good thing you stuck him in a Q tank though... Just in case...

bronco7777 · 09-06-2004, 09:54 PM

Well its all making sense now. Thanks for the help!

I'm guessing this will have to be a fish only candidate. I'm gonna get him up to tip top health before I move him.

He seems to be incredibly friendly for a fish that has just been caught in the wild.

bronco7777 · 09-06-2004, 09:57 PM

By the way, I just found this article on google:

http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca....wntr/spade.htm

I guess I wasn't so crazy in thinking it was a batfish. These spadefish come from the same family.

09-06-2004, 09:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Help identifying this strange fish I just cam back from getting my open water diving certification in Destin Florida. While I was relaxing at the shoreline of the beach I came across this fish that was swimming at the very edge of the shoreline. It looks like a cross between a angel and a butterfly. However the face is too rounded to be a butterfly and the dorsal fins to pointed to be a angel. Could this be some type of batfish???? I know its a wild guess, but I've looked all over for indentification and I can't find anything. This guy is so docile I picked him up with my bare hands and he's already taking frozen mysis shrimp. Can someone please indentify what I have. Perhaps some local residents in the Panhandle???

09-06-2004, 09:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
LuckyInk Reef Painter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 565 View Gallery Karma Komment	That would be a juvenile Atlantic Spadefish. They get much bigger and are quite tasty! __________________ When you can feel the humidity pouring off the canvas and the salt spray on your face, my job is done.

09-06-2004, 09:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
LuckyInk Reef Painter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 565 View Gallery Karma Komment	By the way, he looks very sick. Those spots are a bad sign... Could be why he was so lethargic when you caught him. __________________ When you can feel the humidity pouring off the canvas and the salt spray on your face, my job is done.

09-06-2004, 09:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
LuckyInk Reef Painter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 565 View Gallery Karma Komment	Pitch black in color? Definitely a spadefish. As for the spots, I googled a for a few pics and did find another small spadefish with those same spots. Good thing you stuck him in a Q tank though... Just in case... __________________ When you can feel the humidity pouring off the canvas and the salt spray on your face, my job is done.

09-06-2004, 09:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Luckyink, Thanks for the ID on the fish. Looking at the fish closeup he seems okay. He's swimming normally, and quite attentive. I put 1/4 of a mysis cube and he just sucked it all down in a matter of seconds. He's really small....about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in length. Could those spots be juvenile markings? I know that in the shoreline he looked as if he was pitch black in color. However, once I had him in the hospital tank, the stripes showed up along with the spots.

09-06-2004, 09:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well its all making sense now. Thanks for the help! I'm guessing this will have to be a fish only candidate. I'm gonna get him up to tip top health before I move him. He seems to be incredibly friendly for a fish that has just been caught in the wild.

09-06-2004, 09:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
bronco7777 Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	By the way, I just found this article on google: http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca....wntr/spade.htm I guess I wasn't so crazy in thinking it was a batfish. These spadefish come from the same family.

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