mandarinfish.

[anenomefishman]

kri island, raja ampat, indonesia. ~17ft (5.2m).
olympus xz-1/pt-050, internal flash, manual exposure program.

these little guys are difficult to photograph as they live in the staghorn coral here and only come up to the upper part of the staghorn coral near dusk. ypu have to wait until they are in an opening in the staghorn coral where you can see them. i am currently in raja ampat, indonesia, staying on kri island. this pic was taken 15m from the dive boat dock will be here for another week.

 

[Dan]

Great shot!

If you can take one during spawning season will be even better

From National Geographic article: Tiny Mandarin Fish Reveal Surprisingly Complex Spawning Ritual

"As the researchers monitored mandarin fish populations, they found that each evening, within 20 minutes of sunset, groups of three to five females gathered. Each group had its own "street corner" to which its members returned night after night. Males visited the sites and displayed courtship behavior, hoping to attract females.

To spawn, a female joins the male, resting on his pelvic fin, and the pair rises slowly about three feet (one meter) above the coral reef. At the peak of their rise, a cloud of eggs and sperm is released...."

 

[anenomefishman]

Great shot!

If you can take one during spawning season will be even better

From National Geographic article: Tiny Mandarin Fish Reveal Surprisingly Complex Spawning Ritual

"As the researchers monitored mandarin fish populations, they found that each evening, within 20 minutes of sunset, groups of three to five females gathered. Each group had its own "street corner" to which its members returned night after night. Males visited the sites and displayed courtship behavior, hoping to attract females.

To spawn, a female joins the male, resting on his pelvic fin, and the pair rises slowly about three feet (one meter) above the coral reef. At the peak of their rise, a cloud of eggs and sperm is released...."

they were not mating this time. we have seen a few of them mate before in Bali. my wife said she saw maybe a hundred of them, but she was cruising around the area. i was camped out in one spot so i could steady myself and my camera. there was like 4 or 5 where i was at.

Bruce