Regal Angelfish in coastlal water of America

[Wwlworld]

I am wondering whether there is any Regal Angelfish in the coastal water of America (including Mexican Bay and Carribean).

I am a scuba diver as well as a marine fish hobbyist, lately I have come across a book saying that there are Regal Angelfishes in the coastal water in Amercia and wondering whether that is true or not. Any of you divers have seen them ?

Anyhow, here is a picture of an hawkfish taken at Cebu, the Philippines.

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

My books tell me tropical Indo-Pacific and agressive; for Pygoplites diacanthus.

Ed

 

[kelpmermaid]

something about lionfish sightings, but not about your little fellow. I assume that the lionfish had some kind of help getting into this hemisphere...

 

[herman]

I don't know about your anglefish but we have a growing population of lionfish here on the NC coast so I guess it's possible.

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

Probably some dolt released aquarium lionfish into the ocean and they took up residence there. That's what hapened with the piranaha species in north america.

There is a research project underway with NOAA to study the lionfish, the info can be found here

Ed

 

[kelpmermaid]

Wwl - After reading the U/W photography forum on the lionfish, REEF might be a good place for you to check or ask:

http://www.reef.org/exotic/index.html#Gallery

 

[Wwlworld]

Thank you for sharing the information. I think my original source of information was not too accurate.

I think it is quite possible that some marine fish hobbyists unaware of the potential impact have released their pets into the surrounding sea. Over here in HK the fishing-community has even caught Yellowbar Angelfish (Pomacanthus Maculosus) out of the local water which is not a common species in this part of the world.

As a little token of appreciation, here is a picture of a Pacific Regal Angelfish. This picture was taken in Sipadan Malaysia.