Sailfin Tang

[Divesherpa]

Wow, today I was shocked to see a strange species of fish. I exited the water and ran to my backpack (after dropping off a few pieces of gear on the way. Upon investigation, I discovered that the fish doesn't exist in the Reef Fish ID (for Florida and Caribbean).

Kevin (Scubakevdm) didn't miss a beat. He walks up and pronounces that the fish is a Pacific Sailfin Tang.

Awesome, but what is it doing in Boynton Beach?

Who knows?

Last night, we were assaulted by a small green turtle who was missing his back right fin. We were at LBTS. Awesome last night, we found several species of shrimp that I hadn't seen.

Anybody know a lot about shrimp in the LBTS area? I would like to know what these were, but I can't identify them in the Reef Creature book.

Cheers,
Jamie

 

[Scubakevdm]

Is this him? Furthermore, is that the sponge you were hiding behind when you spotted him?

 

[Divesherpa]

That's him, but the sponge is questionable. Awesome fish!! Thanks for the ID!

 

[SeanQ]

Nice fish. Is the "Pacific" designation part of the name or is the fish normally only found in the Pacific? We have Atlantic salmon in here but they escaped from the fish farms.

 

[H2Andy]

unfortunately, lots of exotics (including lionfish, arabian angelfish, and racoon
butterflyfish) have been spotted off Florida. i know several pacific sailfin tangs
have been seen off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

aquarium owners just release them for whatever reason when they can't take
care of the tank anymore.

 

[Scubakevdm]

unfortunately, lots of exotics (including lionfish, arabian angelfish, and racoon
butterflyfish) have been spotted off Florida.

It's okay, I released three Atlantic tangs into the Pacific to offset the ecological effects.

 

[H2Andy]

:rofl:

 

[hdtran]

Nice fish. Is the "Pacific" designation part of the name or is the fish normally only found in the Pacific? We have Atlantic salmon in here but they escaped from the fish farms.

There's actually two varieties of sailfin tangs (both now Zebrasoma veliferum, if you want the latin). One, which was thought a different species, the Desjardin sailfin tang (Z. desjardinii, until the biologists decided to move him), lives in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, & towards W. India. The other, the Pacific sailfin, is endemic in Indonesia, Phillipines, and of course, the Pacific...

Many aquarists have unfortunately decided to "let Nemo swim the sewer to the sea." Lionfish (for example, the Volitans), which are definitely not native to the West Atlantic, have been released into the tropical West Atlantic, and have moved North, and been sighted as far North as NJ/LI area (but more commonly, NC).

While this may be very cool for the fish, and definitely an interesting sight for divers (Scuba & Snorkelers), the ecological impact may be negative. Kind of like rabbits in Australia, or feral pigs in Hawaii, or zebra mussels in the waterways, or Kudzu in the South...

That said, of all the tangs in the sea, I think the Sailfin is one of the prettiest. (But then, I'm prejudiced; I've got a Sailfin in my aquarium).

 

[Divesherpa]

Sean, as pointed out, the Pacific designator does indicate geographic region of origin.

I can see it now: Lionfish: King of the Gorgonian Jungle of Boynton Beach.

Does anybody have an extra giant Wrasse? I would like to name him "George" and bring him hard boiled eggs for breakfast on Tuesdays.

 

[Corigan]

Definately a common fish among aquarium hobbyists. I had a sailfin tang that lived for over 4 years, awesome fish. Thanks for the shot kev,

Matt