Solid blue

[Steve_C]

This picture was taken off the coast of NC at about 80 ft. There were three fish close together. Two solid blue ones like this one and a yellow tail reeffish. There were several other junvenile beaugregory also in the area. Somehow it did not look right for a blue chromis to me. Seemed stockier. Any suggestions.

 

[Steve_C]

Here is the picture of the blue fish

 

[chillyinCanada]

Blue hamlet maybe? Did you say the other fish was a dark color with a yellow tail, which could have been yellowtail hamlet. Then perhaps it makes sense.

Hard to get a good look at him on my little screen. Does this fish have a black marking across its eye? That would put me in mind of a fish from the other side of the world. Name I can't think of.

---------- Post added June 13th, 2015 at 09:12 PM ----------

But then again . . .might just be chromis. Look at your picture and see there's kind of a stripe pattern front to back. We see that here too. Seems distinctive to me. What say you?

http://www.ryanphotographic.com/ima... Blue Chromis, Glover's Reef, Belize-2835.jpg

 

[WetLens]

Purple Reeffish, Chromis scotti.

 

[Steve_C]

Purple Reeffish, Chromis scotti.

Took a closer look at the other one. Not as good a photo but a side view. You are right. A purple reeffish.

 

[chillyinCanada]

purple reeffish: Chromis scotti - :: Pura Vida Divers

Perfect!

 

[WetLens]

Didn't have access to my photos when I responded above. Here are a few shots of Purple Reeffish:

Blue Heron Bridge:


MicKey Wreck off NC Coast (near Frying Pan Tower)


Same site and same group of fish... Found out that as they mature, Purple Reeffish become less purple.

 

[Steve_C]

Did you say the other fish was a dark color with a yellow tail, which could have been yellowtail hamlet.

All fins but the top fin were yellow and there was white on the belly.

 

[WetLens]

Steve: Based on description, think you had it right with Yellowtail Reeffish, Chromis enchrysura. Here is one from Jupiter, FL. I've seen a few up here, but not when I've had a camera in hand.

 

[Steve_C]

This is not a good picture, it is cropped from part of the picture focusing on the purple reeffish which was closer. But clearly a Yellowtail reeffish. Pretty little fish.