Fish ID.

[Anonymous]

It's a wrasse, I think...but that's as far as I could guess. Any other ideas?

This may not be an aquarium species. The hook in its mouth tipped me off to that.

 

[Len]

I think it's a very nice Thalassoma grammaticum. It's definitely a reef fish, gets huge, a sand digger, and sometimes not reef safe.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a male Thalassoma lutescens. The yellow pectoral fin with blue trim is characteristic of the species.

They need very large tanks. Super active, super aggressive, and they'll catch and consume fish that are too large to swallow. Same goes for shrimp, snails, small clams, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, I'll pass the information along to my father...the guy who caught it.

 

[Anonymous]

Strange, the one in the picture was caught in the Atlantic, yet the Thalassoma lutescens's range is "Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to Ducie Island, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to southeastern Australia, Lord Howe Island, the Kermadec Islands, and Rapa."

Is there a related/similar Atlantic species, or is my old man pulling a fast one on me?

 

[Len]

Hmmm. Perhaps a color variant of Thalassoma pavo ?

 

[Anonymous]

I guess it could be, but that lutescens looked right on.

 

[Len]

Hobbyists have also been releasing fish into the Atlantic :? That could be it.

 

[Anonymous]

Ahhh...hadn't thought of that. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[Anonymous]

Strange, the one in the picture was caught in the Atlantic, yet the Thalassoma lutescens's range is "Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to Ducie Island, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to southeastern Australia, Lord Howe Island, the Kermadec Islands, and Rapa."

Is there a related/similar Atlantic species, or is my old man pulling a fast one on me?

Where in the Atlantic did he catch it?

 

[Anonymous]

Update: He 'fessed up. He didn't actually catch the fish in the picture, but caught one he thought looked similar.

He was fishing in about 200' of water, nearish to the edge of the Gulf Stream, off the East coast of Florida.

Thanks for your help, Gents.