Juvenile French Angel collected locally

[Squiers007]

bjgf, Thanks for the response. I'm not much of a fish biology guy, but I know that is the case with some fish. I'm curious what you do for a living and what your educational background is? I primarily work on Coral genetics and coral reef ecology.

[Kristy]

Great discussion. That tasselated blenny is sweet!

[hobogato]

i agree k (or m?)

i may have to get with you bjgf15 and find out how i could get a couple of them to put into the breeding program.....

[Kristy]

That was Kristy. I always sign my name after everything I post so people will know it is me. However, I also think the blenny is cool. - Mike

[bjgf15]

bjgf, Thanks for the response. I'm not much of a fish biology guy, but I know that is the case with some fish. I'm curious what you do for a living and what your educational background is? I primarily work on Coral genetics and coral reef ecology.

No problem,
I am finishing my PhD at UT's Marine Science Institute and I work on Predator/prey interactions among reef fish and planktonic prey.

[bjgf15]

i agree k (or m?)

i may have to get with you bjgf15 and find out how i could get a couple of them to put into the breeding program.....

Sure, shoot me a PM. They are very easy to collect.

[bjgf15]

In case anynone hasn't had the opportunity to see one of these little French angels in person, here is a video I shot that shows their unique and conspicous swimming pattern. It is much like that of percula clownfish and may be a way (in conjunction with their color pattern) to advertise their 'services' to other fish, as they are cleaners when juveniles. They later switch to a diet of algae, sponges, tunicates etc as adults.

[allan]

Wow, he likes to move doesn't he? Is that movement to prevent being a meal or is it just the way they have to swim at the rig to stay near it?

[bjgf15]

Wow, he likes to move doesn't he? Is that movement to prevent being a meal or is it just the way they have to swim at the rig to stay near it?

My guess is that since they clean parasites off of larger fish such as groupers, the conspicuous swimming pattern combined with the very conspicuous coloration is to attract the attention of larger fish to the ‘cleaning station’ that they set up. The fish lose both the coloration and strange swimming pattern when they switch their diet to sponges, tunicates and algae as late juveniles and adults.

[Roo&Lis]

its almost like its dancing