Fish ID(no pic)

[Tommy5000]

Hi everyone, I know it sucks to try and ask for help with getting an ID on a fish without a photo to help but I am going to try anyway. I was at a friends house helping him with his tank when I noticed a new fish he purchased. He said he got it from PETCO of all places and they called it a Dolphin fish. It was 6-8'' long with a blennie/wrasse body type(torpedo looking) and it was a dark blue with a large white stripe running down the belly. Also it had a wedge looking nose section. The fish itself was kinda cool looking, but it's behavior made me love it instantly. It was at first shy...but soon came out to check me out and followed me all around the tank. The sweet thing was that it had a manner of swimming in which its whole body wiggled like crazy, but its head stayed locked never moving. It is funny as hell to watch and I want one, but of course I have never seen another like it. I very much doubt PETCO named it correctly as even the employees don't know what I am talking about lol. Any help on this would be appriciated.....thanks

[regina574]

There is a fish that is called a Dolphin fish, but I really hope we are not talking about the same fish.
Did it look like one of these two?
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk305/saltwaterfish13/dolphinfish.jpg

[AuroraDrvr]

Malacanthus latovittatus - Blue blanquillo

Has been known to be called a "Dolphin fish"...

[Tommy5000]

oh no regina i checked out the true "dolphin fish" first, it was definatly not one of those. Aurora I looked at a few of the Blue Blanquillos and they do look alot like this fish and it may be the same just the one in my friends tank has that funny swim and the few Blues i have seen in vidoes swim more like a typical fish. lol ty for the help guys I am going to try and research the blanquillo more.

[ironmics]

Petco sells a lot of stuff the shouldn't(i.e. juvenile box and cowfish). Judging by the size of the blanquillo, they probably shouldn't be selling it either, but I wouldn't be shocked.

Did you look at the videos on fishbase? The blanquillo videos there look to have the swimming style you eluded to, very similar to a blenny.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/videos.php?speccode=5796
Look at video 5.

I would suggest some kind of blenny if you like the swimming style, they perch a lot, but when they swim, it's almost identical.

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15183211#post15183211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by regina574
There is a fish that is called a Dolphin fish, but I really hope we are not talking about the same fish.
Did it look like one of these two?
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk305/saltwaterfish13/dolphinfish.jpg

LOL


I can go to Petco to stock my tank with Dorado? If so then I can cut out all those fishing trips to Baja! I don't know how I'm going to cast my fly rod in the house but I'll figure something out! :)

[LisaD]

was it something like this?

http://www.bluewatervisions.com/BLZ_sand_tilefish.jpg

or this?

http://www.marinecenter.com/media/photos/487BDE74481F43BC90C827F30B9941FBA.jpg

I would have guessed some kind of blenny, like a tail spot, except for the length. Are you sure it was 6-8"?

[Tommy5000]

Ironmics you got it! I checked out those videos and right away I could see that was the same fish....blanquillo . I guess my friends is still young as it couldnt be more than 8'' right now. Cant wait to tell him how huge it's going to get lol. He has it in a 150g thats mostly fish and some peppermint shrimp and a few soft corals. Going to be interesting when he gets bigger. TY for the help everyone. :D