There are many varieties of fish often with their own unique behaviors such as with feeding, reproduction, camouflage or color change and it’s appearance from juvenile to adult. I have captured images of fish below in no particular order. I hope you enjoy them!
They are so graceful together it is a pleasure to watch them cruise along.
This Filefish changes colors and patterns as they graze about on the reef. Fascinating patterns.
Skittish, this blenny will disappear in an instant to another spot or 2 and reappear from where he left.
The eggs guarded by the male take about 4 days go develop and hatch. With the eyes developed as in this picture they are probably about to hatch in 1-2 days, usually about 30 minutes after sundown.
A member of the puffer family also known as Spotted Spiny Puffer. Often seem to be smiling and at times seeming friendly.
One of my favorite subject to photograph because it is so colorful. At times the can be skittish but if they are focused on eating from a particular sponge one can get very close.
So cute fluttering about. They can be seen in very small sizes then up to intermediate. I have often seen the small juveniles working as cleaner fish.
Full grown French Angelfish, can be seen swimming alone, in pairs and in groups, Sometimes the less mature French angel can be seen tagging along with adult or intermediate sizes.
Another very cute juvenile fish swimming mostly with pectoral fins as he hunts around for food. He has progressed from the small marble like juvenile.
They can be seen puttering about on the sand”blowing” to stir up food from under the sand.
Peaceful and shy often hover in holes in the reef peeking out.
Not quite mature, more of an intermediate stage. The colors are more intense. The tend to be more shy.
More mature than the prior intermediate one this on has blue spiked like appendages between the eye and gill cover. Note on the prior picture you and barely see one or two starting to grow.
They live in holes in dead portions of coral or empty worm tubes darting out occasionally for a bite of food. Their eyes are amazing , they can move to look forward or back and operate independently. It looks funny to see one eye looking at you you and the other elsewhere, unlike us humans whose eyes move together.
The amazing colors of this juvenile make it pleasing to watch as he ducks in and out of the reef. It looks very similar to the very juvenile Queen Angelfish.
Often seen in pairs, sometimes hovering above the end of a purple tube sponge. When expecting brain coral spawning I noted them hanging about together in the immediate area for 24 hours.
When juveniles often they are seen working very hard as cleaner fish. They must have tough teeth as i have witnessed one chewing on a brittle star then he would spit it out and grab it again to keep working on it. Note this one is being cleaned by a Goby. (possibily a Sharknose Goby).
In the puffer family, the spines on the skin become erect when the fish is inflated.
Occasionally these frogfish will stretch their mouths open in a “yawn”. When feeding they will very rapidly open their mouth to suck in prey but here with this yawn it seems to be a sporadic behavior.
Sometimes the trumpetfish will follow along with a few other fish that are feeding other time feeding by themselves. I see them focused on a target, concentrating, then they will lunge to consume what they were targeting. Often i cannot see what it is they are going after. Waiting to strike their body is tensed with a couple of curves like he is spring loaded.
This pair of Sand Divers resting on the sand are part of the family of lizard fishes. Often resting in the sand, when approached will suddenly dart away. Less often i see them in pairs like this prompting me to take their picture. Not because I would call them particularly cute.
Note his sharp and numerous teeth well suited for grasping prey. Also, well suited for grasping fingers, so don’t point or stick fingers near face. They strike VERY fast!
They can grow quite large, up to 8 feet and can be intimidating. I was photographing this fellow and he disappeared and as i swam over 2 coral heads he was poking his head up between the 2 coral heads right below my crotch! Spooky!
A little foreplay before making new eels.
They can be noted to change to an iridescent blue color presumable to attract a mate. At times they are in a frantic rush above the reef. While some of this maybe territorial dispute, other times it seems quite notable it is for spawning as the pair rise above the reef, often late afternoon.
Sometimes one will poke the others abdomen as they rise. Here maybe a little afterglow before they break apart.
Pretty coloration, I have seen them turn black at times. I recently read that females turn black when laying eggs which i was fortunate to observe yesterday. (05-24-2019). But other times when not laying eggs I have seen this fish turn black. It is actually very interesting the number of fish that change color patterns and for varied reasons.
When juveniles these fish act as cleaners for other larger fish. There are other juveniles that do his also such juvenile French Angelfish.
A goby (probably a yellownose) rests, looking out from a tube sponge for a tower view of the rest of the world. The goby act as a cleaner fish. Now he is relaxing or being punished in the tower.
A very large parrotfish that grows up to 3 feet in length and occasionally 5 1/2 feet. They are quite an impressive sight due to it’s size. occasionally I see them solitary but at times in groups cruising along reef. Sometimes you can see them in the shallows in as little as 1-2 feet of water.
These fish are certainly masters in disguise. They can camouflage so well that you don’t see them looking directly at them. They have a lure which dangles in front of them like bait and when a fish shows he opens his mouth wide and causes suction to draw a fish in.
Normally this fish can appear mostly red at times and can change color to more pronounced bars.