Favorite Fish to See?

[Scuba_Jenny]

Juvenile drums are a very close second--almost a tie--but my favorite, so far, is the juvenile trunkfish, which at the size of a large marble carries enough toxin to kill a decent-sized shark. Not a good picture, I'm afraid--they aren't called "bumblebees" for nothing. Bonaire, September 2021 - Rick Morgan

Toxins to kill a shark? I haven't heard of this. Tell me more please!

 

[Billg68bg]

I have only seen pictures and not the fish in the wild, but the Cardinal Soldierfish has such an expressive face.

View attachment 802514

Looks like he needs a Prozac.

 

[twistedt]

I always enjoy the reef butterflyfishes. I always see them in pairs.

 

[agilis]

Juvenile drums are a very close second--almost a tie--but my favorite, so far, is the juvenile trunkfish, which at the size of a large marble carries enough toxin to kill a decent-sized shark. Not a good picture, I'm afraid--they aren't called "bumblebees" for nothing. Bonaire, September 2021 - Rick Morgan

Only certain species of trunkfishes carry toxins. None of the Atlantic/Caribbean trunkfishes carry any toxins, except for the Smooth Trunkfish. Some Pacific species are very toxic, releasing their toxins into the water when stressed. I doubt that any juvenile trunkfish could do in a large shark. Again, most Caribbean/Atlantic trunkfishes are completely harmless. We catch small ones here in NJ in late summer. We call them Boston Beans.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I have never heard of toxins in trunkfish.

 

[Green Frog]

I always enjoy the reef butterflyfishes. I always see them in pairs.

This pair didn’t seem as shy as many I’ve seen. I got a couple of other species but no images as clean as these. Years ago I shot banded, spot fin four eye and maybe another species on San Salvador (Bahamas). They’re all on film and haven’t been digitized.

 

[mattfish]

I love this thread.

I don’t have any favorite fish, as I genuinely enjoy seeing any fish at all. But there are two (three technically) that make me giggle like a little kid every time I see them:

Those little ping pong balls of joy that are juvenile trunk fish (spotted and smooth), and porcupine puffer fish with their smiling faces

 

[tomfcrist]

Technically not a fish I suppose, but I’ll spend a whole dive staring at an octopus.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

My favorite fish are not all that rare. But if I see them I know it's going to be a good dive.

Batfish and Anthias.

 

[bletso]

Cuttlefish by far