What fish?

[the_cat_keeper]

Hi,

I was trying out various macro shots and saw schools of these tiny little fish around the reef. Decided to shoot it: http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/31450/cat/1164
When I came back and leafed through my reef guide I couldn't id it... any idea?

It was shot last week at Mabul, Sabah, E. Malaysia. It is approx 1" long (2cm) and there were many of them all over the reef. Depth was no more than 10m.

Thanks in advance.
Cat.

 

[Vie]

Cardinalfish. I am guessing Apogon franssedai based on the picture in my Allen, Steene, Humann and DeLoach. Of course the picture of A. franssedai in Fishbase is rather different.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

The cardinalfish in my reef guide ranges from 2" to 5"... so do you think this is a juvenile?

 

[Vie]

The cardinalfish in my reef guide ranges from 2" to 5"... so do you think this is a juvenile?

Could be—I’m sure cardinalfishes don’t hatch when they are already at least 2 inches long...

 

[Rick Murchison]

I concur that it's a juvenile Cardinalfish.
Rick

 

[the_cat_keeper]

thanks... renamed the photo to "juvenile cardinalfish".