By Deborah Campbell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #112) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:17 pm: |
During an early afternoon dive on August 25, I noticed this critter hunkered down at the base of Small Wall. It was around 8 inches long. Sorry for the poor quality of the image... I had only a second to get the shot before it scurried off toward the north. Does anyone have any idea what this is?
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3198) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:38 pm: |
Deborah, here is my picture of a batfish, taken off the coast of Panama City Beach, FL., where the sightings are extremely rare apparently.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3199) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:47 pm: |
LOL... now I can't find my darn batfish.
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By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6483) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:49 pm: |
looks like a broken soap fish
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By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6484) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:52 pm: |
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2170) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:45 pm: |
I also vote for a bent, or 'broken', Soapfish.
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By Deborah Campbell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 2:51 pm: |
Freddie and Glen, I believe you're right. The head looks exactly like that of a soapfish; no telling why it was so "bent" when I saw it. I don't believe the fish was injured, based on how quickly it swam away as I approached. This is the first time I've seen a soapfish - on Bonaire, or anywhere.
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By Timmmmmmy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #550) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 3:53 pm: |
Freddie looks more like a muddysoapfish LOL ;)
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3201) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 3:56 pm: |
Here is a picture of a batfish I found in the archives, but still not MY batfish! lol
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By Long John Cecil (in my dreams) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4245) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 4:02 pm: |
Soap Fish fer sure. I call them backscatter fish.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3202) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 4:06 pm: |
Stop the presses I found my picture. I love the search feature of this site. lol
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By Timmmmmmy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #553) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 4:13 pm: |
Cecil - why do you call them backscatter fish?
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #323) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 5:57 pm: |
O.K. so Deborah nailed a soap fish.
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By Susan - BSDME (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #177) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 6:43 pm: |
Deborah,
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #324) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 6:53 pm: |
Susan -
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By Deborah Campbell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #114) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 7:45 pm: |
Thank you, Susan! Perhaps this soapfish had been asleep, which might explain its "bent" position. I was the last in a line of about a dozen divers moving along the base of Small Wall during that dive; no one else noticed this fish, but we probably inadvertantly interrupted its sleep. I appreciate knowing they're nocturnal and will pay attention during future night dives.
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By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2402) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 10:48 pm: |
I would guess there are many hundreds of greater soapfish in Bonaire, at a guess, once you recognize them you see them lying around everywhere. They're weird fish, they lie on their sides, hidden away if possible.
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By Timmmmmmy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #557) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 11:01 pm: |
Deborah- I like your work and your web page...
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By BABS (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9700) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 11:10 pm: |
My first thought was soapfish too...here's one I saw on my trip last August
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #216) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 11:54 pm: |
Hi
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By Deborah Campbell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #115) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 12:15 am: |
Mick, I think you're right. I didn't see this fish, but my husband said it was small... maybe five inches long. So perhaps a juvenile or adolescent rock hind in the pale phase? The coloration near the eyes looks exact. Thanks for the clarification.
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By Susan - BSDME (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #178) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 6:44 am: |
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By Brian (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1191) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 7:15 am: |
How about spawning Soapfish -This was on top of the Machacha wreck last Christmas
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4246) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 8:41 am: |
Tim, because the spots look like backscatter. Look at Bab's picture.
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By J Rushman (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #115) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 12:12 pm: |
Charles writes: "Have any thoughts on how common are greater soapfish in Bonaire waters?"
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #325) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 12:57 pm: |
Thanks to all for expanding our knowledge about soapfish and their population in Bonaire waters.
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By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1074) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 3:46 pm: |
Charles,
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #326) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 6:59 pm: |
Mare -
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By andrew hamilton (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #103) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 3:21 am: |
Soapfish are relatively common on Bonaire dive sites. My wife and I saw them on the majority of dive sites visited - they tend to hide away and you have to look carefully to see them but they are not uncommon. the picture at the top is definitely a soapfish IMO.
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By Yo quiero taco bell (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14589) on Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 10:05 pm: |
We saw a couple of soapfish off the docks at Belmar...so Charles, you can find them snorkeling They do look like they are dead...little fakers! LOL!
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1697) on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 10:45 am: |
I have seen many Soapfish while snorkeling in Bonaire. They love to lye flat up against something and they blend it and are easily missed.
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By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #413) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 5:42 pm: |
When I first started diving, I noticed whatever moved.
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By Mark Degan (BonaireTalker - Post #55) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 7:21 pm: |
I didn't know what that fish was the first time I saw it in Bon either. Its eyes we're looking different directions, it looked completely weird.
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