Lizard fish

[Kit Walker]

I was looking around today and couldn't help buying a lizard fish. IT was scooting around the tank and would pick at the glass when I put my finger near the tank. I was just wondering if anyone knows the correct scientific name? I cannot find a listing so I assume it may go under another common name?

[MonoSebaelover]

Actually there is a fish that is called the lizard fish, they are also called the lizard blenny if I remember correctly. Beware, they are EXTREMELY predatory and will eat any kind of fish they can fit in their spacious mouth.

[Kit Walker]

Yes he is extremely predatory and scoots after anything that catches his eye. Unfortunately I think this resulted in his death. I observed that he chases brine shrimp extremely close to my anenomes even trying to pick brine shrimp off the tentacles. Today I found his dead body lying on the edge of one of my anenomes.

I won't get another one now until I set up another tank without anenomes. They spend so much time scooting around the substrate that it is too risky I think.

[kreblak]

IME lizard fish are pests that will eat ANYTHING put in front of them. They have sharp enough teeth to bleed a finger. I have seen them eat live mud minnows and shrimp, and I've seen them go after fast moving clark spoons and various fake lures. I've usually seen them in the mid-Atlantic. That is probably the reason it ignored the dangers of the anemonae, it probably didn't know (or care) that it was deadly.