What kind of fish, and will it be compatible?

[firestorm]

My boss told me about a SW fish at a store called ocean city here, so I went and had a look. I don't know the name of the fish, the guy working at the store spoke pretty poor english. He is about 10-12" long, and his body height was about 5-6". He is white with red verticle stripes, and the guy said he eats like a garbage can lol. Also apparently they are a pretty mellow fish. If anyone can help guide me in what this guy might be that would be great (as there are sooooo many SW fish out there, and finding a profile online might take forever) He also seems very friendly, and isn't the type of fish to be scared easily, and is also a hardy fish. I know this is not much to go by, but I have been trying to look through profiles and haven't come up with much luck. I wish I even knew the scientific family name. I do know what it's not, and I have not seen a SW fish like this in stores. So it is probably a little rarer to find depending on where you are.

Now my second question would be (once we figure out what this guy is), we were thinking of a clients aquarium that is roughly 300-400 gallons (not exactly sure), and in it they have 1 large aggressive angel, a red grouper, and 2 grey type fish (maybe triggers?). Do you guys think this guy would do fine in this aquarium with these fish?

Any help in figuring this out would be great, we would like to know if this fish will be compatible in the tank, thanks :)

[Osprey]

You need to get a positive id on the fish first. At least pin down the general group... is it an angel, a tang, a triggerfish, a grouper?
A picture would help.

[firestorm]

That's the strange part. I searched through thousands of profiles last night, but didn't find a single fish that looked similar. Maybe he is in the tang or angel family? definitely not a grouper, or a trigger, or anything spiney or hairy looking. Just a plain old fish with thick white and red verticle bands on his body, and was a huge fish.

[Osprey]

You should be able to tell the family by the general shape of the fish... tangs in the zebrosoma and acanthurus genuses, for example, both have very distinct shapes.
Also try wrasses, that kind of thing. Some of them get pretty big.

[Gobies et al]

I ran across a photo of a large red and white marine fish and thought I would mention it. It was called Red Emperor Snapper (Lutjanus sebae). I found a picture at this site:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_fauna_sci-Fish&where-lifeform=Fish&where-taxon=Lutjanus+sebae&title_tag=Lutjanus+sebae

[firestorm]

Gerry, you are the best. That is the fish I was talking about. I don't know why I couldn't find him. So do you guys think he would be compatible?

[Osprey]

From Wetwebmedia (often the best site for marine info):
The Emperor Snapper, Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier 1816), is a real beauty as a juvenile, but beware; it gets to be a real honker... more than three feet long in the wild! Another good reason to under- and infrequently feed an emperor is that their gorgeous color fades with growing size. Here is a juvenile in an urchin in N. Sulawesi, one of four inches in captivity, and an adult in Australian waters.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snappers.htm
I don't personally know anyone who keeps them, so I'll refrain from commenting further... but that's one big fish!

[Melody]

All the more reason that he should be properly identified in a store:wideeyed: . Could we pass the ID along to the store owner so he can label the tank?

[firestorm]

Well it is a really big tank he is going into, and with only 4 other fish. And for only $185 I think it's a great price.

Melody, the tanks weren't labelled very well, but I do remember the guy telling me what fish he was. I just could barely understand what he was saying because his english wasn't very good, and I have the memory of a 90 yr old sometimes lol.

[Gobies et al]

I have been into Ocean City in Calgary. The store is immaculate, the fish are very well kept and the attendant/owner seemed very knowledgeable. A trip through that store was incredible. :err:

If Firestorm' s memory is only half as bad as mine, it isn't surprising that she had trouble remembering names spoken with a strong Oriental accent.

:laugh:

[firestorm]

I have been into Ocean City in Calgary. The store is immaculate, the fish are very well kept and the attendant/owner seemed very knowledgeable. A trip through that store was incredible. :err:

If Firestorm' s memory is only half as bad as mine, it isn't surprising that she had trouble remembering names spoken with a strong Oriental accent.

:laugh:

:laugh:At least you understand.

Yeah the fish were amazing, and some of the corals were incredible. I know where I will go when I start up a SW tank. They also had a good deal on a 12g nano, but I don't have the cash for that right now :nah: