What kind of fish is this?

[davis_mad713]

We have not been able to figure out what kind of fish this is. It perches like a hawkfish, but strongly resembles a grouper or sand bass. It has green shiny eyes. Anyone happen to know what it is? We had posted asking about over a yr ago when it was a lot smaller. Now that it has changed, maybe someone knows lol. Thank you!

 

[Doberman13]

@ActiveAngel any ideas?

 

[jcook54]

I have no idea but I am curious, how big is it and how long have you had it?

 

[davis_mad713]

We got "it" end of August 2019. When we got it, it was about 1.5 inches and now probably about 5. The pic on the left is right now, right pic is day we got it.

 

[ActiveAngel]

Good question. I have a few thoughts, but nothing I'd like to back up yet. Very interesting find!

 

[davis_mad713]

Me too, resembles snowy grouper but not enough to say yes, same with several sand bass. Everything I've pulled up description wise renders no help really.

 

[hiimsean]

It does resemble a hawk fish but they usually have little tassels on their dorsal spines and yours looks like it’s lacking those. How big is the mouth? It doesn’t look like a large grouper mouth that would be engulfing food.

also does it have any other coloration besides what’s pictured?

 

[ichthyoid]

It resembles some type of Hamlet to me.

 

[ActiveAngel]

Found it! Decided to do a little searching while on my walk to the gym.

Belted Sandfish... aka Dwarf Sea Bass, Sand Basslet

Adult size is 4 inches, so yours probably won’t grow much more.

 

[ZapataInc]

Found it! Decided to do a little searching while on my walk to the gym.

Belted Sandfish... aka Dwarf Sea Bass, Sand Basslet

Adult size is 4 inches, so yours probably won’t grow much more.

We all knew you would figure it out.

 

[davis_mad713]

Found it! Decided to do a little searching while on my walk to the gym.

Belted Sandfish... aka Dwarf Sea Bass, Sand Basslet

Adult size is 4 inches, so yours probably won’t grow much more.

Thank goodness, I was afraid we woukd end up with some massive monster of a fish. I knew it had to be along the lines of that, I just couldn't pin it down to one species. Thank you SO much everyone. Finally a mystery solved.

 

[Riseupreefer]

He looks pretty BA