Is this blue or what

[RickQuann]

My brother was fishing the other day on the reef (off Islamorada) and reeled in this "blue" fish. Can anyone identify the species? Hint * the voice of the character "Cotton" In Pirates of the Caribbean

[TrueBlue]

While scuba diving along coral reefs, I've seen many Blue Parrot Fish hanging around. They're a very common tropical fish, but that is the first one I've seen out of it's element.

You know when one is nearby because of the crunching sound they make when gnawing away at coral - a delicacy to them. I swear they are the largest contributors of sand on all the white sandy beaches which border most Caribbean Islands.

Here's a shot I took of one smiling for the camera as he was munching coral . . .

[teshannon]

How was dinner?

[RickQuann]

Nice pic TB

He released the parrot after that photo was taken and trolled over / around the Islamorada "hump" picking up a dozen tuna and a couple of schoolie dolphins.

Dinner? Fresh tuna marinated in teriyaki sauce is mighty fine dining

[US27inKS]

That's a very good looking Parrot fish. I'm surprised that you caught one though. Their diet doesn't usually include something that would dangle from a hook. They are in fact the creatures that make sandy beaches. They live off of the algea attached to the coral rocks, not the coral itself. The coral rocks are made of the dead skeletons of old coral, comprised mostly of calcium carbonate. The parrot fish bites off pieces of the rock and digests the algea attached to it, and poops sand.

[blueranger]

That doesn't even look real the color is so brilliant. Great pic!

[Giulietta]

TB..I swear I never had seen a fish smile....thanks both for the excellent photos...

That blue fish made me happy..just looking at the colours

[TrueBlue]

Originally Posted by RickQuann

Nice pic TB

He released the parrot after that photo was taken and trolled over / around the Islamorada "hump" picking up a dozen tuna and a couple of schoolie dolphins.

Dinner? Fresh tuna marinated in teriyaki sauce is mighty fine dining

Glad he was released, since parrotfish are considered being added to the protected species list for their role in protecting the endangered coral reefs.

As US27 noted, aside from eating live coral for their polyps, they digest algae which eventually chokes the coral into extinction. Fertilizer and sewage overflows have increased the amount of algae in tropical waters.

I actually encountered the parrotfish in the above picture while diving Looe Reef - just west of Islamorada, where your brother caught his. Here's a shot taken just a few seconds later of the same fish:

Another of a different type of Parrotfish - the Stoplight Parrotfish:

Giu,
The parrotfish colors are brilliant, but the blue in Rick's pic is outstanding. Great shot.

[LittleMissMagic]

Great pictures guys!

[kwaltersmi]

Has anyone else ever been to De Palm Island just off the coast of Aruba? There are blue parrotfish twice the size of those in the photos just about everywhere. Granted, they are drawn in by the tortillas they get fed by the tourists, but it's still a cool sight to see.