Volitan lionfish in Miami

[hugoman900]

I was at the beach recently when a beutiful fish caught my eye. If I wasn't mistaken, it was a Volitan Lionfish swimming around. Is this feasible? I know they are native to the pacific, but this is what I saw, and I saw it here in Miami Beach. My cousin had a bucket with him, so I scooped it up, kept it there for a while, and released it back into the ocean. I had no camera with me, and I didn't want to take it home just to photograph it. But the question is, what is a pacific fish doing in the atlantic?

[wastemanagement]

Sure is feasable they have migrated into the warmer atlantic waters stuff.
heres a link you can check out for some more info on them in atlantic waters
NOAA National Ocean Service Education: Lionfish Discovery Story

[aquaboy]

Yep, i was in Turks and Caicos and went on an eco kayak trip. We discussed the liofish problem and had a jolly grand old time. I even saw a scopas tang there, its sad what unresponsible individuals can do to ruin the world :*(

[wastemanagement]

Originally Posted by aquaboy

Yep, i was in Turks and Caicos and went on an eco kayak trip. We discussed the liofish problem and had a jolly grand old time. I even saw a scopas tang there, its sad what unresponsible individuals can do to ruin the world :*(

Im not to sure as to which fish you are reffering to, maybee the scopas as its found in all tropical waters around the world except the atlantic.
Because the lionfish is reported to have made its way to the atlantic as eggs/fry in the warm waters of the gulf stream currents.

[coral reefer]

They have caught Lionfish all the way up here in the Long Island Sound!!!! Among other fish...they follow the warm gulf stream up north!

[aquaboy]

Scopas are pacific fish

Latin Name Zebrasoma scopas
Common Name Scopas Tang
Also known as Broan Tang, Brown Surgeonfish
Fast Facts This is very similar to the yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), but it is brown overall, rather than yellow. If you are going to keep more than one tang in the same tank it is best to introduce them simultaneously, or to introduce smaller individuals first. It will defend a preferred hiding place from intruders. Provide this active fish with plenty of swimming room, as well one or two hiding places.
Sizes Small/Around 1.5"-2"
Medium/Around 2"-3"
Large/Around 4"-5"
Range in Nature Indo-Pacific
Minimum Aquarium Size 30

[wastemanagement]

Originally Posted by wastemanagement

the scopas as its found in all tropical waters around the world except the atlantic.
Because the lionfish is reported to have made its way to the atlantic as eggs/fry in the warm waters of the gulf stream currents.

Zebrasoma Tangs

The exception is the Atlantic Ocean where year round temperatures are too cold for them, hence their abscence.
This is the reason I ? which fish you were refering to my freind

[aquaboy]

The ine that is brown and called a scopas tang, lol....... the guide said that they shouldnt be in carribean sea. Cause theyd have to go through atlantic to get there......