Fishy Imposters?

[Eienna]

I want to write an article on fish species that are often mistaken for each other, such as the royal gramma and royal dottyback, ocellaris and percula clowns, etc.

I need input - what other fish have you seen that were either mistakenly labeled as something else, or easily could be?

I'll do the research on the differences myself; I just need names. :)

 

[jdl513]

Heniochus acuminatus (Black & White Butterflyfish) vs the Heniochus diphreutes (Schooling Bannerfish)

Extremely difficult to tell apart, but one is "reef-safe" while the other is not.

 

[Squishie89]

Clownfish: ocellaris vs percula.
Moorish idol vs some of the butterflies

 

[Eienna]

Good, good :) Anyone else? I believe juvenile forms of two of the angelfish could be confused. One is the Majestic but I'm not sure what the similar one was.

 

[brandongoetz01]

Juvenile blue angel and juvenile queen angelfish

 

[ohio reefer]

Belus angel and Lamarck's Angelfish

 

[brandongoetz01]

Grey angelfish and French angelfish

 

[brandongoetz01]

Desjardins sail fin tang and the sailfin tang

 

[brandongoetz01]

Three striped damsel and blackmail damsels

 

[brandongoetz01]

Orchid dotty back and the purple dotty back.

 

[coralfarm123]

Juvenile Eibli Tang vs. Eibli Angel

 

[cparka23]

Mimic Tang and Lemon Peel Angelfish.

Purple firefish and Helfrichi firefish. I've seen the purples mislabelled as Helfrichi at the LFS before, though that may have just been an attempt to mislead and justify a huge markup.

 

[ritter6788]

Candy basslet and the swissguard. Not hard to tell apart but similar.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Bluestriped fang blenny and curious worm fish. One is completely peaceful the other takes bites out of fish.

I have seen both being sold as the same.

 

[Marshall O]

Any juvenile Fairy or male Flasher Wrasse is almost always labeled as a Carpenter's Flasher.