USVI-On-Line

Never have seen these guys anywere but the surface. This guy decided he needed a little dental work so he dove down a few feet to get a cleaning. Was cool to watch him open his mouth and let his cleaner fish do there cleaning. What are those little guys called?

Looks like it could be a ballyhoo.

Cool pic!
I thought the ones near the surface were needlefish, but I'm thinking they had a yellow or orange area on their dorsal surface.
I don't think I've seen one of these before, and definitely not during dental work!

I vote for needlefish.

only the lower jaw is long on a ballyhoo.

I'm pretty sure that's a ballyhoo. Needle fish are much skinnier and more pale in color.

Hey Capt. Not sure what it is ? but, wow what a AWESOME pic !

I can see vague but dark vertical bars on the body, which leads me to believe it's a Flat Needlefish. As it's been mentioned, the Ballyhoo's lower jar is long but its upper is short.

By the way, where is your TR, cptn? Would love to see more photos, too!

I just figured that was a needlefish. What is the name of the little guy doing the dental work. Love to watch when fish come up to the cleaning stations to be cleaned. Such a cool relationship, he was literally inside his mouth at times. Needlefish could have snapped shut for a nice easy meal but he knew no free dental work if he did.

Sorry no TR to much of a pain when ya get to the end of the box and it keeps going back up. It's a little fuzzy now couldn't do it justice anyways. The sad thing is I took a crapload on VG but hardly any on St John. Maybe I will post one of the Baths for a TGIF since we talk alot about them. Just have so many of ST John that I really didn't feel like it as we didn't hit any different beaches this trip.

I didn't mean to bug you about your TR, cptn. TGIF pic will be nice. And the little guy is probably a Goby, the cleaner.

Way cool!

Just wanted to say - amazing capture!