Slender filefish can be a tricky find underwater
This is a photo of a slender filefish taken on a night dive in Key Largo, Florida. These 2”-3” fish are great at camouflage. They are often wary towards divers and tend to retreat when approached. Slender filefish are often found around sea whips, sea rods, sea fans, and seagrass. Their sloped heads and thin body allow for them to maneuver effortlessly around complex environments.
Slender filefish can change their color and patterns, making them tricky to find. They are also good at hanging vertically in the water column. For these reasons, slender filefish can be a tricky find underwater. And once you find them, there’s no guarantee you will be able to photograph them.
On this particular dive, there was also the challenges of lighting, since this was a night dive. Fortunately, this was a friendly slender filefish who wasn’t afraid of a few photos. I really enjoy this photo because of the large orange eyeball looking right back at you. On your next dive, spend some time searching the gorgonian branches for these interesting little fish.
0 Comments