#kelpfish

[i-give-you-a-fish]

Can you give me your most complex fish?

You get a Giant Kelpfish

Heterostichus rostratus

[livinseas2]

Edit: this is an archive blog now, blog has moved to livinseas

The striped kelpfish is another one of my favorites, after I had the very fun experience of working with one closely when I volunteered in aquarium husbandry during my bachelor’s degree. However, I was very surprised to see how little research has been done on this fish, especially compared to the giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) or the spotted kelpfish (Gibbonsia elegans). The one I worked with would viciously dive after my aquarist tongs for teeny, tiny pieces of smelt or would try to hide himself in the aquarium decor, all while staring at me with ‘you can’t see me’ written across his face. One of my favorite things to do was watch him ‘walk’ around on the sandy bottom of the tank using his tiny pelvic fins (the small fins on the underside of the fish near the head) as feet!

Citations:

Feder, H. M., Turner, C. H., & Limbaugh, C. (1974). Fish Bulletin 160. Observations On Fishes Associated With Kelp Beds in Southern California.

Gibbons metzi - Hubbs, 1927. Fishbase. Retrieved 10 August, 2025, from https://www.fishbase.org/summary/Gibbonsia_metzi.html

Stepien, C. A. (1987). Color pattern and habitat differences between male, female and juvenile giant kelpfish (Blennioidei: Clinidae). Bulletin of marine science, 41(1), 45-58.

Stepien, C. A., Glattke, M., & Fink, K.M. (1988). Regulation and Significance of Color Patterns of the Spotted Kelpfish, Gibbonsia elegans Cooper, 1864.

Williams, J.T. 2014. Gibbonsia metzi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T178917A1547499. Retrieved 10 August, 2015, from https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T178917A1547499.en

[rapidpunches]

New Obsession Unlocked : Giant Kelpfish??

[noaasanctuaries]

"Ahem, excuse me, are you aware that today is the last day of the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest?" 

This kelpfish in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary knows what's up! Today is the deadline to submit your photos to our photo contest -- get the details here. This photograph was an entry to last year's "Sanctuary Life" category. 

(Photo: Patrick Smith)

[smpieraquarium]

Hope you're wearing something green this St. Paddy's Day! #StPattys #StPatricksDay #green #kelpfish #aquarium

[fyeah-seacreatures-blog]

Galaxy in the Eye. (Teruhide Tomori)

False Kelpfish.