What species would make the coolest tail designs?

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

I was google image searching, and I came across some interesting photographs of different fish.

My idea was, what if we had a thread where we shared images/sites with pictures of fish that would make interesting tail designs?

So, here it is. Post any images or fish (or other sea life) that you think would make especially interesting tail designs.

I really liked these images of flasher wrasses, though the photographer doesn't seem to know their exact species, only hazarding a guess that they are a variant filamented flasher wrasse.

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/flasher-wrasse-heaven-in-southern-halmahera/

I also love parrotfish, and would be interested in a parrotfish tail... and of course, lionfish tails (complete with the fins) would be impressive.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Wow, the flasher wrasses are definitely a sweet fish!

I actually have an idea to do a lionfish tail, fins and all, but it's a ways away still. XD

[Prince Calypso]

I'm not a big fan of gold fish but the fan tail's fin is so beautiful to me

2036

mainly because of the Fish from Disney's Fantasia


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=BWKKJwBXir4

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Yeah, I was thinking about Goldfish as well, Prince Calypso, particularly the ones with double fins.

Mermaid Lorelei, I am definitely looking forward to seeing your finished tail, when you do get to it.

Also, while looking up images online, I came across this site, on how to identify different kinds of fish by patterns and shapes of their scales, fins, etc. I especially like the details about different names for tail fin shapes (I lean towards lunate and forked tails, but it would be interesting to see a tail with eel-like or lanceolate fins as well).
http://www.redang.org/fishid.htm

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I promise I'm still working on it J&R. Just finished up a good portion of my monofin last night.

Has anyone looked into Cichlid designs? I know there's something close to 500 different species, and from what I've seen, they're extremely exotic looking sometimes.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Wow, thanks for bringing that up, Mermaid Lorelei... Cichlids can be really striking... I especially liked the white, black and cyan frontosa cichlid.

It occurred to me that a royal gramma tail would look impressive, as would several other fish on this website http://www.ultimatereef.com/articles/003/ ... including the firefish and bicolor blenny.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

No problem J&R.
And that firefish is gorgeous.

[MermaidRaegan]

I've been considering a clownfish tail for some time now. They're such cute little fish, and the shape of their fluke would be perfectly suited to a finis wave.

[LittleTreasure]

My first thought when looking for inspiration is always Betta fish. I guess it's because they can have so many beautiful colors and fin shapes.

[Bellasea]

I love the exotic fish, but my dream tail is one based on a rainbow trout and steelhead. I love the colors. https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdqmDMMOER7PEU8azKiElP4nZrPauHr bt0CU3cTmhTFk1w9vIu

[Syrenia]

I personally like how the Ghost Sharks look. Not very pretty faces, but man those fins are GORGEOUS!! That's what I based my newest tail on. (Pics not up yet.)

[Bellasea]

^^ That would look amazing! :D

[Merman Craig (Delphinar)]

Yeah. Just let your imagination run wild, and make what comes to your mind.:)

[New York Mermaid]

this fish would make for an incredible tail, but my next tail is based on a damselfish:
http://cdn.manhattanreefs.com/forum/images/magazine/2010-1/wandell/20091014-DSC_0027.jpg

[Ayla of Duluth]

don't rightly know what any of these fish are called, but i think the first one is adorable.
3400
3401
3402

[Bellasea]

i also think i sunfish would be pretty... https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxOfP9wJiNnmjGJMc4ci_icTHy9Pwoe zsWE-XNQSlYWPdibEVy

this was the best picture I could find, the pattern usually contiues all the way down the side of fish, with teh belly being orangey and the top brown-ish.

[merboy78xy]

Ayla, that first fish is called a flying gurnard. It's one of my favs too... the are in the same family (and sometimes even called) "sea robin"
I think their fins are incredible! Look em up, their coloration is unreal sometimes! blues and greens... ocellations!

[Ayla of Duluth]

For some reason, they remind me of chimæra sharks.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

I have been thinking about long tails, maybe ones that extend past the flippers or monofins, in order to make a tail for a leafy sea dragon, or a vertical tail (maybe have a pair of flippers covered in fabric as side fins, and let the motion of your kicking cause the vertical tail to move back and forth). Also, a tail based on a stingray might be really cool.

[michellerobison]

I've been watching my butterfly koi to sketch them for my tail idea... they're getting nervous....

[Mermaid Rillia]

3428 I love this fishs colors :)

[Mermaid Caidence]

I love the colors of the Dwarf Gourami.
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h387/_Caitey_/Random%20Fish/Dwarf_Gourami.jpg

[Merman Craig (Delphinar)]

How about a sturgeon? I think that would make a pretty cool design.

[halesloveswhales]

I was watching Finding Nemo today, and I decided that it would be so cool to see a pod of Finding Nemo mers. Blue Tang (Dory), Clown fish (Marlin/Nemo), and all of the tank fish. :)

[merboy78xy]

3451Craig, I agree with you about the sturgeon. I always loved the Scute splates on the sides. I also found a beautiful black sea bass to be a cool tail idea!

[Bellasea]

A sturgeon would be sweet. I think it would be cool if someone did a yellow tail. Like the bright yellow tinny tropical fish. Just google yellow fish, it should be one of the first pictures.