native fish-based tails?

[MerMel]

who has a tail with a scheme that was based on the inhabitants of their local area?

I appear to be gravitating towards doing that for mine when the time comes.
I'm currently considering spotted sunfish, peacock bass, redfin pickerel, and american flagfish for freshwater, or nassau grouper, blue angelfish, french angelfish, or spotted eagle ray for salt water.

also, anyone have iridescent shine on their fins?

[Merman Dan]

My Finfolk tail, which is still in production, is patterned after the state saltwater fish of NC, the red drum/channel bass.

[Echinacea]

I like the first two - the spotted sunfish and the peacock bass - best!

[PearlieMae]

I don't know if it's local to new jersey, but I love the scales on the arowana!

[Anahita]

I'm doing that with my tail. I picked a fish endemic to my area - that just as luck would have it, happened to also be a color that looks fabulous on me.

[MermanZen]

when I'm designing my tails I look for different patterns in different fish to help get a concept of my design

[Merman Dan]

when I'm designing my tails I look for different patterns in different fish to help get a concept of my design

I like to start HERE

[MermanZen]

Thanks Dan all the different kinds of fish!!! Opened my mind to new tails!!!!!

[MermanZen]

I've always wanted to try a clownfish inspired tail Hmmmm?

[halesloveswhales]

I was strongly considering doing a mahi tail, but it'd look too much like the tail I already have. But I love the idea of modeling yourself after native fish! It's great way to get business with environmental organizations.

[Mermaid Dottie]

I live in utah, and there are very few fish here with pretty color patterns, but I did find one native, the Bear Lake cutthroat trout. I'm basing my first full silicone tail off of that.

[MerMel]

I've always wanted to try a clownfish inspired tail Hmmmm?

merbellas/Raven did one of those earlier in the year, my jaw dropped through the floor on how awesome it is.

[Anahita]

merbellas/Raven did one of those earlier in the year, my jaw dropped through the floor on how awesome it is.

I remember that tail. It's still one of my favorites of hers.

[MermanZen]

lionfish themed tail

[MermanZen]

A quick sketch of my idea of a lion fish tail

[Gem Stone]

wow, that lion fish sketch is really cool. that would make one heck of a tail!

[Merman Dan]

Very nice! Finfolk did something similar, but with fewer spines:

[MermanZen]

thanks guys I really wanted to see how a lionfish tail would look and I wanted to make the spines a little bit bigger so it has that realistic feel to it. so thanks again if anyone would like me to help them design a native fish tail reply any of your own ideas in the next replies thanks guys. swim with ya later

[Mermaid Gosalyn]

I thought about designing a tail based on an actual fish, preferably local, but I reeeeaaaaallllllyyy want a purple tail, and couldn't find any purple fish with a color scheme I like.

[Merman Dan]

If you have an iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device, you might consider downloading the Audubon Field Guide to North American Fishes. It's a fun way to look at loads of local fish! They also have the Audubon Fishes of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico .