Fish identification archive / Glassy Sweeper
Glassy Sweeper
Pempheris schomburgkii
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Fun facts for your next surface interval
- Its anal fin has a much longer base than its small dorsal fin.
- The lateral line continues onto the tail instead of stopping at the tail base.
- Copper sweeper and glassy sweeper are names for the same species.
Florida and local context
Florida Keys region; Palm Beach occurrence not verified in the cited museum checklist: Smithsonian species data report includes Florida Keys-region occurrence coordinates, for example [[24.4454, -81.9249], [24.4514, -81.6787]]. Lake Worth Lagoon row has no verified mark; potential only.
Documented regional presence is not a guarantee of an encounter or a measure of how common this animal is at your dive site.
How to recognize this animal
A glassy sweeper looks almost as though its fins were arranged upside down: the dorsal is short, but the anal fin runs along much of the lower rear body. The body is very deep and laterally compressed, with a huge eye, tiny snout and upward-opening mouth. Coppery, olive and silver tones change with the viewing angle.
Size and life stages
The maximum length is about 15 centimeters, six inches. Its deep body can make a small fish seem larger in a close photograph. A long, pointed pectoral and forked tail contrast with the short dorsal. The eye is exceptionally large relative to the head, about one-third of head length in the Smithsonian identification description.
Habitat and where to look
The species is associated with clearwater reefs, usually within the documented two-to-30-meter interval. Reef structure and shaded spaces are useful places to inspect, but the profile does not promise an encounter in any specific crevice. Its narrow, flattened body is easiest to recognize from the side; seen head-on, much of that body depth disappears.
Range and local context
The documented range extends from Bermuda to Brazil. Smithsonian distribution points document the Florida Keys region. Florida Museum lists this species only as a potential, unverified Lake Worth Lagoon occurrence; it is not a confirmed Palm Beach record in that checklist. This broader Florida inclusion should not be read as a promise of a local encounter.
What is on the menu?
Smithsonian identifies it as a zooplankton feeder. The strongly oblique mouth opens upward, while long, numerous gill rakers accompany this small-prey diet. It is not feeding on glass or sweeping sand despite its English name. A feeding fish can be watched for small repeated mouth movements without offering food or disturbing the surrounding plankton-feeding fishes.
Daily habits and behavior
A metallic silver sheen overlays copper or olive body color. That reflective surface explains why photographs of the same species can look strikingly different under a lamp and ambient light. The lateral-line canal runs high along the back and continues onto the tail. The dark band along the anal-fin base provides another useful structural landmark.
Mating and the next generation
The species data describe pelagic eggs and pelagic larvae. Its early stages thus occupy the water column rather than a nest hidden under the reef. The reviewed sources do not establish a Florida breeding season or specific pair behavior, so a group of sweepers should be logged as an aggregation without automatically assigning a reproductive purpose.
Look-alikes and identification traps
Small cardinalfishes and other big-eyed fishes can share a sheltered reef setting, but their fin arrangement differs. The sweeper's very short dorsal, deep compressed belly and exceptionally long anal base should be evaluated together. A dark anal-base band adds support. The name copper sweeper is another common name for this species, not a separate Florida fish.
Observe without disturbing
Use a side angle that shows the entire lower body and anal fin without blocking a shelter. Keep light exposure brief and avoid driving a group out into the open for a cleaner background. Record both apparent color and lighting conditions. The silhouette is more dependable than the copper tone alone when comparing photographs later.
Harvest, protection and eating safety
Restricted live collection only; no spearing; protected collection areas apply
Can it be hunted or harvested?
Glassy Sweeper (Pempheris schomburgkii) falls under Florida recreational marine-life rules (sweeper family Pempheridae). It is not a blanket statewide no-take species, but food harvest is not authorized under these live-only rules. Where lawful, a saltwater fishing license is required unless exempt, and the fish must be landed and kept alive with adequate circulation or aeration. Limit: five of this species within 20 marine-life organisms per person per day; two-day possession: ten of this species within 40 total. No species-specific statewide size limit is listed. Recreational sale is prohibited.
Florida seasons and areas
No species-specific annual closed months are listed for this live-collection category. Collection is prohibited inside the designated Blue Heron Bridge dive-site boundary, throughout Biscayne National Park and in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for this listed fish/group. Florida marine-life requirements also apply in adjacent federal waters on both coasts. Additional sanctuary, park and refuge zones can prohibit taking. The designated Western Dry Rocks area is closed to all fishing April 1 through July 31 each year.
Can it be speared?
No. Spears are not an authorized recreational method for this live-collection species. Only approved live-collection gear, such as permitted hand-held nets, barrier/drop nets or a slurp gun, may be used where collection is otherwise lawful. An open calendar does not override a protected area or the requirement to keep the animal alive.
Is it safe to eat?
Not a food-harvest species under the applicable live-only rules; this guide does not establish it as safe to eat. Do not treat lawful aquarium collection, small size or lack of a named consumption advisory as food-safety clearance. Florida DOH guidance depends on the fish, capture water and consumer, with extra considerations for children and pregnancy. Cooking does not eliminate all marine toxins.
Before you act: This recreational overview is not permission to collect or spear at your dive site. Confirm the species, date, management area, state or federal waters, gear, licenses and current local closures. Identification artwork cannot establish an identification or guarantee seafood safety.
Official rules and health guidance
- FWC recreational marine-life requirements
- FWC species applicability and Pennekamp restrictions (commercial quantities not used)
- Florida Administrative Code 68B-42.001 current rule index
- FWC Biscayne National Park rules
- NOAA Florida Keys sanctuary zones
- FWC Western Dry Rocks seasonal closure
- Florida Administrative Code 68B-42.007 current gear rule index
- Florida DOH fish-consumption advisories
- Florida DOH seafood poisoning guidance
Reviewed 2026-11-10. Rules and advisories can change; check the linked authorities before harvesting or eating.
Sources and review
Reviewed 2026-11-10.
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