Any Tang Experts Out There

[FireYo]

Picked this guy up at a LFS a while ago. The fish was only listed as "striped tang". They didn't really know what to label him, and I have to say after a couple weeks of research, I have no idea either. I have looked through every Acanthurus and Ctenochaetus description I could find, and still notang.

When first obtained and under stress, the colors were muted and are just now really starting to show. I know it is still a juvenile and colors are not fully developed and will probably change over time. What is apparent now, about 3 inches long, yellow pectoral fins, yellow around eye with slight band going anterior, yellow rimmed posterior dorsal and anal fins with blue at the bases of dorsal and anal fins, white "spine" with black around it, and a white tail that when under stress, the posterior end can look darker. I would not consider the tail to be lunate.

Any thoughts welcome, but I'm afraid this may be a sit around and wait type of adventure.

 

[oshanickreef]

looks kinda like a stressed out white tail tang. how much you pay for it?

 

[FireYo]

looks kinda like a white tail! how much you pay for it?

That was my initial thought as well, especially under their lighting. The salesman and I were even discussing the different species that it could be, leaning towards white tail at the time. Price was $60, may have been a really great purchase. Either way this fish has a great personality and he's still getting adjusted to a new tank.

 

[oshanickreef]

thats cool. i used to have a kole tang and when under stress it would look white ish just like yours

 

[ebius]

Looks like a Tomini (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) to me.

 

[FireYo]

Looks like a Tomini (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) to me.

Another consideration. The Tomini's have white before the eyes and dark spots at the posterior ends of the dorsal and anal fins from what I can see. Not knowing how much it will change, if at all is the frustrating part.

 

[FireYo]

FWIW, I've spent quite a bit of time on FishBase looking at all of the characteritics of the various species, and image searches etc. By no means am I an expert or even experienced, and from the 38 recognized Acanthurus, and 9 Ctenochaetus, I'm really no better off. A. dussumieri, A. grammoptilus, and maybe C. flavicauda are some of the front runners for me right now.

 

[FireYo]

Another option that's been suggested is Acanthurus Xanthopterus, or the Yellow Fin Tang. The white tail has really thrown me off though, perhaps it is just transient or an anomaly.

 

[reefslugs]

White Tail Bristletooth Tang

 

[smoothdog]

I'd guess white tail too. They are all yellow as juvi's so that might explain the yellow fringe on the dorsal and anal fins.

 

[reefslugs]

Liveaquaria has them as a new item for $299.99

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+3130&pcatid=3130

 

[FireYo]

I posted this on another forum as well. There have been multiple thoughts coming in, including this one from Barracuda.

"Xanthopterus's have quite the chameleon effect when juveniles. The white caudal fin colors can change from white to brown to brown/blueish sheen.

The yellow pectoral's, blueish/ white caudal scalpel, eye coloration, & mouth structure, etc. show it is a Yellowfin Tang.

Nice specimen - they grow quite large"

 

[ebius]

Yeah, I'm fairly certain it is not a white tail. I have never seen a picture of one with the white dot/diamond near the tail. I have also never seen one get that dark/blue. The stripes should also turn into spots near the side fins. I found one that looks just Ike the one in the picture but think it was mislabeled.

 

[FireYo]

The white spot near the tail is actually the "spine". The angle of this picture doesn't really show that well. The black spot around it really seems to draw even more attention. Found out in research that Acanthuridae is translated to "Thorn Tail", and that there is some discussion on whether there may or may not be any toxin present in the spine or "scalpel, thus Surgeon". One study was referenced where every fish damaged by the spine of the sub-family Prionurinae died as a result of the wound. FYI, thought it was interesting and was certainly new to me.

 

[sbabs]

Does he look like this?

https://www.google.com/search?q=cte...striatus%2FBristletooth-Orange-Stripe;400;260

 

[twiggyb]

Looks like a blue eye Kole to me

 

[FireYo]

Does he look like this?

https://www.google.com/search?q=cte...striatus%2FBristletooth-Orange-Stripe;400;260

Yes, very similar. However the spots haven't developed around the head, and the tail is definitely white, at least for now. The body stripes are beginning to become a little more defined. I've resigned that time will tell on this guy. I'll try to get more and better pictures, but this fish is constantly moving and eating, doesn't like to pose for the camera.