Anyone Have a White Faced Tang!

triggerfreak

Active member
Does anyone have a white faced tang in any of there tanks.My local fish store has a good sized one in there 1000 gallon tank and it is simply stunning.And the also have one in for sale that is a little smaller and almost has all its adult colors.
 
They can be aggressive to other acantherus tangs, but in my experience they aren't as aggressive as the orange shoulder..
 
i have one. Great fish but a little crazy. It was picking on a trigger in another guy's tank. Been a model citizen in my 180 with 3 other tangs (blue hippo, Mimic, and sailfin)...
 
Does anyone have a white faced tang in any of there tanks.My local fish store has a good sized one in there 1000 gallon tank and it is simply stunning.And the also have one in for sale that is a little smaller and almost has all its adult colors.

White Faced Tang (Acanthurus japonicus) is more commonly known as the Powder Brown Tang...When you say it has almost changed to it's adult colors, makes me think it might be labeled incorrectly, Powder Brown/White Faced doesn't change from juvi to adult. The Mimic Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)does. The two look similar, and are the same shape, IMO the Mimic is a far more beautiful fish.
 
Not a powder brown tang.One of these.
p-38655-whiteface-tang.jpg
White Faced Tang (Acanthurus japonicus) is more commonly known as the Powder Brown Tang...When you say it has almost changed to it's adult colors, makes me think it might be labeled incorrectly, Powder Brown/White Faced doesn't change from juvi to adult. The Mimic Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)does. The two look similar, and are the same shape, IMO the Mimic is a far more beautiful fish.
 
That is actually a white SPINE tang i believe.

The white cheek looks like a powder brown, but much nicer. Much less hardy from what i have seen.

Just based on the build of these guys i would guess they are like a clown tang. Fish guy had a white spine years ago, he was $50. I had a reserve on it but decided not to pick up. BEAUTIFUL fish.
 
Actually, im not sure if im correct there. I cant find much on the web. I remember a very similar fish on divers den labled a white spine though.
 
triggerfreak,

I will put out a guess that this is a Acanthurus leucocheilus (pale lipped tang).

Most of pictures on the web have the coloration with a very dark body. It also has a white spine ... but I have never known it by this name.

I had a juvil (3-4") but lost it with an number of others to over dosage of copper. :-(

In the large tank forum, Cougarman has one in his 600 gallon Plywood downgrade post.

Hope this helps,
Bruce
 
The juvi Acanthurus leucocheilus are distingushed by the following:

1) The caudal fin is yellow with dark outline at the end (loses this as an adult)
2) Pectoral fins are yellow - stays this way with adults (end tips)
2) The caudal spine is white also
3) There is a yellow line at the back side of the eye - thinner than a kole and only approx 165 degrees (less than half the circumference
4) Lips are white as well

Just FYI

Cheers,
Bruce
 
Live Aquaria also has the tang that started this thread: Acanthurus leucocheilus. They have 6 or 7 tangs under the "new fish" icon. Like so many fish, I imagine these will drop drastically in price in a very short time. (Remember the "new" Golden Heart Trigger? Every time someone finds the mother lode of a "new' fish; collectors go first, regardless of price.
 
I know this thread is like 3 years old, just thought I'd put in my 2 cents. White FACED tang is the pale lipped tang. White CHEEK tang is the one most know as the powder brown. Pale lipped also goes by white spine tang. Its a gorgeous fish. Although it has not dropped in price really as it is still concidered "rare" in the aquarium trade. If you don't believe me, do a search on youtube.......there are more vids of the Fowleri on there than the Pale lipped. I know youtube doesn't determine how rare a fish is, but it is a good indication as you can probably find a vid of just about any other fish but the only pale lipped video you'll find is mine. It has been a great addition to my tank. I have 3 other tangs from the Acanthurus genus and they all get along fine. They are all different sizes, but I've never saw any hint of aggression from my pale lipped. They do get rather large(up to 18") so best suited for large tanks(200+). I don't know what they go for elsewhere but here in Canada I paid $260 and it was worth every penny. I will post a pic of mine
 
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