Atlantic Blue Tang - ugly stage - how long

[Coffeeinbed]

Got a great deal on an Atlantic Blue tang and a Hippo.

Didn't want the Blue Tang but it ended up being a package deal. The Blue tang is in the ugly in-between stage were it's not yellow and not blue it's sort of an ugly pea-green/brown.

How long before he turns to adult blue?


thanks

 

[eastlake]

Highly variable from fish to fish. When I originally got mine it was about the size of a nickel and it was already blue with a yellow tail. It may start to turn next week then again it may turn 3 years from now. Make sure you have enough room for that particular one as they get pretty large and can become aggressive if not left with enough room to call their own. At four inches mine started to get ornery in a 150 gallon.

 

[Coffeeinbed]

Thanks for the info.

I thought the Atlantic Blue was a less aggressive tang - as tangs go. He's at least as aggressive as a Yellow Tang. Looks like he's going to be disruptive - a MDT tank spoiler. If he's this hostile at 3-4" I can only imagine what he's going to be like in a year.

He's going up for sale.

On a positive note, he eats NLS pellets in just 2 days time and eats voraciously, he eats everything I put in there, nori and pellets of various kinds.

Thanks again.

 

[McPuff]

They also get pretty darn big... so depending on the size of your tank, maybe this is a good thing it's moving out??

 

[Coffeeinbed]

They also get pretty darn big..

Yup, he's going on CL to be sold, I'm not even going to TTM him like I will the Hippo.


Thanks all for the input....

 

[hogfanreefer]

They don't get as big as Hippos or Purple Tangs according to LA?

 

[eastlake]

The local aquarium has a few of them and they're all around 16" or bigger. They're great fish to watch as they're always out and about and the color seems to change with the mood. I had read over the years that its supposed to be one of the more peaceful tangs but I think that has everything to do with the room it has. My sister had a small sailfin tang in a 75, it became a murderous tyrant killing everything including a lunar wrasse. She put it into my 150 where it was as gentle as a lamb. I know the comparison is Zebrasoma to Acanthurus but I'm guessing the same principals apply.

 

[scooter31707]

Atlantic blue gets pretty big. I believe the recommendation is at least a 180 or bigger and they can become pretty aggressive towards other tangs.

 

[nickg]

I wanna see...