Atlantic Blue Tang

[ErosJN]

Hey guys,
Anyone successfully kept Atlantic blues in their home aquarium? If so I'd like to know what were your experiences with them? Behavior, color change, etc. Photos are always a plus. I currently have a subadult and would like to hear what other people have to say about them... I for one, think they are a beautiful fish that is often overlooked and not as popular as tangs from the Pacific.
Heres some photos of my guy:

 

[slief]

I kept one for years and just gave him up a week ago because I was adding an Achilles tang. They can be aggressive with similar tangs and need a fair amount of swimming room. They are very beautiful though and not all that common. Yours is very pretty. Mine was pretty large at nearly 7" from nose to tail. I think they darken up some as they mature. Mine was a very deep/dark blue with a little yellow along the fins.

 

[ErosJN]

Awesome! What size is your tank? Im tanged out for now but plan on having an 11 foot aquarium im within the next 1-2 years and an achilles is on my list.

 

[pinnatus]

I have had one for over a year now. I never have any issues with him. He changes color depending on mood, sometimes a deep dark blue, other times a gray color, other times a gray blue vertical striped pattern. I also have a Powder Blue, 2 Blonde Nasos, 2 large emperors plus other smaller fish. Never have any aggression problems.

Tough to get a good picture - it is always moving.

 

[slief]

Awesome! What size is your tank? Im tanged out for now but plan on having an 11 foot aquarium im within the next 1-2 years and an achilles is on my list.

Main display is a 4'x8'x2' tall 480g display. System total volume is around 700 gallons.

I have had one for over a year now. I never have any issues with him. He changes color depending on mood, sometimes a deep dark blue, other times a gray color, other times a gray blue vertical striped pattern. I also have a Powder Blue, 2 Blonde Nasos, 2 large emperors plus other smaller fish. Never have any aggression problems.

Tough to get a good picture - it is always moving.

Funny you mention that. Mine was the one fish I could never get a good picture of because he was always moving. I've got around 60 fish in my main display and never really had any issues with him though him and my big unicorn would get a bit frisky sometimes. I wsan't going to chance it with my Achilles. Especially since the guy I got my Atlantic from gave him up becaue he beat up his Achilles.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Here's a bad picture of my juvie Atlantic Blue. He has never been a problem. Eats great and always front and center. I gave him to a friend when I moved last month. I will have another one soon. Haven't decided whether to go with another juvie or buy an adult. I think the change to adult colors would be fun to watch.

 

[ErosJN]

Awesome info and pics guys! I love my ABT but he tends to be the more aggressive tang in the tank. He doesnt get along with my sailfin much and gets protective of the algae sheets when its feeding time. Ive had him a total of about 7 months now and still havent seen much color change in regards to getting his adult color. Hoping its not too much longer!

 

[ErosJN]

I just realized something very interesting! People say that as they mature they go from yellow to blue, but has anyone witnessed reverse coloring? Here's some photos of my ABT when i first got him (skinny and malnourished)





Notice how he's almost complete in color change from subadult to adult? Now heres more photos of him now at a much healthier state but it appears he got most of his tail back to yellow and even some of the fins towards the back... hmmmm

 

[fishsuse29]

Good to see some info on these tangs.

Have you had any issues with them as juveniles with yellow tangs or fox faces due to their coloration?

 

[hogfanreefer]

I just realized something very interesting! People say that as they mature they go from yellow to blue, but has anyone witnessed reverse coloring?

Yes! Here's a video of my ABT in QT. As you can see he appeared to be changing towards adult colors. The picture above when where he is bright yellow was taken a couple of months later when he was in the DT.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hr0zgqVR8qQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[dallen2233]

Mine use to change from blue to yellow when frightened. It was good a good fish until ich got it.