Atlantic Blue Tang

[KMP]

Anyone seen an Atlantic Blue Tang at our fish stores? I want a larger one that is blue; not the smaller which is yellow.

Thanks.

 

[MrMikeB]

Not in the LFS, but I can tell you, that when we were all diving in FL., they were all over the place. Hands down one of the most striking blues I have seen in nature. They do get up there in size, and were very active around the FL reefs.

Good luck in finding one locally. I'll keep an eye out for ya.

Ask Paul about 'the one that got away.'

 

[bristlew0rm]

There's a reason you never see them in LFS -- and it isn't because they aren't available in the trade.

They ALWAYS develop a skin infection and die -- within 2 weeks usually.

 

[Neptune777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11854059#post11854059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristlew0rm
There's a reason you never see them in LFS -- and it isn't because they aren't available in the trade.

They ALWAYS develop a skin infection and die -- within 2 weeks usually.

Not true. They are available and are considered quite hardy.

 

[C4SxM5]

any idea how long it usually takes from them to change to the blue?

 

[bristlew0rm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11854081#post11854081 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Neptune777
Not true. They are available and are considered quite hardy.

Not my experience ... I've tried about 3 or 4, but not recently.

Maybe the juvenile's are hardier, but every adult (3-5") that I've had seemed to quickly develop disease. Maybe it's just me.

 

[reefer334]

I saw some at aqua life in rocklin a couple of weeks ago.

 

[bored4long]

Yeah, AquaLife still had one last week.

 

[philter4]

The reason they are not common in the hobby is they are really hard to collect as adults, they don't hide, they just run from the collectors and in deeper water where a barrier net is effective they just swim over the top.

As for hardiness, they are very hardy once acclimated, but just like other tangs they can be ick magnets and do sometimes develope skin infections, but this is the exception, not the rule, they are usually very easy to keep healthy.

Color change is a result of dominance, I've collected 2 inch blue ones and 5 inch yellow ones, it just depends on how dominant the animal is in the habitat or tank. Once the change starts they go from bright yellow to a dull brownish purple quickly then they develope a bright purple blue but still have a yellow tail. At this point they look like a red sea purple tang. From this stage (IMO the best looking color phase) to full blue with blue tail can take several months.

 

[bristlew0rm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11855757#post11855757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by philter4
The reason they are not common in the hobby is they are really hard to collect as adults, they don't hide, they just run from the collectors and in deeper water where a barrier net is effective they just swim over the top.

As for hardiness, they are very hardy once acclimated, but just like other tangs they can be ick magnets and do sometimes develope skin infections, but this is the exception, not the rule, they are usually very easy to keep healthy.

Color change is a result of dominance, I've collected 2 inch blue ones and 5 inch yellow ones, it just depends on how dominant the animal is in the habitat or tank. Once the change starts they go from bright yellow to a dull brownish purple quickly then they develope a bright purple blue but still have a yellow tail. At this point they look like a red sea purple tang. From this stage (IMO the best looking color phase) to full blue with blue tail can take several months.

This makes sense ... I think they may be easier to start keeping as juveniles and I'll probably try again soon.

 

[KMP]

good read. thanks for the input guys.