Blonde Naso??????

[rholguin]

I was wondering what makes a male naso develop streamers? Oh and before somebody says I can't keep one in my tank. I don't own a naso. I was just curious. Thanks.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Robert, I believe when nasos achieve a certain size, they develop them. My blonde is 7-8" and he is starting to grow them. My vlamingii, which is nearly 9" doesn't have any yet.

 

[Gogandantess]

I think all males will have them correct?

 

[TampaReefer79]

I believe the answer you are looking for is 'MOTHER NATURE'. She's what MAKES them develop streamers. lol

 

[Kilgore]

A large male will generally but not 100% of the time ddevelop them at about 6" in length, females and smaller males will not and it is not guaranteed that a male will.

 

[larrynews]

males just get them, i guess it is nature

 

[sedor]

Probably something to do with looking aggressive against competitors, and attracting a mate in the wild.

 

[The Reef Expert]

It's a part of their body. It's not something like boosting calcium levels or anything. They just grow on males. Why do we men have ???? we just do.

http://saltwater.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/Tangs/NasoTang1.jpg
If your vlamingii is 9" and does not have even stubs of streamers, than it is likely a female. Is it a ruddy brownish color?

 

[thor32766]

there is no exact size that will do it. I have been around quite a few and the full blown streamers come at different times. there is no true answer to when.

 

[Untamed12]

My vlamingi didn't start to develop streamers until almost 2yrs old. By then, "he" was about 14" or more. My experience with 4 different species of Naso is that the males develop streamers at about 1.5 to 2 years old...regardless of size.

Interestingly, I've never seen a LARGE vlamingi (15"+) that didn't have streamers. It is either a strange coincidence that all the large vlamingis I've seen happen to be male....or both the males and females develop streamers.

I don't know, but it has made me question the "males only get streamers" with regard to vlamingi tangs, anyway.

My youngest..not yet 2 years old..just starting to develop streamers

 

[Jacob D]

It's like back hair. Women love it.

 

[rholguin]

Well the reason I was asking is that I've seen several naso's on DD that said they were male of good size and did not see any steamer. Just like I've seen smaller naso's with streamers. I was thinking maybe it had to do something sexual maturity (like ready to spawn or spawning already). Thanks for all the great responses. I guess its something will never know.