Juvie harlequin tusk

[namxas]

I Just wanted to share a shot of our tiny juvie HTF. It was the fish from DD, and is about 1.5" TL. It's doing wonderfully, and eats pretty much anything it is offered already. It's SUPER cute, too.

C. fasciatus has been a "someday" fish for both Renee and myself, and when this little fish showed up, it was "all over", as Renee can't resist a cute juvie...

The photo is a tad "soft" due to the amount of lighting vs. workable shutter speed, and this little fish doesn't sit still like most of our fish do.

 

[joejoe1055]

very nice

 

[Sonicblast12]

Is that an Aussie?

 

[Boat_Drinks]

Very nice! I look forward to future posts of this one growing up!

 

[namxas]

Yes, sonic...it's a little Aussie.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Wow, I wonder how that little guy made it to the boat.

 

[namxas]

Wow, I wonder how that little guy made it to the boat.

Probably kicking and screaming...

 

[MrTuskfish]

I had a feeling you grabbed that guy; this season has been great for Aussie tusks. Divers find a few of these little guys; they probably could command a higher price, but they always catch the bigger ones. (almost all big ones are caught on a tiny, baited hook). He should be a favorite for many years.

 

[anbosu]

I haven't seen many juvies - really cool fish and as always, great photo.

 

[namxas]

I had a feeling you grabbed that guy; this season has been great for Aussie tusks. Divers find a few of these little guys; they probably could command a higher price, but they always catch the bigger ones. (almost all big ones are caught on a tiny, baited hook). He should be a favorite for many years.

Thanks...and you KNOW we'll probably be picking your brain from time to time about the little guy too!

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thanks...and you KNOW we'll probably be picking your brain from time to time about the little guy too!

Pretty slim pickins! BTW, did you ever see any juvi fish that looks so much like a " little kid" fish as these guys? I don't like to give human qualities to fish, but it fits.

 

[Irenicus]

Beautiful! I can't wait to pick up an Aussie!

 

[MrTuskfish]

Oh yeah; be sure to let us know he cuts his first blue tooth! My biggest tusk stands vertically and spits water through his blue teeth when the Food Czar shows up; little kids love it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Beautiful! I can't wait to pick up an Aussie!

LA has large ones as a weekly special until very early tomorrow. This is late for them, they're a summer season fish. I usually stay away from large specimens of most fish, but these large HTs really acclimate well. magnificent fish. IMEO, (In my expert opinion) Packers will carry a 25 game winning streak into next season)

 

[Sonicblast12]

Oh yeah; be sure to let us know he cuts his first blue tooth! My biggest tusk stands vertically and spits water through his blue teeth when the Food Czar shows up; little kids love it.

I had a mystery in my tank, there were lines of salt creep running down the back corner of the tank. I was afraid it was a seep, I would wipe it down and it would show up the next day. Couldn't figure it out.

Turns out my tusk sleeps up in that corner and spits water out of the tank and onto the wall, and a lot of it ends up running down the outside of the tank.

It also broke off both of it's front teeth in a suicide attempt, but thankfully they are growing back.

 

[JSeymour]

I'm curious to see how your's turns out as it grows. My tusk was sold to me as a juvie Aussie(not as small as your's) a year ago via Sea Dwelling and now looks like an Indo. Not sure what happened(Northwest Aussie maybe), but I don't think they lied to me. Just seeing your tusk confirms to me that mine is not an Aussie. Oh well...
Post lots of growth pics.

 

[seahorsedreams]

How big is yours? They grow into their aussie colors.

The pier will have so many fresh things for him tio eat. I hope he doesn't grow too fast. I'm going to see how he likes fresh urchin roe. Should be a winner.

 

[JSeymour]

The picture above was taken about nine months ago, at maybe 1.5" body length. Now he is just over 4" body length. This pic is about two months old, just after the first actinics turn on, he's still sleepy.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I'm sure no expert on the difference between the two color variety of tusks; but I think an Aussie, at 4" would show at least a fine blue line parallel to the dorsal. 4" Aussies often don't have any blue on the rear flanks, though. He sure seems to be a healthy, personable fish. Just be PC and say "I don't care where he comes from". Just a gut feeling, I think its too early to tell. The LA pic shows the blue line well; but these are grown fish. At 4", he still has growing and coloring to do. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+380&pcatid=380

 

[JSeymour]

I'm sure no expert on the difference between the two color variety of tusks; but I think an Aussie, at 4" would show at least a fine blue line parallel to the dorsal. 4" Aussies often don't have any blue on the rear flanks, though. He sure seems to be a healthy, personable fish. Just be PC and say "I don't care where he comes from". Just a gut feeling, I think its too early to tell. The LA pic shows the blue line well; but these are grown fish. At 4", he still has growing and coloring to do. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+380&pcatid=380

I don't think anyone is an expert at telling the two apart based on juvies, so don't feel bad. In the newer pic you can see a blue line developing below the dorsal, in person, it's thickest over the orange stripes. He's a great fish, I don't really care where he came from, I'm happy with him either way, it's just fun to guess and document. I have a feeling he may be an intermediate between Coral Sea Aussies and Indo-Pacifics. Time will tell.

Sorry to derail your thread namxas and seahorsedreams. As far as growth rate, they aren't terribly slow growers but definitely not the fastest either. In the same amount of time, my yellowfin tang in the same tank has grown an easy six inches larger.