Not sure what this is

[ccube]

This was labled as Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis.. It was recieved in wonderful health and is already eating in my 20g Q tank. I looked at some photos and could not match this fish up.

Can anyone help ID.. My closest guess is Acanthurus achilles, but im not sure what a juvi looks like.

Sorry about the quality, these were taken with an iphone.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Hard to tell the coloring with those pics. Could also be a juvi whitecheek, Acanthurus nigricans. Definitely not Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis.

 

[ccube]

Hard to tell the coloring with those pics. Could also be a juvi whitecheek, Acanthurus nigricans. Definitely not Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis.

The markings are more orange. Acanthurus nigricans looks to have a lot more yellow. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[blface]

It's an Achilles hybrid.

 

[ccube]

Here is another picture with some light this time.

 

[blface]

100% positive. Like I stated above it's an achilles/goldrim hybrid. Acanthurus achilles x Acanthurus nigricans

 

[Monkeyfish]

Whatever it is, it's a nice looking tang.

 

[ccube]

Whatever it is, it's a nice looking tang.

annnnnd I paid less than 80 bucks for it =]

 

[LemonLemon]

yup hybrid.

 

[tcmfish]

I don't see the hybrid at all. IMO juvi achilles.

 

[ccube]

I don't see the hybrid at all. IMO juvi achilles.

I have been looking over this possiblilty for the past 30 minutes or so and digging a bit deeper. Most of the juvenile Acanthurus achilles that i have seen do not have the orange above the eyes, nor do they have blue eyes. They mostly show a completely black body with an orange tail and the spot. This specimen shows an orange face with a darker stripe above each eye. The eyes are a much darker shade of blue in person.

Compare this photo to the one above (Posted by dnsfpl in this thread http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1492655&page=32)

 

[ccube]

I have decide to put this fish in our 42000 gallon display. I will be able to provide more footage of it as it matures and I know that it will stay alive in there. I will try to get some underwater hd video the next time i dive the tank, and share it here to better show the coloration.

 

[tcmfish]

As for the blue eye, that is mood based in achilles tangs. As for the orange, I'm not sure, but I don't see orange in any of the hybrids... Also the coloration by the dorsal and anal fins in the hybrids is usually yellowish, not orange like yours, and the spine is yellow, and not an orange spot like yours. I'm sticking with achilles.

 

[ccube]

As for the blue eye, that is mood based in achilles tangs. As for the orange, I'm not sure, but I don't see orange in any of the hybrids... Also the coloration by the dorsal and anal fins in the hybrids is usually yellowish, not orange like yours, and the spine is yellow, and not an orange spot like yours. I'm sticking with achilles.

A respectable argument. Do juvenile Achilles have a lighter skin tone as well? This one seems to have almost a brown coloration, which I have observed when an achilles approaches a cleaner wrasse. I have not seen it on any other circumstances. It may be that the fish is very young?

 

[tcmfish]

Could be the environment, looks like a pretty bare tank. Fish will usually try to blend in to the environment. So a blacked out tank will have darker fish, and a very light tank will have lighter fish. If you cover the sides of the tank in dark material, he might darken up.

 

[IFbettas]

I don't see the hybrid at all. IMO juvi achilles.

+1. As tcmfish already mentioned, the blue eyes are dependent on the fish's mood. My achilles would get bright blue eyes when he was agitated, stressed, or attacking other fish. Here's a picture of the juvenile achilles I used to have:

 

[Monkeyfish]

I have decide to put this fish in our 42000 gallon display.

Hybrid, not a hybrid, who cares? I want to know more about this 42K display!

 

[ccube]

Hybrid, not a hybrid, who cares? I want to know more about this 42K display!

You can pm me any questions and include an email. I will email back with answers. This tank may not be discussed in detail on the forums.

 

[Toddrtrex]

A respectable argument. Do juvenile Achilles have a lighter skin tone as well? This one seems to have almost a brown coloration, which I have observed when an achilles approaches a cleaner wrasse. I have not seen it on any other circumstances. It may be that the fish is very young?

This is going off of memory -- and about 18 years ago -- I had a juvi for a period, and it was more brown then black, similar to yours.

 

[sam's reef]

You know it's funny i had once two black cats a male and female, they breed, and guess what came out, a white cat. Any way, anthing and anyway is possible with the buffering capacity of the ocean. I would say a bad looking achilles or good depending what your in to. On a side note i would love to see some video of this tank.