Tang ID PLEASE???

[reefsic]

I just acquired a beautiful Tang, approx 4-5". I've narrowed it down to these 4...

Blochii
Dussumieri
Fowleri
Bariene


*Tang experts, please chime in. Sorry for the horrible pics!

Note: Spine is black, Pectoral/Pelvic Fins are yellow, Dorsal/Anal Fins have yellow stripes & Tail is has white stripe.

 

[ISMANU]

Not an expert but that is one beautiful Fish:dance:

 

[reefsic]

Thanks Ismanu! Now if I can just figure out exactly what it is? :lol:

 

[cl2ysta1]

definitely not Dussumieri or Bariene
my vote is blochii.. you'll know when he grows up

 

[reefsic]

definitely not Dussumieri or Bariene
my vote is blochii.. you'll know when he grows up

Thanks cl2ysta1! :thumbsup:

Any significant reason for you to believe its a Blochii?

 

[reefsic]

I'm starting to believe its one of the two listed below...

Acanthurus dussumieri (Eyestipe Tang)
Acanthurus xanthopterus (Yellowtail Surgeon)

 

[cl2ysta1]

yes.. the ring on its tail. ive raised several dussumieri and im nearly 100 percent sure its not that. It would be easier to tell when he is full color and not stressed out.

 

[cl2ysta1]

http://fishbase.org/photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=0&ID=4750&what=species&TotRec=6

a lot of the acanthurus look VERY similar as juvenile. as he gets larger his id will become more apparent.

notice how the dussimeiri has a yellow and blue tail..
http://fishbase.org/photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=2&ID=1256&what=species&TotRec=5

could be the yellowtail.. but im still leaning towards blochii with the current photos
http://www.ultimatereef.net/iddb/images/fish/tangs/tang38.jpg

 

[reefsic]

I dont think its a Blochii because the tips of the Dorsal/Anal are yellow, as the Blochii's are blue (referencing the pic in the link you provided).

It has fully acclimated into the Display Tank now and has lightened up a bit. It looks almost exactly like the one pictured in the link above (see below). I'll try to snap an updated pic of mine, but dang he's fast!!!

 

[extreme5450]

from the current pics, i would say blochii

 

[sharkE]

dussys look like lavenders while they are juvies and your fish looks like neither IMO.

easiest to distinguish by the spike near the base of their tails which even show a color marking (white or black) when young.

 

[Crabber]

100% not a duss. They have white spikes, yours is dark.

 

[jaa1456]

I have a tang less than 2"s that looks very similiar except it has a black spot behind the gills, Still not sure what it is either. I got mine for free though, only reason I took it.

 

[cl2ysta1]

well if you keep him well fed.. you should know for sure in about a year

 

[reefsic]

well if you keep him well fed.. you should know for sure in about a year

LOL :beer:

The LFS labled it as Striated Tang with a price tag of $59...so Im stoked about the addition, regardless! I think its absolutely beautiful, it just urks me that I currently dont know what it is. :lol:

 

[sacremon]

Hybrid?

 

[cl2ysta1]

they are all beautiful fish. i have two very large dussimier tangs and they are the best fish. very friendly and love to be hand fed

 

[jjk_reef00]

Like others have said, it's hard to be certain unit it grows up. My guess is Acanthurus xanthopterus, aka Yellowfin Surgeonfish:

http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/yellowfin-surgeonfish-juvenile/837
http://www.ocdiving.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=7730
http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/77744934
http://diver.net/picture_on_black.shtml?diver.net/cocos/2005.12.30/PC302377mFclr.jpg

I bought one sold to me as a dussumieri at 4" and less than one year later he is approaching 12". Mine eats a large sheet of nori all by himself, and devours shrimp like a trigger. I have a 300 gallon and love mine (even more than the full grown dussumieri's I've seen), they have great color and amazing personality. The only problem is this fish gets huge (over 20").