Trident Tailed Achilles Tang

[Rea17]

Saw this guy on DD last night. He doesn't look like much now, but once the streamers develop that has the potential to look really cool! What do you guys think? Genetic mutation?

 

[Dmorty217]

I think that it's just beautiful mutation or not. Maybe the father of this one is the biggest, baddest trident tailed Achilles out there... We will never know. Hopefully someone with experience and a very large tank, as opposed to just money got him. Would be nice if someone on here was the lucky one so we could see more pics

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

certainly cool.

 

[caribfan]

I didn't even know such a thing as trident tailed achilles tangs existed. I'm going to have to do some more searching on that.

 

[Rea17]

I've done searches as well, haven't come up with any other examples of this. Guessing this is just a neat mutation

 

[Winwood]

It's relatively common among achilles tangs. Back 10 years ago, when I'd visit our local wholesaler who brought them in a lot, I'd see this trait on individuals on a fairly routine basis. Those were the days when you could buy one of these for around 15 bucks wholesale. Now they're atleast 5 times that.

 

[Jasanden]

when adult will there be 3 streamers? That would be cool to see.

 

[Rea17]

So, I'm sorry in advance for the picture quality, this guy doesn't like to hold still. When he first arrived he was extremely thin (first pic) and had me pretty worried. Also had a bubble/lump in the dorsal fin which hasn't gone away, but hasn't gotten any worse either, and doesn't seem to be affecting his behavior. After about 4 days he started eating .5mm NLS pellets very well, and a week later he started exploring other foods, which was a huge relief for me. He's since put on a ton of weight and the pinched areas in his tummy and behind his head have filled out. We're coming up on 2 weeks in cupramine treatment, and he's handling it like a champ.

When he arrived:


Now: (Sorry about the dirty glass, but let's face it, I'm actually using this QT ) You can see the bump in his dorsal here.


And a decent shot of the tail:


The "trident" part of his tail is a little more pronounced than it looked on the DD picture, and it changes from orange to black with the rest of his tail depending on his mood, but is mostly orange. If anyone has any photos of what trident tailed adults look like, I would love to see them. Hope everyone had a good holiday, cheers!

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Im glad you got him. Looking cool!

 

[Holsteiner]

I can't wait to see what he looks like as he grows, especially that trident!

 

[Rea17]

Thanks guys. I'll continue updating as he matures.

 

[ca1ore]

Looks great. I've got a new Achilles in QT right now (though not a trident tail) and all I can get it to eat so far is enriched brine.

 

[Rea17]

Looks great. I've got a new Achilles in QT right now (though not a trident tail) and all I can get it to eat so far is enriched brine.

I have found both of my achilles tangs like NLS a lot, my big one still won't eat mysis or anything meaty. It takes some effort and presentation, but if you can get him started on pellets it takes a ton of stress off since they are so high in protein. How long have you had him? At least he's eating something, the rest can come later.

 

[Holsteiner]

Looks great. I've got a new Achilles in QT right now (though not a trident tail) and all I can get it to eat so far is enriched brine.

Don't worry, when I first got my Achilles the only thing he ate the whole first year was nori, no matter how hard I tried to get him to eat other stuff. Just a few months ago he finally started inhaling NLS pellets (and I've had him nearly two years now). Still working on the mysis....

 

[Rea17]

Anybody have thoughts on the bubble in the dorsal fin? Should I let it clear up before he hits the DT?

 

[Reefsi]

How has your tang done over the last year? I know its an old post but figured since you posted on my post that you may have some updated pictures. My tang came in pretty similar with the Trident/Mutation, not as predominant but its there.

 

[Rea17]

I'm really sad to report I lost this fish

He was through quarantine, in my DT for several months doing fantastic and growing like a weed. One morning he was eating and swimming great, as per usual, and around noon he was on his side on the sand breathing heavily, and passed within the hour. I can't explain what happened, it was so sudden. There was 0 evidence of trauma or disease, and he was only sharing the tank with a couple other fish at that point. After he passed I checked his gills and fw dipped the body, nothing. I've been on the hunt for another, but haven't seen any available. Would love to find another through DD.

 

[Reefsi]

I got an email saying they have 2 more in stock at the moment, not listed under DD. I got mine from DD though, and he looks very nice and plump. Can't wait to get home and see him eat.

 

[Rea17]

The CA facility doesn't offer the trident tail morph, and the WYSIWYG of DD is important to me on a fish like this. They got a trident tail in last week or the week before, I was ready to pull the trigger, but I ended up not being too impressed with the "trident" which was just a black spot on the tail, rather than a continuous point. I'll be patient, maybe get a special request in if I'm lucky.

Looking forward to seeing pics of yours on the other thread.

 

[Reefsi]

Thats funny that you say that, that was the on that I purchased haha! But your right the trident is not as pronounced as this one in your thread. Its noticeable but not like "woah".