Z. flavescens mutant ninja turtle- AKA Calico Tang - Scopas

1PunchKO

1PunchKO

In Memoriam
I read another post on one killer looking tang. One that might drive one more crazy than a platinum clownfish or lightning maroon clown. I copied the photos (the only ones I've seen of this animal) over to this new thread to simply ask - Does anyone know where I could find one?

This is a sweet looking fish and I'm not sweating the money. I need a fish fix.

Z.%2Bflavenscens.jpg
 
That's not a scopas, it's a flavescens. I saw a similar one in midway atoll, but with a lot less black... It looks like a genetic mutation, so they should keep the color.
 
I've had two xanthic Zebrasoma flavescens... both changed back to normal in captivity... here are a few shots... I've also had many other xanthic fish in other families and all have reverted back to normal color...

Copps

yellow_white_tang2.jpg


yellow_white_tang1.jpg


yellow_white_tang3.jpg
 
copps said:
I've had two xanthic Zebrasoma flavescens... both changed back to normal in captivity... here are a few shots... I've also had many other xanthic fish in other families and all have reverted back to normal color...

Copps
Click to expand...

So it's environmental then, amazing! I heard the same thing happened to a few "Koi" Holacanthus ciliaris from St. Paul's Rocks, can you confirm?
 
I took those pics! One of the most amazing fish I've ever seen in 25 years!
I should have the other side pic somehwere.
 
Luiz Rocha said:
So it's environmental then, amazing! I heard the same thing happened to a few "Koi" Holacanthus ciliaris from St. Paul's Rocks, can you confirm?
Click to expand...

I've heard that too Luiz, but have never been able to confirm... I do know that one of the "blue morph" specimens from St. Paul's held its color for a couple of years in Japan... no St. Paul's specimens here... but these are two of my Holacanthus morphs that have also changed back to normal... one is a juvenile fully xanthic bermudensis and the other is a Townsend's... both changed back to normal...

Holacanthus_bermudensis_xanthic3.jpg


townsend_xanthic.jpg


Environment plays a role Luiz obviously... I believe perhaps its a combination... could these fish be genetically predisposed to this possibly? Perhaps in the wild on a certain diet they exhibit these colors, yet when provided a varied diet in captivity the color comes back?

It seems every light colored aberrant has morphed back... I have so many photos Luiz its crazy of fish that have reverted back... yet all of the dark morphs seem to hold that color... I even had a scopas "tricolor" tang where the white on it reverted back but the black stayed long term...

Copps
 
gasman059 said:
I took those pics! One of the most amazing fish I've ever seen in 25 years!
I should have the other side pic somehwere.
Click to expand...

Manny the above fish is dead isn't it? Someone told me the LFS owner killed it... These flavescens morphs are VERY rare... but that specimen with the black is unheard of... too bad you took your photos through a Coke bottle...:celeb1:
 
We saw this fish in Hawaii on a recent trip my wife thought it was quite neat. I thought it looked neat but thought it was sick and had just lost scales or something. Who knew it was something valuable.
 

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copps said:
Manny the above fish is dead isn't it? Someone told me the LFS owner killed it... These flavescens morphs are VERY rare... but that specimen with the black is unheard of... too bad you took your photos through a Coke bottle...:celeb1:
Click to expand...

LMAO LMAO
I offered my unborn child for that fish the moment i saw it LOL(no-go)
But yes apparently the fish died on a tank transfer, the thing about it is that the fish lived in one smaller not well known) local LFS.

And yes its been a while since that fish( maybe 5 or more years since that pic) way before Iphones and such-- the phone cameras were not as good then .:hammer:
 
duerkey said:
We saw this fish in Hawaii on a recent trip my wife thought it was quite neat. I thought it looked neat but thought it was sick and had just lost scales or something. Who knew it was something valuable.
Click to expand...

Very cool... what island was this on?
 
I thought the fish posted at the top of the page was a genetic morph? Is it a xanthic specimen? John, Luiz, or Manny can you clarify? Thanks.
 
Ok, I will take a crack and try to explain this, first the easy one, the fish in my avatar is an adult male Genicanthus personatus. These fish are very rare in the aquarium trade because the areas where they occur are inaccessible to most fish collectors (either too deep or in protected areas where collection is not allowed). When they do make it in the aquarium trade, they sell for ~$15k.

As for Brian's questions, I thought this "koi" patter was the result of a genetic mutation, which is irreversible. But Copps said his specimens all turned back to normal, so we concluded it is something environmental, probably related to diet in the wild. The term "xanthic" is really not the correct one to use for Z. flavescens, as xanthic refers to a mutation (or environmental effect) that turns the individuals yellow. In this case, Z. flavescens is already yellow and the modifications are to white and black, so it is not a xanthic individual. I hope that clears things up.
 
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