Tang of a different color?

[NaCl_H2O]

I have a Hippo Tang (Blue Tang, Indo-Pacific - Paracanthurus hepatus), about 3-4 inches long.

A few days ago I bought a Copper Banded Butterfly (first fish added in 3+ months) and everyone got VERY excited about the new "Invader". My powder Blue was being a royal pest, and all the other fish were really "on edge" for a few hours.

My Blue tang came out and I noticed the "Non-Blue" markings didn't look right, it looked sort of pale or copper'ish :o At that moment it didn't strike me that these markings should have been "Black", I just new they looked odd. An hour or so later he was back to normal (Blue & Black).

Has anyone else seen this in a Hippo - do they have the ability to modify their color when threatened or under stress?

[Tim Marvin]

Yes they do change color. Try looking at it at night with a flashlight and it will be very pale. The stress of the new fish probably stressed it out for a few hours. No worries.

[DeletedAccount]

My hippo has gotten almost yellow black regions before. Every time it has been a MAJOR stress reaction. Never lasted more than 10 minutes, but it sure looked neat!!!!!!

[R_S_C]

my surgeonfish who is normally greyish blue with orange and blue stripes will turn black with white stripes if he's startled.

[eleyan]

I have a royal blue and a yellow tang. a couple of night ago, the yellow tang kept chassing the blue tang and picking on him. the blue tang looked very stressed. His black markings were really pale that night, almost greyish white. Next day he was fine, I don't know what started the fight.