Mystery Tang

[VeeDub]

Can anybody identify this Tang?
The 2 things we know for sure is that it is from Hawaii and it came from TimM.
The body coloration is pretty accurate but there are stripes that can barely be seen from the pic but they are more prominent in person.

Ideas?

Chris

[StephenA]

Maybe an Indian Ocean Kole's Tang.

???

[GaryP]

Try searching here.

http://www.fishbase.org/search.cfm

[VeeDub]

Try searching here.

http://www.fishbase.org/search.cfm

Thanks Gary! I know exactly what it is now.
It's a:

Unknown Connect error Tang!

The error occurred while processing an element with a general identifier of (CFQUERY), occupying document position (575:2) to (575:86).
Date/Time: 05/26/05 10:30:13
HTTP Referrer: http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=12113

:lol :lol :lol

Thanks.LOL

[GaryP]

Hmmmm, there is a link in "Research & Ident" area on the navigation bar.

[VeeDub]

Something odd happened. Now the link is working.

Thank you.

[NaCl_H2O]

It's a:

Unknown Connect error Tang!

The error occurred while processing an element ...

Well shucks, I knew that, you should have asked ;)

[captexas]

If you don't find it there, maybe send a PM to Zenreef as he is out in Hawaii. He collects from there so I'm sure he's seen your fish if it is native to that area.

[VeeDub]

If you don't find it there, maybe send a PM to Zenreef as he is out in Hawaii. He collects from there so I'm sure he's seen your fish if it is native to that area.

I believe that Sam is where this fish came from.
I didn't find the fish on the link Gary sent. Saw something close but not close enough.
I will shoot Sam a PM.

[GaryP]

It looks like something from the bristletooth group of Tangs. Try PM'ing MikeP. He's the guy on Tangs.

[scuba_steveo]

I saw him diving last week!

[akm]

Do tangs change color when they become an adult?

[scuba_steveo]

some do...some dont
atlantic blue and orange shoulders do

[::pete::]

Is that the actual color?

[JeffCo]

It looks like a Dussemeri tang. Not sure about the spelling, but if it has yellow around the eyes, and light blue stripes going down it's side. It's probably it.

[CD]

Is that the actual color?


Yes. Chris had to lighten the pic just a touch because it came out a little dark from the camera, but nothing else was used as far as "photoshopping". The lines on this tang are much more prominent than the picture shows (especially on the head), and are bluish in color - not bright, but very noticible. The basic color is just like the pic - kind of a rusty brown. There is no yellow or blue ring around the eye. Oh, and as far as size - I would guesstimate she's about 5" (including the tail). She's a *really* beautiful fish! :D



It looks like a Dussemeri tang


I saw a pic of the Dussumieri when I was doing a search for this tang, and what we have looks VERY close to the pic that I saw on the Marine Depot site...all except for the yellow ring around the eye, and somewhat brighter coloration. I couldn't find a juvie pic of the Dussumieri, but the one we have appears to be a young fish. If it IS full grown, it's pretty small for a tang. That would be too cool though - a Dussumieri is supposed to be pretty rare. Maybe it just hasn't developed all it's coloration yet? Does anybody have a pic of a juvie Dussumieri? :unsure

Wendy

[Polkster13]

Wendy,

What you have is a juvenile Acanthrus dussumieri as shown on page 586 of the Dr Burgess's Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes. This fish can grow to over 21. If you would like to see the information I have in my library on this fish, feel free to call me to set up an appointment.

[StephenA]

It looks like something from the bristletooth group of Tangs


Isn't that what I said?

[Thunderkat]

Wendy,

What you have is a juvenile Acanthrus dussumieri as shown on page 586 of the Dr Burgess's Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes. This fish can grow to over 21. If you would like to see the information I have in my library on this fish, feel free to call me to set up an appointment.

You are probably right, I used to see those fish all the time in Hawaii, I don't remember them being brown like that thouh, maybe its just a little scared. When the sun hits them just right its amazing how much color they have. The only other tangs I saw in hawaii were yellow tangs, sailfin tangs, and achillies tangs.

[alexwolf]

Thats it. Dussemer Tang. Gorgeous fish.

[Richard]

Looks like a young bluelined tang to me - Acanthurus nigroris. They are usually collected from hawaii and are similar to A. dussumieri when young. The dussumieri are usually fairly expensive while nigroris are pretty inexpensive.

[CD]

If there were more yellow around the eye, I would be positive that it is a young Dussumieri - since it may still develop that eye coloration, I'd have to go with the Dussumieri for now.

Richard - a Bluelined was one of the first possibilities that I thought of also...but this tang has coloration that only matches the Dussumieri; Dorsal and anal fins are yellow with blue margin and a blue stripe at the base...the tail has that yellowish/white stripe around the base and you can *just barely* see a bluish coloration to the tail with pale black spots (a bluelined never gets that stripe around the base of the tail)...her belly/throat area has a blueish hue to it...her caudal spike is white with a black socket and membrane surrounding it.

If anybody runs across a juvie pic of a Dussumieri, please LMK.
Thanks to everyone for their help ;)

Wendy

[jaded]

are you absolutely sure this isnt a acanthurus mata??? The adult version is blue but from the pic in Burgess's Atlas it is clearly very similar in color, size, and shape

I cant find a juv pic to comapare to on line but the pic in the Atlas is very close

[CD]

are you absolutely sure this isnt a acanthurus mata???


Pretty sure. The yellowish white stripe around the base of the tail, and the tail itself having a bluish coloration with light black spots (not stripes) is what is making me lean towards the Dussumieri...plus the anal and dorsal fins are yellow. I wish we had a better camera - her colors are kind of muted at this stage, but she's going to be a real beauty! :D

Wendy

[Reef69]

IMO...Its not a dussumieri. Dussumieri's have a thick, yellow line across the eyes, just like mata's. Matas are not native to hawaii. I dont think it is a nigroris, nigroris are dark gray...Im clueless...lol

[Reef69]

I THINK I FOUND IT!!!..Acanthurus blochii, native tang to hawaii..i believe you have a juvenile..see your picture next to this one, see any resemblance????..I do!!, the eyes, the tail, the dorsal fin, the fading in the tail..if you can see from this picture, this fish used to be yellow, like yours, the base color is yellow and as it matured it turned dark blue..

[CD]

That's pretty close, but the caudal spike on the blochii isn't white - even in the juvies...plus, our tang has muted spots on her tail, not stripes. LOL - I keep trying to sneak up on the tank to take another picture, but she's getting camera shy now. :roll

Wendy

[Reef69]

******!!!..ill keep looking..

[VeeDub]

OK, the fish has lightened up today. This fish does not like the picture thing.
You can definitely see the lines better in this pic but due to digital zoom, the pic is very grainy.

Still trying to ID.

Chris

[Reef69]

..I think Im right...it looks like a juvenile blochii...

[::pete::]

Wendy

Acanthurus Blochii ? (http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/aquarium_salt/acanthurus_blochii.htm)

[CD]

Description of coloration on the A. blochii:

"Color in life bluish grey with numerous yellowish brown spots which tend to form irregular longitudinal lines; head with narrow irregular stripes; behind eye a yellow spot; brown pectoral fins; base of caudal fin with white bar. Caudal spine large, 3 - 4.4 in head. Stomach gizzard-like. Differs from A. dussumieri by having vertical stripes instead of spots on the blue central area of the caudal fin..."

From what they are saying above, there aren't huge differences between the two. On the tang we have, her tail (although not "bright" in coloration yet) definitely has spots in lieu of stripes. :)

Wendy

[Reef69]

I think Im 100% right..

What do i get?..lol...jk

[VeeDub]

Haven't seen Sam online in a while but I PMed him and we will get a positive ID- hopefully.

Chris

[CD]

Pete - is that a juvenile blochii? The body shape is similar, but if you notice on the blochii, the caudal spike is dark...look almost black. Our fish has a white one with black coloration surrounding the spike itself. Also, ours has faint black spots or polka-dots on the tail - not stripes. Keep the pics comming though guys! :P

Wendy

[::pete::]

Im not really sure if its a juvenile!!

Down 3 in the center (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.avru.unimelb.edu.au/avruweb/surgeonfish.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.avru.unimelb.edu.au/avruweb/stingin.htm&h=200&w=190&sz=4&tbnid=gUOzxiqeVfIJ:&t bnh=99&tbnw=94&hl=en&start=44&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacanthuridae%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%2 6lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en%26sa%3DN)

[VeeDub]

That sure looks like our fish Pete.

So... what is that fish in your last link?

[::pete::]

Im still looking!!

[Richard]

I think the one in Pete's pic is A. dussumieri. I don't think that's your fish.

I don't think it's A. blochi either. The mouth looks different plus the black caudal spike.

LOL...I've been exactly where you are now Chris & Wendy. I had the EXACT same fish until a stupid mistake on my part took out 4 of my 6 tangs. I never found a perfect match so I settled on a bluelined tang. It was sold to me as BlueLined Tang (Hawaii). Let me know if you ever find a perfect match.

Mine was my favorite tang even though it wasn't the most colorful. It had the perfect disposition - not aggressive but tough enough too keep the other tangs from messing with him. I'll be ordering another one in the not to distant future for sure.

[Richard]

OH... mine darkened over the course of six or seven months. But the fins remained yellow and the blue lines were more visible on the grayish body.

[CD]

Mine was my favorite tang even though it wasn't the most colorful


I hear you...she is SUCH a cool fish. She stressed a little on the way home, but acclimated well and ate like a little piggie the very next morning. I think her coloration is beautiful even now, but you can tell she is a young fish, and will most likely change the older she gets. Our fish tend to grow pretty quickly...we'll know for sure once she grows up, but you know me...just TOO curious to NOT know...LOL :lol I have spent hours on Google trying to find a match...ARGGGGG :blink

Wendy

[VeeDub]

Just received a PM from Sam.

Would everyone like to know what this fish really is?

[Reef69]

yeah... :blink :blink

[VeeDub]

yeah... :blink :blink

:lol :lol
The mystery is still alive.

Sam sold it as a common Pacific Surgeon Tang since he didn't have a positive ID either.

I guess we will have to wait until it matures to know for sure.

[MikeP]

I know what it is but I'm not saying ;)

Actually if you can get a few more pics we might be able to get a positive ID.

[Reef69]

We should put money on it..a big poll...$5 gets you in..lol..I say its a Blochii...

[VeeDub]

We should put money on it..a big poll...$5 gets you in..lol..I say its a Blochii...

Reef69- Now there's an idea! LOL

MikeP- once we get it in the 210 this weekend, it gets comfortable and finds its own territory, we will post another pic in a few days.
It may not be looking quite right because it is in the QT tank at the moment and doesn't have much room to swim. There may be a little stress altering the coloration of the fish at the present time.

Chris

[technomex]

I say it's a POON.

Who do I give my five bucks to?

[Reef69]

Im in..$5 bucks its blochii..lol

[CD]

I say it's a POON.


:huh What's a "POON"?



Im in..$5 bucks its blochii..lol


LOL...Dude, I hate to see you throw away that 5 spot. :P I think I'm going to bet on A. Dussumieri at this point. 8)

Yeah - we are going to have to take more pics tomorrow and see if we can get any to come out better. I'd especially like to try and get the polka-dots on her tail to come out better, and the lines on her body and face. She sure is a cool fish...quite the personality. She recognizes me now, and when I approach the tank, she starts doing this excited little "tang dance" at the front of the glass. :wub

Wendy

[::pete::]

Where you at in Austin? I ask because I will be up that way and if you are interested I can stop and try with my camera.

[CD]

Where you at in Austin?


Sending PM :D

Wendy