Tang ID *One year later

[Zoaelite]

Well I'm a little baffled by this guy as I can't find an answer anywhere so perhaps the tang experts on here can give me a hand.
He has orange around his eyes like a kole tang, his tail is white and there is a metallic blue stripe on his ventral fin.
Any ideas?


(Sorry about the fuzzy photo, I named him Flash Gordon for a reason)
Levi

[Drock169]

I think i need a few clues, like a clearer picture and maybe a hint like where it came from.
Its an Acanthurus tang i think I just cant really narrow it down without a better picture.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by Drock169

I think i need a few clues, like a clearer picture and maybe a hint like where it came from.
Its an Acanthurus tang i think I just cant really narrow it down without a better picture.

Thanks I will grab the camera and some pellets

[Delphinus]

Acanthurus thompsoni maybe? (White tailed surgeonfish)

http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/fish_of.../fom_06_05.htm

(Scroll down, because this is a page from Hawaii, and apparently, Hawaiian endemics of this species don't have the white tail, whereas everywhere else, they do. Look for the section "Two species or one?")

[Myka]

I'm thinking it may develop more coloring at it gets bigger...possibly. So here's a couple guesses of mine after doing some Googling. Your fish couple also be a naturally occuring hybrid. It happens. That's what I think happened to my Kole Tang. I think it is a hybrid with a Yellow tang...or possibly just a color mutation.

A. leucocheilus


A. fowleri

[Zoaelite]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I have only had him for about 3 months now but man does the fish have personality, that and I have noticed that his colors are subtly changing. None of the photos provided are bang on, then again he's eating/ growing like a little pig so I will post some more photos in a month or so. Myka have any pictures of your Kole tang?
Levi

[Stones]

As far as I can tell, I believe you have a Acanthurus auranticavus, better known as the orange socket surgeonfish. Hope you have a big tank as this little guy tops out at over a foot long at maturity.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Agree with Stones.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by Stones

As far as I can tell, I believe you have a Acanthurus auranticavus, better known as the orange socket surgeonfish. Hope you have a big tank as this little guy tops out at over a foot long at maturity.

Yea, that picture looks bang on to the OP's pic... Nice tang!

[Zoaelite]

Wow thanks guys, can always rely on Canreefers for a fast acurate ID! He's currently in my 65 Display/ Frag and like I said growing like a pig. Once he gets a little larger he has a giant display tank at the LFS waiting for him.
Levi