Orange Shoulder tang; disease, or natural change?

[michika]

That is the worse way possible to loose livestock. I had a similar fear the whole time I was moving my tanks a few weeks ago.

What kind of personality did your orange develop? So far mine is exceptionally social. I have heard as it establishes itself it may or may not develop serious agression, and become rather territorial.

[michika]

Another photo from today, something is definitely happening, because the tang's face is darker again today.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by michika

That is the worse way possible to loose livestock. I had a similar fear the whole time I was moving my tanks a few weeks ago.

What kind of personality did your orange develop? So far mine is exceptionally social. I have heard as it establishes itself it may or may not develop serious agression, and become rather territorial.

It started as a very peacefully friendly fish. As it became a large adult, it became territorial and would fight with any similar new additions to the tank.

[michika]

Originally Posted by naesco

It started as a very peacefully friendly fish. As it became a large adult, it became territorial and would fight with any similar new additions to the tank.

Thats what I figured it would turn out to be. I plan to add it in with my other larger tangs, and hopefully they will keep it in line.

Did you ever have any problems with it and smaller fish? Say a wrasse, or angel, dwarf or otherwise?

[FishFun]

We have a orange shoulder thats changing now, it awsome to watch. Everyday it gets a bit darker & has a electric blue trim on his anal & dorsol fins its really nice. Ill try get a picture but its kinda hard hes a busy fish. We have him with a blue regal & a yellow tang & they all get along just great. We have a peacefull tank. How big is yours & how big of a tank is he in? Our orange shoulder is at least 6" long in a 230g. Were not sure how old he is though. It would look like yours is starting the change but ours got is orange shoulder first befor anything else, hows is he doing?

[FishFun]

Also wanted to add that when a tang is added to a tank with fish the same size they will see the new comer as a food threat because of its simaler size, witch is normal, hopefully they will go easy on the newbe!!!When we added our powder blue there was some tension but nothing to bad .

[michika]

The fish is in a 30g now, and she/it is just over an inch in length. Eventually the fish will be going to a much larger setup, but none of its tankmates wiill be conspecific.

The tank it will be going to has a Red Sea Sailfin, Yellow tang, Hippo tang, foxface, kole tang, CBB, mandrine, blue chromis, yellow damsels, clowns, and I think thats it.

The fish will be moving in around 6 or 7 months to what I hope will be a 600g+ system, if not a 1,000g, assuming I can find a suitable home to do this in.

I just worry that the fish is changing too young, as its still so tiny. Did you take photos when yours changed?

[FishFun]

Mine is in the middle of changing, I wouldnt worry about his colour changing to young, its normal for them to change a bit when stressd, mad or scared. Its just a reaction to something. All my tangs do it, my regal's black stripe turns gray when shes ticked. I would not worry. I will try get some pictures latter. As for tank size a 30g is ok for now, as long as it has a really good hiding spot. Mine has its own spot as well as the others so you should make sure he has a place to call home

[FishFun]

Heres a couple quick pictures there not the best I didn't set my camera, just quick ones!!

[michika]

The fish's head has been darkening progressively, and its not a startle reaction, like I would see in say my sailfin, or foxface. I'm really starting to think its changing since the coloration isn't going away. I figure if the tang grows faster then I expected then it can go to the larger tank that houses the rest of my non-nano worthy fish.

My tang lives in a rock. Thankfully its not like my regal tang who loves to cram itself into the smallest spot possible.