Atlantic Blue Tang

[Quinn]

I am running into the same problem as you. So far I haven't really found an image on the web that really looks like my fish. I based my purchase on http://www.themarinecenter.com/tangatlanticblue.htm. I am fairly confident that what I have is in fact simply an animal halfway between being a juvenile and an adult. He reminds me of a cross between a purple tang and a sailfin tang. He has fine horizontal stripes, and depending on his mood, large vertical stripes. The edges of his fins are a really bright blue, while the rest of his body is almost a light indigo. His eyes are yellow. He has a shorter snout than a Zebrasoma sp. and of course not as much of a sailfin.

I do expect him to outgrow the tank, but then again, almost any tang would. When that time comes, I'll take him out.

[DJ88]

Shao,

Full grown these guys get to 40cm in length.

Mine grew to almost 5" long in less than a year. By the time it was that size it was flying around my tank at high speed. Yes it would graze but it still spent most of it's time moving. It would reach the glass and literally vibrate as if it still needed to go further.

GregT on RC that sent me a phenomenal pic of a school of blue tangs in the wild. Take a look at the size of the full grown angel mixed in with the Tangs. That will give you an indication of how big these fish are full grown.




IME a 4' tank won't be enough for this fish. These are one of the tangs that need at least an 8' tank. And even then. I won't do it.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...name=coeruleus

[Quinn]

Maybe when he gets big enough I can have a barbeque... but seriously, it will be interesting to see how quickly he grows. It's unfortunate that tangs do get so large, at this point in time I feel that the only alternative is to simply swap them out when they get too large. Of course, this means you have to find someone with a large enough aquarium to take the adult tang.

[Van down by the river]

I'd agree with DJ88 as I've already mentioned to teevee.
Exerpt from PM:

You will soon have a very large dull, blueish gray brown fish that will be a problem in a reef. I know Scott Michaels book says 9" but I can assure you this is incorrect. In addition to other authors stating a size of 15", I myself had one for about 8 years in a 400 gallon. It was easily 12"-13" and attained this size quickly. It would whip around that tank in less than a second and it's fecal waste would easily cause water quality issues in a reef.

I just reposted for general knowledge. I did him to be hardy, I don't think they are rare, I just think that the demand for them is low. Another factor is they are Atlantic species, and 90% of shipments are Indo Pacific in origin.

[smokinreefer]

excellent pic darren!
thats why i think they are stunning.
that deep solid coloring is just so sharp looking!

[kari]

WOOOW, nice tank Darren
I going to start building one in my basement tomorrow.

[sumpfinfishe]

I have dived and snorkeled off Cozumel and Playa del Carmen for years now and the reefs there are full of Alantic Blue Tangs. I have witnessed these fish graze for hours on end-I really have! ABT are just the same as a lot of angels and the rest of the tangs-they simply eat all day long-hence the name grazers
I see no problems keeping a small fish of this species in a 150gl except for one reason-they might just eat everything in your tank I think most tangs will however outgrow most systems. So when I keep another tang, I will do what I did with my last Regal, and give it to someone with a larger setup as it outgrows mine.
I have asked many a local fishermen and dive instructors in Mexico why this type of fish along with a few angels to name a few, grow larger than others in there family's. Most replies were that they simply eat anything-even beans and salsa said one fishermen
I too have some great shots of these beautiful fish swimming in huge schools. I will try to post a few-that is if I can get my scanner up and running, as all those pics are 35mm formatt in albums.

cheers, Rich