Orange Shoulder tang; disease, or natural change?

[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.

[michika]

Those are beautiful photos!

Do you have a tank thread started for your system?

[FishFun]

My regal is the same she wedges herself into anything she can & plays dead, its kinda funny. She dosen't do it as much anymore after we moved them into the big tank. Im surprized you orange shoulder is changing allready!!! I dont have a tank thread started, is it somthing most members do on Canreef?

[michika]

I had a trigger that played dead all the time, gave me a few near heart attacks some mornings.

Many people have tank threads to show off their tank build, or just get feedback on their system in general. I like reading them for ideas and inspiration.