Bristletooth Tang ID

[Rybren]

This guy came in as a Striated Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus) but I'm having my doubts. I haven't been able to find many good photos of C. striatus, especially juveniles, but I don't see any with a white lyre shaped tail.

Sorry for the less than stellar photos, but s/he won't stay still.

 

[SkillKing21]

It might be a wound or it was born that way.I have had a blue tang with a V shaped tail.

 

[BestMomEver]

Look up “whitetail bristletooth tang” or C. Flavicauda. Maybe that’s it?

 

[SkillKing21]

Is it the camera or are the colors that dull?

 

[Rybren]

It is a dull and dark blue/gray with barely distinguishable lines. Was almost pure silver in the LFS but changed to this colouration within hours. I've looked at C. flavicauda as a possibility, but all the photos I've seen show a reddish fish with distinct markings.

 

[SkillKing21]

It is a dull and dark blue/gray with barely distinguishable lines. Was almost pure silver in the LFS but changed to this colouration within hours. I've looked at C. flavicauda as a possibility, but all the photos I've seen show a reddish fish with distinct markings.

How long has the fish been in the tank?

 

[saltyhog]

I'm no tang expert but I'm not sure that's a bristle tooth.

C. biospinatus has the spots near the tail but it's not white. It almost looks like a stressed Lavender tang?

 

[Rybren]

I'm no tang expert but I'm not sure that's a bristle tooth.

C. biospinatus has the spots near the tail but it's not white. It almost looks like a stressed Lavender tang?

You might be right about it not being a bristletooth. It does look a lot like Acanthurus nigrofuscus but the white tail is still throwing me off. Could be juvi colours I guess.

How long has the fish been in the tank?

Only about a week.

 

[SkillKing21]

Might be a lavender tang.

 

[Rybren]

Could be. Eats like a pig.

 

[Rybren]

@4FordFamily Thoughts?

 

[Pbh-reef]

Can you get a pic of it’s mouth/face?

 

[4FordFamily]

That’s an acanthurus tang. Which, I am unsure. So many look so similar. I’ve even seen some Acanthurus pyroferus regional variants that look quite similar. As associate the chocolate tang with primarily the Lemonpeel mimic tang variant but there are others.

But I don’t think that’s the ID, just making a point that they vary significantly within species. I don’t think it’s a bristletooth tang based on the shape but as young tangs they can be somewhat similar in appearance as well.

I also don’t think that’s a lavender tang they don’t gave white tails, typically.

 

[Tallison]

Looks almost like a Lavendar Tang I used to own without the tail.

 

[saltyhog]

That’s an acanthurus tang. Which, I am unsure.

I also don’t think that’s a lavender tang they don’t gave white tails, typically.

Yeah, I was taking a shot based upon the spots at the base of the tail. What other acanthurus tangs have those?

 

[Pbh-reef]

To me the pointed anal and dorsal fin look more like a bristle tooth tang. I guess the orange shoulder tang has pointed fins but most Acanthurus tangs I can think of have rounded dorsal and anal fins?

 

[Rybren]

Thank you for the thoughts and suggestions. Will try for some better pics later on once the lights are on.
Cheers

 

[4FordFamily]

To me the pointed anal and dorsal fin look more like a bristle tooth tang. I guess the orange shoulder tang has pointed fins but most Acanthurus tangs I can think of have rounded dorsal and anal fins?

Now that I see it on a bigger screen I agree.

 

[Pbh-reef]

Yeah, I was taking a shot based upon the spots at the base of the tail. What other acanthurus tangs have those?

You know what - tomini tangs do have spots like that at the base of tail. @Rybren can you get a shot without as much blue? Is there any yellow at all I’m the dorsal or anal fin?

 

[Rybren]

You know what - tomini tangs do have spots like that at the base of tail. @Rybren can you get a shot without as much blue? Is there any yellow at all I’m the dorsal or anal fin?

There isn't any yellow on any of the fins. The eyes have a narrow yellow ring. Will try taking some pics with no blues on, however, the colour in the pics above are pretty close to what the fish looks like with the lighting at my normal daytime full setting. The tank doesn't have a blue tinge to it.