Chameleon blue tang

[blags]

Our blue tang has taken to occasionally doing a colour change thing. Now and then for a couple of minutes he changes the black on his body to yellow. This pic was taken as he was changing back but at the peak it is very yellow.
He's one of many tangs in our tank but the lone Australian caught blue. We've had him since he was the size of an Aussie 5c piece, approx the same as a US dime, but weve only noticed this happening for about a year or so.

 

[melypr1985]

Very interesting! I've seen other fish change colors similar to that, but mostly the ones I've seen are trying to look like a juvenile or a male trying to appear female so it wont get killed. Let's call in the fish guys for more input... @eatbreakfast @evolved @4FordFamily

 

[Baby Ray]

Very interesting!!

 

[4FordFamily]

I've seen this in large hippos before. Achilles tangs turn from black to white almost, many tangs can change color temporarily. Many do it to attract cleaner wrasse or cleaner shrimp to clean, other times it's immense stress and frustration - often because of a bad parasite infection that erratically swim and get angry and change color. It can also be a dominance thing. A couple minutes is often all it ever lasts, unless under immense stress and perhaps dying of parasitic infections.

Any other symptoms? Any sick fish in the tank? Is this new behavior?

 

[blags]

Not new, just the first time I've had the iPad handy to get a pic. He only does it occasionally and has for a year or more. No sick fish, he behaves differently when wanting a clean; no colour change just a tilt to the side.

 

[4FordFamily]

Not new, just the first time I've had the iPad handy to get a pic. He only does it occasionally and has for a year or more. No sick fish, he behaves differently when wanting a clean; no colour change just a tilt to the side.

May well be dominance or stress. Any other tangs disagreeing with him?

 

[urbaneks]

I have a Blue Tang that I've had for 7 years now. He does the same thing if he hasn't had his nori for the day and I'm near the tank.

 

[sanchoy]

This is perfectly normal. Had the same fish, that did the same thing. It was more of a mood color change, angry-excited-scared.

Nothing to be concerned about. His blue color looks nice. Mine changed color in the same area also.

 

[Kaskade]

Very cool thanks for sharing

 

[blags]

I've seen this in large hippos before. Achilles tangs turn from black to white almost, many tangs can change color temporarily. Many do it to attract cleaner wrasse or cleaner shrimp to clean, other times it's immense stress and frustration - often because of a bad parasite infection that erratically swim and get angry and change color. It can also be a dominance thing. A couple minutes is often all it ever lasts, unless under immense stress and perhaps dying of parasitic infections.

Any other symptoms? Any sick fish in the tank? Is this new behavior?

Been doing it for a few years and no sick fish.

 

[blags]

May well be dominance or stress. Any other tangs disagreeing with him?

not really, just the usual grumps every now and then

 

[blags]

Just to add the tangs have been together for about 6-7 years

 

[eatbreakfast]

There are a variety of reasons that it will flash like that. It is basically him showing that he is in peak physical condition, any rivals better not challenge him, any females should spawn with him.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

Those are a couple of big tangs! Very nice!