Crazy Colored Scopus Tang

Reef News · Oct 2, 2015

Have you ever purchased a fish that had any physical aberrations or abnormalities? Check out the crazy colors on this Scopas Tang!

[via Drysdale Aquarium, Inc]

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Tom Blevins · Oct 2, 2015

DSLR used here right? HA

cool name it earth.

jcdeng · Oct 2, 2015

Was it caught near the Fukushima powerplant??

ReefMadScientist · Oct 2, 2015

jcdeng said:
Was it caught near the Fukushima powerplant??

Exactly my thoughts! That tang will grow a pair of legs and walk out my front door.

jcdeng · Oct 2, 2015

I just hope those waters don't create some super ich/parasites that can live 2 thousand years in a fallow system or have eggs that can survive a nuclear blast.

Blue Seas Aquariums · Oct 2, 2015

Nice Koi Tang!

CoralsAddiction · Oct 2, 2015

Yeah, I see tangs like that here and there but don't have a big enough tank for one

oldsaint · Oct 2, 2015

I wonder how long it will stay those colors.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/fish

"There are also odd scopas tangs that appear to be a mix of black, yellow ( Z. flavescens ), and brown tangs. There’s some question as to whether these wild color schemes are the result of cross-breeding or simply mutations. There’s even speculation that it’s related to a fungus! I can attest to the fact that these "mutant" scopas tangs will and often do change color in captivity, so be careful what you pay for! I have a specimen that changed from a mostly yellow coloration, with splatterings of black, into one that’s now half brown and yellow. This color change occurred over a period of a few months."

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 2, 2015

oldsaint said:
I wonder how long it will stay those colors.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/fish

"There are also odd scopas tangs that appear to be a mix of black, yellow ( Z. flavescens ), and brown tangs. There’s some question as to whether these wild color schemes are the result of cross-breeding or simply mutations. There’s even speculation that it’s related to a fungus! I can attest to the fact that these "mutant" scopas tangs will and often do change color in captivity, so be careful what you pay for! I have a specimen that changed from a mostly yellow coloration, with splatterings of black, into one that’s now half brown and yellow. This color change occurred over a period of a few months."

Is that black fin fairy wrasse in your avatar yours?

oldsaint · Oct 2, 2015

Breakthecycle2 said:
Is that black fin fairy wrasse in your avatar yours?

Scott's fairy. C scottorum

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 2, 2015

oldsaint said:
Scott's fairy. C scottorum

Which variant?

oldsaint · Oct 2, 2015

A better ID would be Cirrhilabrus cf scottorum from Australia. Probably something else in a few years.

Myka · Oct 2, 2015

Reef News said:
Have you ever purchased a fish that had any physical aberrations or abnormalities?

Yes! Here's a Kole Tang I used to own.

oldsaint said:
I wonder how long it will stay those colors.

"I can attest to the fact that these "mutant" scopas tangs will and often do change color in captivity, so be careful what you pay for!"

My thoughts as well! The fish pictured above @ 1 1/2"TL looked like a fairly normal Kole Tang when I bought it (late Nov 2009), and maybe had an unusual amount of yellow in the finnage. It switched to that crazy yellow coloring very quickly in March/April 2010, and then went back to the usual Kole coloring by July 2010.