Desjarini Sailfin or Regular Sailfin

4FordFamily · Oct 8, 2015

I was sent this fish. To prove that I am right in my ID of this fish I am making an independent thread about its species.

I won't tell you what I know it is I just need responses from those of you who know the differences.

Here's the photo of the tang

Desjarini/red sea Sailfin or Regular sailfin?

BONUS question for extra credit: How can you tell the difference?

Quinn123 · Oct 8, 2015

regular sailfin

billwill · Oct 8, 2015

Regular

hybridazn · Oct 8, 2015

Regular

4FordFamily · Oct 8, 2015

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

What do you guys think? Again I am not leading to the answer I want the vendor that sent me this to be able to read this and know.

eea60 · Oct 8, 2015

It is a regular sailfin. I do not see the spotted markings and or yellow highlights you normally see with a desjardini.

kschweer · Oct 8, 2015

I would say a closer picture is needed for a definite id. From the picture posted I would agree with "regular" sailfin

eatbreakfast · Oct 8, 2015

Regular sailfin. It lacks the orange spots and orange squiggles.

4FordFamily · Oct 8, 2015

Bump. Anyone else?

Clayalaleona · Oct 8, 2015

Regular sailfin

oldsaint · Oct 8, 2015

The yellow tail and thick bright white stripe on the face makes me think it's a Zebrasoma velifer.

Humblefish · Oct 8, 2015

eea60 said:
It is a regular sailfin. I do not see the spotted markings and or yellow highlights you normally see with a desjardini.

eatbreakfast said:
Regular sailfin. It lacks the orange spots and orange squiggles.

^^Agree with this

buzzword · Oct 8, 2015

Not a Dasjardini, nearly positive. Coloration is wrong for Dasjardini even as a juvenile.

Mike in CT · Oct 8, 2015

Regular

4FordFamily · Oct 8, 2015

You're all correct. The vendor is making it right there was a misunderstanding.

The correct answers have been named.

1) yellow tail is 100% accurate. No desjarini will ever have a tail that is distinctively separated from their body patterns and obviously yellow like that. The regular Sailfin shares this trait with purple tangs. A few of them have brown tails but desjarini have patterns on their tails.

2) regular Sailfin have stripes and desjarini have patterns that are more wavy or "squiggly" regular Sailfin also have fewer and thicker stripes. Desjarini show far more spots and dots on them than do regular. Regular have almost no spots.

3) regular sailfins have more prominent "sails" I.E. their fins are "bigger" and more impressive

4) regular sailfins have no or very little yellow on them anywhere except their tail (with the exception of juveniles that sport lots of yellow). Desjarini generally have more yellow and orange throughout their bodies. Not all, however.

5) regular sailfins are notably darker brown

6) although hard to see from photos regular sailfins tend to grow faster and larger.

desjarini

Regular

This one is a bit tougher for the untrained eye because it is darker but it is definitely a desjarini also. Notice the spots dots and stripes.

ReeferEric · Oct 10, 2015

Very interesting so now I know I have regular sailfins.

afamousjohnson · Oct 10, 2015

I have always owned the red sea's. There have been quite a few times I have seen a regular that is deceiving. They can take on the spots from front but fade quick. I got an adult once that was completely black. I purchased as a red sea and was worried at 1st. As she adjusted to the tank over a few weeks she got her true.color back. Was such a beautiful fish. Every tank I run I seem to go back to the fish I love. Peeps always give me guff and say - dont you have one of those in your other tank....... Yup cause when im driving a Ferrari I love taking out my pinto...lol nope just know what I like and that is one of them.