New Phillipine yellow tang (mimic?)

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 9, 2015

So i just added a 2" tang that was sold to me as a phillipine yellow tang. It is solid yellow with no blue accents anywhere, it has the oval body like a PBT and a short nose/mouth. He has been in the tank 2 days, just now starting to eat flake food and nibbles at brine occasionaly, bought some nori today.

I tried to look up phillipine yellow tang but not much info out there, so i guess he is a mimic (acantho pyro.) Lemon peel but without the blue. Anyways, i'm excited about him because i wanted a tang that was different and not quite as big. The second i laid eyes on him in the lfs i knew i was taking him home haha.

I'll try and get a better pic later tonight but this is it so far, he's great at hiding when the camera comes out.

Oscaror · Nov 9, 2015

That looks so much like an angel it's uncanny

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 9, 2015

It's a tang, just not what was sold as. I've seen many pics identical to this one that are mimic tangs. What do you think it is?

thebluecatapilla · Nov 9, 2015

looks to me like it has the eyes of the tang with the body of an angel. Its a hybrid!

Reefpro · Nov 9, 2015

It's a juvenile mimic. They will change colors !!!!

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 9, 2015

Will this fish be peaceful when he matures or will it get aggresive? Seems i have read both ways. Does anyone have any experience with them?

eatbreakfast · Nov 9, 2015

It is a mimic tang, mimicking a haroldi angel. It is an Acanthurus species, which has some of the most aggressive tangs, but mimics aren't that bad. An existing one my behave aggressively toward any new tangs added or other similarly shaped fish. They usually leave any other fish alone.

Breakthecycle2 · Nov 9, 2015

I will say your 46 gallon tank (if thats what you still have) is not big enough.

4FordFamily · Nov 9, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
It is a mimic tang, mimicking a haroldi angel. It is an Acanthurus species, which has some of the most aggressive tangs, but mimics aren't that bad. An existing one my behave aggressively toward any new tangs added or other similarly shaped fish. They usually leave any other fish alone.

Spot on

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 10, 2015

Yes i still have the 46. The plan is to upgrade to a 90 in january. My mom wants another tank and i want a bigger one so it's a win win.

DanConnor · Nov 10, 2015

I've had both the half black and the lemon peel style mimic tangs, and found both to be reasonably mellow, no problem reef inhabitants. About as small a tang as you can find too.

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 10, 2015

He is barely 2" now and i figure i've got a good 4-6 months before i need to get a bigger tank but i'll have one by mid january when income taxes come in. As well as a nice new ATI fixture.

Dannyboy0076 · Nov 10, 2015

The only problem so far is he is a picky eater. Only nibbles at flake food. Won't touch nori or brine. Haven't tried mysis yet. What did yours eat the best?

4FordFamily · Nov 10, 2015

I've never owned any mimic tangs which is probably surprising to many people but I can get nearly any fish to eat my medley - frozen - bloodworms, ca or pemysis, spirulina brine, emerald entre, another veggie formula I forget the name of, squid, angel formula with sponge, brine, krill, and a few others I cannot recall at the moment. Once per week or more often I mix a bunch in a cheap mixing cup. Microwave 2 mins and strain the water out. I add 5 squirts of selcon and about 1/4 cup of garlic guard to the mix and feed. Blackworms are also another fantastic food to buy regularly and keep refrigerated (they're alive) and if nothing else works live brine also works. Blackworms and live brine will get 90% of finicky fish eating, assuming they are somewhat healthy and in good water parameters.