What is swimming around my tank...

[JBKReef]

Hello everyone. Trying to figure out long term plan for my fish here... I’ve had this guy for roughly 8 months and he’s grown from the size of a quarter to now being about an inch longer. (S)He’s elongating...

This was sold to me as an Abarant bristle tooth tang. As it’s grown into himself though it’s looking more and more like an Acanthurus Tang of some kind.

Would anyone be willing to chime in with what exactly I have here?

 

[KJ]

@4FordFamily

 

[4FordFamily]

Tough to ID young acanthurus tangs, which I would agree that’s what this likely is.

https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/2884/?pcatid=2884

I think it’s a juvenile ringtail, palani or dussumeiri tang. Sorry I’d need very high def and clearer shots to be sure. To make it more difficult, they vary quite a bit in appearance within the species.

 

[JBKReef]

Tough to ID young acanthurus tangs, which I would agree that’s what this likely is.

https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/2884/?pcatid=2884

I think it’s a juvenile ringtail, palani or dussumeiri tang. Sorry I’d need very high def and clearer shots to be sure. To make it more difficult, they vary quite a bit in appearance within the species.

I’ll see if possibly to get higher resolution photos... thanks for chiming in with the acanthurus confirmation.

For acanthurus in general, how quickly do thy grow? I was happy to house a tomini/kole/bristletooth in my 93 cube but I know eventually it will need more length.

 

[4FordFamily]

I’ll see if possibly to get higher resolution photos... thanks for chiming in with the acanthurus confirmation.

For acanthurus in general, how quickly do thy grow? I was happy to house a tomini/kole/bristletooth in my 93 cube but I know eventually it will need more length.

Well, all three of those species grow to roughly 1.5 feet. Very large tangs, and quite fast-growing, typically.. I hope my IDs are wrong!

 

[JBKReef]

Well, all three of those species grow to roughly 1.5 feet. Very large tangs, and quite fast-growing, typically.. I hope my IDs are wrong!

Here’s hoping but knowing my luck an upgrade is going to be on the horizon soon.

 

[Jesterrace]

The first picture almost makes me wonder if it is a Juvie Squaretail Tang C.Truncatus. Which would fit as they are part of the Bristletooth family of Tangs.

 

[JBKReef]

Some updates photos of my mystery tang as (s)he grows out... anyone else care to provide a guess?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like young yellowfin tang.
Dussomieri is other possibility but tail marking and lip color says no.
4ford family is correct- this is a surgeonfish, not plain old tang and will reach at least a foot ++. Here is my 14" Vlamingi tang and its not done growing

 

[JBKReef]

I keep wondering if he’s gonna show some of this coloring anytime... he seems to look a bit like a Bariene (Black Spot Tang)

Black Spot Tang: Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums

He rough 3.5-4 inches long currently, which is about about 1 to 1.5 inches of growth in the last ~year.

within the next 2 months he’ll be moving into a 4 ft long (48x24x16) tank... with longer term plans to be placed in a roughly 240 gallon tank in the next 3 years and hopefully finish up in a 400 gallon within the next 5.

An aggressive reefing plan I know but with my marine biologist (veterinarian by trade) wife supporting me in this hobby I feel I could make my dream build a reality in the coming years.