Mimic Tang

[tucc185]

I picked up a mimic tang today from work, a really cool little guy about 3". It's not the lemonpeel angel mimic which I've seen before. It was called a chocolate tang, and I think it's one of the less common forms of Acanthurus pyroferus that mimics Centropyge vrolikii. Here's a pic:

 

[tucc185]

Anyone kept one before? He seems in good health, eating a little bit of macroalgae. I took forever to acclimate him and he seems to be really liking his new home. The yellow tang hasn't even noticed him at all. Any tips?

 

[dpnshnks]

Get a mirror to put up against the tank for when the yellow tang does notice him! ;p

Eric

 

[tucc185]

Day 2, no sign of yellow tang aggression! I'm pretty happy about that, but I do have a HOB fuge cleared out especially for him just in case. They do avoid each other, but I haven't seen any major fighting yet.

 

[tucc185]

Heres a little better picture. I did some research and found out I have one of several color variations of juvenile Acanthurus pyroferus, or chocolate tang. The fish I have is one of the less common (or at least less imported) variations that mimics the dwarf angel Centropyge vrolikii as a juvenile. It is apparently a hardy and pretty passive tang (from what I've read) and can take several years to reach their full adult size (which is moderate to small for a surgeonfish).

 

[tucc185]

And here's a pic of the dwarf angel that they mimic (which I've never heard of):

 

[~Flighty~]

That is a fantastic looking fish

 

[NateHanson]

How big is he? Any idea when he'll start to change to his adult coloration?

 

[starrfish]

Congrats - he's really pretty.

 

[tucc185]

He's about 3" long now. From what little info I've been able to gather, it can take up to 3 or 4 years for it to fully transition into adult coloration. Still no problems with the yellow tang