Surgeonfishes: Tangs for  Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Blonde Naso – Regional Color Differences? – 09/11/14
Hi there,
<<Hey Jim>>
I was thinking of ordering a male blonde Naso tang from Africa, on LiveAquaria.
<<Okay…and this is actually my “preferred” source for online fish purchases>>
It’s about a $100 less than the ones from Maldives.
<<Hmm, okay…perhaps better, more skilled collection and holding practices in the Maldives result in the price differential…but is just a guess>>
Are they as brightly colored and as hardy as the ones from Maldives?
<<Hard to say (NET searches for pics from the differing locals may show this)…if collected from the Indian Ocean or Red Sea, maybe so. As it is often said fishes from these locals are often better/brighter colored than conspecifics from other regions. But either way, I think you have little to fear re coloration of this fish. I have never seen one from ‘any’ local that, if healthy and well fed, was not a beautiful specimen>>
Just curious because that is a huge price difference.
<<Indeed…perhaps you could call them and inquire as to the price differential>>
Thanks,
Jim
<<Happy to share… Eric Russell>>

Tang Identification -- 7/30/08 Hello WWM Crew, thank you for looking at my question! I need help in identifying a tang of mine. I don't have any pictures though. I can't find the charger to my camera at the moment. So I'll describe it, if that's okay. Alright, it's a Unicorn Tang. It's still pretty small, and it looks like a juvenile Naso Brevirostris AND Naso Vlamingii. It has a silvery light color on the bottom, a light greenish silver on the top. It has a blue mouth, it's face and the rest of it's body is covered in light blue patterns/spots. It has a black spot in it's eyes, and a golden ring around it. The end of it's tail has a gold/whitish highlight, that only runs through the middle. When it hides in rocks, it develops a very dark green/brown color, a thick dark line between it's eyes. Fortunately, I do have a video in YouTube where it shows up. If you'd like, follow this link and maybe it'll help identifying it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=o_BvQRcoZvU Thank you, Itcchyy <... looks like a N. brevirostris to me. Bob Fenner>

Naso tang ("Hey baby, check out my streamers") Hello I wanted to compliment you on your website, I think it's the most complete internet site about aquarium and marine related topics on the net .(is there anything that you don't know!!), I go on it almost every day to learn new things, it is very helpful. <Pleased to hear it, share> My question is that I have a Naso tang about 5-6 inch long it doesn't seem to develop the "streamer", how much time does it take normally is it only the male who develops the streamer I am a little bit confuse, and if so how can we tell if it's a male? I went to my local pet shop and nobody seems to have the answer. <Yes to some specimens not developing the caudal/tail fin streamers with age/growth. This is a sexual characteristic... of males. I had a friend at OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Lab), now NELHA (Natural Energy Lab Hawai'i Authority) on the Big Island, Kailua-Kona who was captive breeding and trying to rear Naso lituratus who told me that not quite so mature males sometimes lacked streamers... but all streamered individuals he assayed were functioning males. Bob Fenner> Thank you, Leonel 

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for  Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner