White Cheek Tang II
    Hello, I have a question for you regarding a powder brown tang (Acanthurus japonicus).  I have a fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) who has been in my tank for three months and the powder brown tang I just put in two days ago constantly chases him and beats him up.  Do you know what the reason could be for this, considering that the tang has NO established territory and was put in the tank way after the wrasse?  Everywhere I have researched before I purchased this tang mentioned nothing about it being aggressive if being the last fish introduced to the tank.
<Hmmm, that's not entirely true.  Virtually all of the Acanthurus spp. surgeonfish can be aggressive to other like bodied fish.  It is very odd that it's choosing to pester the fairy wrasse though.  How big is your tank?>
de to add another fish in the tank, is he going to be aggressive with them?
<Probably.  Sometimes a territorial fight will just settle down after a few days/week, sometimes not, sometimes they get worse.>  The wrasse is the only fish out of 7 that the tang bothers.  Also, on your WetWebMedia web site, you state that the (Chaetodon Collare) butterfly fish is a tough fish......"in general."  Does the "in general" mean that some live and some don't?
<I'm not personally very familiar with this fish, but this is the general consensus, yes.>
  Or does it mean that most live in captivity and they're easy to keep?  I would just like to have your brief opinion on this before I spend the money for it?
Thanks a lot,
Brett
<Hope this helps, Matt>

White Cheek Tang III
Thank you Matt.  My tank is 65g FOWLR with 70 lbs. of live rock.  Is my tank big enough to accommodate this tang (Acanthurus japonicus)?
<Not really>
If not, what is the maximum size this fish can grow until I have to move him to a larger tank?  
<Is psychologically stressed at any size>
He is also changing color VERY often, he's lighter brown far more than he is darker brown?
<Not a good thing>
Could this be happening because my tank isn't big enough (keeping in mind he's only been in my tank for four days so far)?
<Yes, a contributing factor>
What color is this tang's natural color, the darker brown or the lighter brown?
<Darker>
Thanks so much,
Brett
<Bob Fenner>

Ongoing A. japonicus review
Thank you Matt.  My tank is 65g FOWLR with 70 lbs. of live rock.  Is my tank big enough to accommodate this tang (Acanthurus japonicus)?
<Not in my opinion, at least not when full grown.  This would also explain the aggression between the tang and the wrasse.>
  If not, what is the maximum size this fish can grow until I have to move him to a larger tank?
<Hmmm, good question.  I would err on the side of caution here.  But it sounds like he (or the wrasse) might need to be moved soon if things don't change.>
 He is also changing color VERY often, he's lighter brown far more than he is darker brown?  Could this be happening because my tank isn't big enough (keeping in mind he's only been in my tank for four days so far)?  What color is this tang's natural color, the darker brown or the lighter brown?
<Surgeonfish (and lots of others) will change colors in response to light, mood, feeding, all sorts of things.  It's hard to say why it's doing it.  Your best bet to see the 'natural' color is to look at some online pics, or you could attach us a pic if you can.>
Thanks so much,
Brett
<No prob!  Glad to help,
Matt.>