Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish

[Casino]

Does anyone have a picture of what a Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish looks like when adult. Do they even change colors from juvi to adult? Thanks in advance.

[jpslickorocks]

http://species.fishindex.com/species_6048acanthurus_tristis.html
all you need here

[jda]

Do you mean the chocolate mimic tang? If so then they definately change. They are bright yellow when a juvi to mimic the lemon peel angel. They turn chocolate brown color with orange accents and blue hue around the fins when adults.

Here (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1875&articleid=2036) is a link. IMO - the adult is way better looking than the one in that pic.

Here is a bad pic of my fish from a while back. You can see the back half of my chocolate in the bottom left.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/jdadams12/IMG_1620.jpg

There is also a tang that mimics the half black angelfish. It has a different color pattern. Both of these fish as listed as Acanthurus pyroferus and it is hard to search on them since you will get both.

[mrp2g]

I agree with jda. Both are spectacular fish, but the chocolate IMO is a much hardier tang.

[Casino]

Actually its the tang jpslickorocks referenced to
http://photos.fishindex.com/aca/acanthurus_tristis27216.jpg
The chocolate is another tang im considering for my new upgrade. Those pics of the mimic in the fishbase make these tangs look horrible. I was wondering if anyone had a more real picture or perhapse one in there tanks. Does anyone know how long it takes for these tangs to change into adult colors?

[jpslickorocks]

I did a lot of research before I bought my half black mimic. Both variations of the Acanthurus Pyroferus change into a cool burnt orange color when they change. IMO Acanthurus Tristis just turn kind of a mottled brown color that is nothing to special. A good friend of mine had an adult Tristus in his 300 and it did nothing for me. http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i153/jpslickorocks/mimictang1.jpg
Here is mine now. I am looking forward to him taking on adult colors. The Tristus is better looking as a juvi but the Pyroferus is a better looking adult IMHO.

[Casino]

So that half black is still in juvi colors jpslickorocks? Will he get like a chocolate tang when adult?

[Casino]

I found these pics in a local TOTM article. The owner only knows its a mimic tang. He dosent know which in particular it is. http://www.bostonreefers.org/totm/2006Winter/Mufflerguy/images/Fish/Two_Tangs[1].jpg

http://www.bostonreefers.org/totm/2006Winter/Mufflerguy/images/Fish/DSC8130[1].jpg

[jpslickorocks]

link 1 (http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/apyroferus.htm)

link 2 (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4742)

link 3 (http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?ddid=13712&siteid=20) chnanging from juvi to adult


If you google Acanthurus Pyroferus you will find a lot

[Casino]

Interesting! Your half black mimic has diffrent colorations in diffrent depths. Would you happent to know what kind of tang is in the pics I found, with the kole tang?

[jpslickorocks]

Beautiful!!! That is all I know. If I could find one I would buy it

[Casino]

I got in touch with the owner of the pic with the tang and the kole . He says that he thinks it was labeled an indian ocean mimic tang. Any ideas if that could be an adult indian ocean mimic?

[jda]

It doesn't look like any that I have seen. I have never seen anything like that.

[Casino]

Yeah! Thats what im thinking aslso. Every pic ive seen shows a diffrent tang. This one must be a new tang or one that hasent been succesfuly kept from juvi. Who knows he might be ID'd, might not.

[Kahuna Tuna]

Ther tang in the pic with the kole looks like an Acanthurus Pyroferus lemonpeel variant, the blue around the eye and the gills are a giveaway. I have this same fish without the blue, which is the herald's angel mimic variant. Mine was solid yellow when I got him but is getting darker and developing that dark mottled pattern exactly like the fish in that pic. This species causes a lot of confusion because the juveniles can look like three different fish and there is also quite a bit of variation in the adults as well.

[Casino]

So there really isnt anyway to tell them apart when they are in juvi colors?

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Just finished reading your info...and all your little 'Tang Police' comments:rolleyes: I hope you don't actually plan on putting another fish in your 29 ..You already have a Kole Tang and a Solar Wrasse?????? Sorry, but that is just downright cruel to the fish and you seem to find it all quite funny.. I feel sorry for the fish in your care.

[Casino]

No. Ive had these tangs when they where little and then traded when they got to big. Im upgrading to a 90 and now I can keep a tang more permanatly. I might as well try a mimic since its the only small (not a naso or something big) tang I havent had. In a few weeks I will be an EX-Tang police fugitive.

[Casino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8854168#post8854168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BTTRFLYGRL
I feel sorry for the fish in your care. Im sure they appreciated my help since mostly the tangs I had were almost dead and I brought them back. I should update my sig since the kole is in a new home as of nov. Ive just been to busy fixing the house and planning the new tank. I am guilty of having the solar wrasse and the others in my sig. All these guys are one of the reasons I am upgrading.

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Okay..Sorry for giving you a hard time;) :beer:

[Casino]

No need to appoligise...specially from a colts fan.:p