Is it strange that my orange shoulder is 7+" and still yellow?

[baldwinaquaman]

I've seen much smaller orange shoulders, at say around 4" which are already gray, my orangeshoulder is fat and healthy but he still is yellow, is this weird, or should he be turning soon?

[LukFox]

My LFS has an orange shoulder that didn't get its adult colors until they had had it for a couple years and it was quite large. Like yours it's always been very robust and has looked great for all the time I've seen it, but it took a long time for it to change. I think it's just something that varies with this fish. Your tang should change eventually.

[zemuron114]

VERY unusual... i have some 2" orange shoulders fully adult. I have never seen a yellow one over 2". Makes you wonder if nature forces them to change at a young age.

[baldwinaquaman]

triple post somehow?

[baldwinaquaman]

double post sorry

[baldwinaquaman]

Yes I thought so, I don't mind it really I liek the yellow coloration, but I was reading about them, and the book said they change around 3-4" and I found that strange.

[anbosu]

When did you get the new tank? Looks like nice dimensions.

[Creetin]

Mine was 9 inches and still didnt change to grey. I got it when it was mot much bigger than a half dollar.
Sadly it was caught by my carpet in a holding tank while i did a tank switch.

[roktsintst]

I also have a Beautiful healthy fat orange shoulder that is ~6" that is still all yellow! I too like the yellow coloration better, but am also curious what makes it change into it's adult colors. Maybe it has something to do w/ dominance or a self defense mechanism...

[baldwinaquaman]

Good to hear guys, I don't really know, diet may also be a factor.

[tcmfish]

It definitely at least IME seems that those grown in captivity change WAY later.

[gman107]

can you post a picture of your fish ????????????

[baldwinaquaman]

I actually have some pictures which are a month or two old from my old tank in the appalachian reef society forum. Theres is a thread there dedicated to just tank pictures and videos. You can check it out there, I also am currently taking pictures of the 380 build progression, and I am going to start a thread in the large tank forum you should check out.

[jpsk8man]

i do maintenance on a tank and theirs is still yellow too, all 6+ inches of him.

[suta4242]

VERY unusual... i have some 2" orange shoulders fully adult. I have never seen a yellow one over 2". Makes you wonder if nature forces them to change at a young age.

Most of the ones we see at 4" are still yellow. Must admit I know of a couple of big ones that still haven't changed. A lot more interesting is when they come in wearing adult colours and change back to juvie not long after.

[Aquashine]

I keep loosing orange shoulders. I have never had one longer then 2weeks and I dont know why???

[colgan10]

here is a group of three a foot plus and i saw many in the wild that were still yellow at large sizes in hawaii

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n215/colgan10/IMG_4492.jpg

[Creetin]

Very nice pic!!! Love the black male orange shoulder there!!

[Creetin]

I keep loosing orange shoulders. I have never had one longer then 2weeks and I dont know why???

Need a little info but i suspect it has to do with water quality or disease.
They are pretty easy to care for.

[skibum9884]

Wow, that black one is incredible. Does anyone have one like this in captivity, or only in the wild?

[Creetin]

I would bet its a mating color. Leads me to believe its a male because the streamers.

[Beaun]

The one behind it has streamers as well. I thought it might be black because of the cleaner wrasse nearby.

[Creetin]

The one behind it has streamers as well. I thought it might be black because of the cleaner wrasse nearby.

Not like the black one. Zoom in on the pic.
My orange shoulder never gotten the streamers. RIP.
I am holding off for a new one till i upgrade again in a couple years.

[tcmfish]

It could very well be male, but I doubt the streamers or color have anything to do with it. I think the cleaner wrasse near by is a better guess to the dark color and that color is probably only temporary or it could be a change in color based on mood or aggression.

Males are probably larger and therefore have larger streamers, I don't think these are like naso's where males have streamers and females don't.

[Aquashine]

I dont know why my water seems to be fine he is in with a purple a blue hippo, flame angel and a couple of little blennies and gobies.

[Aquashine]

Need a little info but i suspect it has to do with water quality or disease.
They are pretty easy to care for.
They get really skinny and die within a 2 week period

[Creetin]

They get really skinny and die within a 2 week period

Sounds like internal paracites. Next one i would QT and treat with prazi and then feed seachems metro with focus in the foods.