Powder Brown Tang...shy?

[ReefHawk]

I recently purchased a PBTang. He is so timid! I needed a tang to trim some marco that is getting a little too large. I used to have a Yellow Tang that kept it down to nothing and removed him to let it grow a bit.

The PBT is so shy he has never come into the open tank area. Is this the nature of the PBT? I had a PBlueTang taht was not this way. In fact I have never seen a tang be so shy. I've had him now for two weeks and I thought he would be ok by now.

Your experience?

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<A HREF="http://www.csranet.com/~andys/reef/reef.html" TARGET=_blank>
My 40 gal Reef Tank</A>

[Ninong]

Hi ReefHawk ~

When you say Powder Brown Tang, do you mean Acanthurus nigricans or A. japonicus?

In any case, here is a link to a lot of information on either species: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[clown-t]

sounds like a cool fish. i have a purple tang that was very shy at first and still is a little shy but when i added my clown tang it got him moving around more. it took a month or two for him to loosen up but he will

[Neal359]

i have a powder brow the one that has more white on the side of his face. and he is not shy at all he is KING of the tank

[This message has been edited by Neal359 (edited 05-05-2001).]

[kholladay]

I have a Powder Brown "Acanthurus japonicus" and he is quite timid. He seems to run the tank when I am not around but the second he sees me he jets in to his little cave and does his very best to hide completely.

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Kyle Holladay
My Fish Site

[G]

I have made the same observations as of Kyle. They are dominant among fish but rather timid when people are present. Based on my past experiences this seems to be the case of Acanthurus in general....Gary

[FishHead]

Hmm. I had a A. Japonicus for a long time and he was not shy at all... always cruising the "strip" along the front of the 125g tank...

[img]/ubb/fish.gif[/img]

[G]

There's always exceptions to the rules Fishead[img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Especially when it comes to reef fish compatibility...Gary

[ReefHawk]

He's getting better, but seems to run when he sees people like Kyle and Gary's. I did manage to get this pic....finally!

Thats a reflection in the side of the glass...just one fish :-)



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<A HREF="http://www.csranet.com/~andys/reef/reef.html" TARGET=_blank>
My 40 gal Reef Tank</A>

[Ninong]

OK, that is definitely A. japonicus, which is more hardy than A. nigricans in captivity.

Fenner: "Acanthurus japonicus (Fowler 1946), the White-Faced Surgeonfish; also sold as a/the Gold-Rimmed or Powder-Brown Surgeon, confusing it with A. nigricans (see below). A. japonicus has a much larger white eye patch. Ranges from the Philippines to Japan and is relatively hardy."

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]


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Irrational Exuberance!

[chromis]

kinda off subject but has anyone seen one of the mix breed tangs between a powder blue and a a. japonicus? I know the marine center has them from time to time and they're supposed to be hardy.
Andrew

[Bughead]

OOOOOH, I bet a powder blue and powder brown would make some beautiful offspring. But this is the sort of thing that could only be done by artificial hybridizing, probably in a test tube. Raising the fry to viable size would probably be the most difficult. Creating these hybrid fish for the aquarium trade would be nice. So far I don't think there's been much success in raising captive bred tangs, but I'd imagine it's being worked on.

P.S. My powder blue has always been friendly, and actually parades and shows off when my husband or I get close to the tank. But Tangy doesn't like my son. As soon as Colin gets close to the tank, Tangy flares and dashes behind a rock. He shows off for visitors usually, but he just doesn't like Colin, who is going to take care of him for a week, so we'll see if he changes his mind.

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If it's broke, don't fix it---hide it.

[This message has been edited by Bughead (edited 05-07-2001).]

[Neal359]

my powder bron will eat out of my hand i get a pinch of flake food and he will eat it right out of my hand

[chromis]

Actually this is a naturally occuring fish in the wild. Another common hybrid is a. achilles and a true powder brown.