Id this tang?

aquaknight

Active Member
What do I think the picture is? Naso brevirostris. I think a Unicornis would have some blue spots on the scapels.
Brevirostris


Unicornis


However, if you were actually purchase the fish SWF is selling, I bet you end up with a Unicornis. I've never seen a small Brevirostris for sell, and only a large one once. I've seen a few Unicornis, varying in size.
 

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3194611
What do I think the picture is? Naso brevirostris
. I think a Unicornis would have some blue spots on the scapels.
However, if you were actually purchase the fish SWF is selling, I bet you end up with a Unicornis. I've never seen a small Brevirostris for sell, and only a large one once. I've seen a few Unicornis, varying in size.
You're probably right Shawn, don't know that I've ever seen a juvi.
There is a 2 inch N. Brevirostris in stock at BZ, he almost always has them. Guarantee it would be Brevirostris too because he has both listed, and both listed in stock, and Brevirostris is about twice the price. Not the prettiest fish as an adult, but certainly less common.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Well the lack of any visible spots on the SWF pic, eliminates like half of the Naso species, Vlaminigii, Lopezi, etc. I spent about 15mins searching. The catch is that the SWF pic, it has a blue'ish tint to the tail. I did not find a juvi Brevirostris pic where there was some blue in the caudal. Perhaps it could be just SWF's pic, and their lights or whatever affecting the pic. However on the flip side, I did not find a Unicornis that didn't have the blue spots on the scalpel or scalpels that weren't visible/developed yet.
I think I still stand behind what I said, and chances are that you could receive one of 4 or so different types of Naso under "Blue Hawaiian Tang".
On BZ, well not that I'm implying anything, but per reviews on R¢ about BZ, generally the fish are a bit larger then the listed size. Either way, even if he's 3.5" that's still a juvi which is pretty cool. Not idea they had so many tangs. Gotta swing by more often. The one Brevirostris I did get to see in person was at a LFS in Orlando, it was a large easily 15" adult. They get nice fish from time to time, Blueline Angels, Golden eels, etc. He was over $150.
I got to see a shoal of Unicornis at Georgia Aquarium. Think there's a pic in my GA thread down in aquarium.. Anyway it might have jumped up to my favorite Naso species. They were pretty gorgeous in person, in a nice subtle way. A cross between a Naso and a Dussumier if you will. All the pics I've seen online serve them no justice.
 

aquashelle

Member
Thanks for the help guys!
I'd be really interested in purchasing one just to see..
Do you think one would be alright in a 155 for a little while?
 

aquashelle

Member
At this point, I believe it's a unicorn. Judging by these pics I found:
http://www.***********.com/images/categories/product/p-89373-tang.jpg
The color seems right, along with the striping in the fins. This was labeled "Blue uncorn tang" Though I'm wondering about the color change, since the juvi pic on here is already the adult colors..

This one looks similar as well, and both don't show the spotting around the tail..
Hmm..
Also, the shape of the mouth seems right, as well as the head shape.
 

carolinaboy

Member
I had one of these tangs in my 90 gallon. Seemed to be a very hardy fish never had any problems with it. I traded mine to the LFS for a blue tang.
 

hobrien

Member
I am thinking of it being the Thompson's Tang (Acanthurus thompsoni).
Acanthurus thompsoni (Fowler 1923), the White-Tailed Surgeonfish, a good name for this species except for its populations in Hawaii which bear no white on their tail areas. Another name for this planktivore is Thompson’s Surgeonfish. Though not a striking beauty, this Whitetail tang is a good feeder and stays moderate small (to ten inches). Rarely imported into the trade.
 
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