Name that Tang?

[rjyj]

I recently adopted a tang from my brother who got it from a friend but neither of us can figure out what it is. I took it and put it in my tank, 75gal because his is only a 30gal and I will be looking to upgrade later when it gets bigger. It is a light greyish purple with pink/orange on its fins. It has orange spots on its face and blue around the eyes and a blue/black spot by the tail. It has a Ushape/pitch fork shaped tail. I tried taking a pic but it moves to fast for my cameraphone. But here goes.

Thanks for help.

 

[rcdude1990]

loooks like a blonde naso tang to me

 

[nicetry]

Looks like a Tomini. One of the bristle tooth tangs. Nice fish.

 

[dogstar]

I agree. Its a Tomini surgeonfish. Ctenochaetus tominiensis

 

[surfinusa]

maybe a lavender tang

 

[katieb]

Def a type of naso tang, they are so fun, mine eats right from our hands!

 

[fishfanny79]

No offense, but it is definitely NOT a naso...not even close. It's related to Tangs like the Kole Tang and Chevron Tang. It is in the family Ctenochaetus which are the Bristletooths (Dogstar hit the nail on the head) not the Naso which is much bigger (family Unicornfish).

 

[pokey]

Another vote for the Tomini, not a Naso.

 

[lion_crazz]

Yep, definitely a tomini, and not a naso.

 

[mr. limpid]

Def. a tomini a LFS has them in his DT very expensive tang and a good grazer will keep your alge groth down. Nice pick up you'll love this fish great personality.

 

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by katieb
Def a type of naso tang,
All Naso species have at least two spikes on each side and that one clearly, only has one, so......

 

[nereef]

are you folks sure it's not Acanthurus nigrofuscus? i've seen a couple of these through the store lately, usually sold as an assorted hawaiin tang.

 

[rara12]

NEreef is def right. The body type doesnt look like a tomini tang.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by NEreef
are you folks sure it's not Acanthurus nigrofuscus? i've seen a couple of these through the store lately, usually sold as an assorted hawaiin tang.
Ahh... taxonomy. The bane of Biology majors everywhere.
I think some folks here are getting caught up in the colors of the fish. Look instead at build, fins, spines, etc. If you look at the mouth of the first picture you can see it appears different than the posted pic above.

 

[sharkboy13]

Originally Posted by rara12
NEreef is def right. The body type doesnt look like a tomini tang.
thats what i thot, too ablong, bristletooth tangs have shorter stockier bodies

 

[nereef]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Ahh... taxonomy. The bane of Biology majors everywhere.
I think some folks here are getting caught up in the colors of the fish. Look instead at build, fins, spines, etc. If you look at the mouth of the first picture you can see it appears different than the posted pic above.
as for build, spines, etc differences, i can't tell from the pic. the mouth does appear to protrude like a Ctenochaetus sp., but so does A. nigrofuscus in this pic.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by NEreef
as for build, spines, etc differences, i can't tell from the pic. the mouth does appear to protrude like a Ctenochaetus sp., but so does A. nigrofuscus in this pic.
Ya, you are correct. I think we need a much better original pic to ID it for sure.

 

[nereef]

yep, let's see another pic. i'm pretty curious now.

 

[anubisxero]

it's definitely not a tomini tang. body shape is all wrong.

 

[stanlalee]

with the fins relaxed I have no clue how one can say definitively the body shape is all wrong for a Tomini (with the fins erect you would definately be able to tell). I mean it looks a little off but the protruding mouth and color definately favor it. It it hadn't been for NEreefs pics and subsequent examination of the spines this would probably be a long debate but the pic pretty much solved it.
I looked it up in Surgeonfishes Rabbitfishes and their Relatives which is a pretty good book for Tang identification. Neither of those pics show it but the fish should have obvious orange spots on the face and the dark spot at the dorsal/anal fin that can be seen are identifying features. As a juvi instead of orange spots it has markings simular to a juvi chevron tang. Book calls its common name Dusky surgeonfish. grows to 8 inches
On a side note dont know why your store has the labelled as assorted hawiian, the book says they are indo pacific (then again for all I know that could include hawaii

)
edit: here you can see the orange spots on the head which in combination with the dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin is a dead give away