why do some yellow tangs have a...

[fishygurl]

hi i was just wondering why some yellow tangs that i see have a white line in their belly and others are pure yellow? I like the pure yellow ones but most that i see in pet stores have that white horizontal stripe in their stomach. are these just younger tangs? do they grow out of it, a change in diet make it go away? just wondering any input would be appreciated.

 

[fishygurl]

oops just noticed i posted in the wrong thread, it was supposed to be in the fish discussion...i dont know how to switch it, and i have to go

 

[jonthefishguy]

The white blotch comes out when they are startled or the lights have been off for some time. Its normal

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by FishyGurl
hi i was just wondering why some yellow tangs that i see have a white line in their belly and others are pure yellow? I like the pure yellow ones but most that i see in pet stores have that white horizontal stripe in their stomach. are these just younger tangs? do they grow out of it, a change in diet make it go away? just wondering any input would be appreciated.
That white line is bad news....can be poor nutrition, leading to head and lateral line disease. Or bad water perameters also leading to head and lateral line disease.
Do not buy one that already has this, it will often worsen, but some people have had good results with good water perameters, and proper nutrition. If the fish already has the line, I would stay clear of it. Why pay top dollar for a fish that is stressed to the max?

 

[anonome]

Can also mean the fish is stressed.....water perameters not up to par, or not eating the way it should be. A healthy yellow tang will get it when the lights first come one, but if you see the same fish at different times at the store it is extremely stressed out. This can lead to other diseases. Head and lateral line being the first one.

 

[jonthefishguy]

By the way if the line is LATERAL then dont buy the fish, but if it is a blotch in the middle of the body kind of horizontal, thats just something that their body does, it goes away as they calm down.