"Black" Paracanthurus hepatus   5/2/07
Dear Bob Fenner,
I am doing a research on Paracanthurus hepatus as an aquarist for my book. I have been following the aquarium forums for years and once in a blue moon I see people post photographs of P. hepatus with either totally black coloring or just half black (not the regular coloration). It has been told that these "black" hippo tangs are from Hawaii
<No Paracanthurus there>
but since hippo tangs do not live in Hawaii I believe they are from Japanese according to my research.
<Occasionally occur from S. Japan, and elsewhere...>
I wanted to hear your opinions about this rare colored tang. I am adding a photo I found from the Reef Central forum. There are a couple more from different people with even "totally" black Paracanthurus tangs.
Sincerely,
Selim Özadar
<Perhaps a bit of "genetic drift" here... Will this (at this time, these places...) prove to be of adaptive/survival value? Bob Fenner>

Re: "Black" Paracanthurus hepatus  - 05/02/07
So you say this is not a regional color morph but a genetic drift.
<This is only a guess... I don't think this is a matter of "disease" as in melanization associated with a tumour, nervous damage... I am surmising here that the dark coloration confers some sort of advantage... avoidance of predators?>
My guess
was more on the regional part but I think you are right.
Thanks
<These two ideas are not mutually exclusive... It stands to "reason" that such occurrence would be clustered geographically... An interesting hypothesis that I think you and I should do extensive "sampling" (dive traveling) to investigate, eh? BobF>

Regal Blue Tang with Red Dorsal Fin... ID.  - 08/05/06
I have been trying to figure out the deal with these Blue Tangs that have red on their dorsal and pectoral fins.
<Geographic variation w/in the species... some even "skip and bow" more in their behavior from different island groups...>
  I know that there are regular Blue Tangs and yellow-belly Blue Tangs that develop the yellow-bellies as they mature.
<Same species...>
  Is there a difference in species between all of these different types of blue tangs (Hippo Blue/Regal Tang, Yellow-belly Blue/Regal Tang and Blue/Regal Tang with the red fins)?
<Nope... though I will say the "colored ones" seem to be by and large far superior in terms of outright hardiness, adaptability to captive conditions, acceptance of non-wild foods>
  Are they all supposed to develop the red fins and only some do, or what?   
  Thanks,
  Krissi
<Mmm, once again a matter of where they come from... Like more (real) blondes in Scandinavian countries... Bob Fenner>

Re: Regal Blue Tang with Red Dorsal Fin   8/6/06
Thanks!  I have two more questions about this, though:  1)  Are the colored ones colorful from a juvenile state or do they develop color as they mature, and
<A bit of both. Are lighter colored in the lower flank and more colorful in the pectoral fins as juveniles... and become more so with age/growth>
2)  How can I get a colorful one?
<Look for, order from a dealer... from Christmas Island, Guam... sometimes Micronesian suppliers/origins>
Should I look for colorful adults or juveniles?
<See WWM re best size to start...>
Buy Tang from a certain region?  Are there stores or breeders that actually carry them?
   <Yes, seasonally. Quality Marine (who sells to a few outfits) has these quite often. Do generally sell at a premium to other sources... but worth it>
  Thanks again!  You guys have saved my tush more than once!
   Krissi
<Perhaps a re-read through WWM re Paracanthurus... Bob Fenner>