Several weeks ago we were reported on a mysterious ‘Zebra Tang’ hybrid that came out of Mr Su farm.
News from the Mysterious Zebra Tang:
Last weekend we returned to Bali Aquarich to check on this fish again, and we have to say it’s still stunning but are even more confused on a tentative ID for this specimen. We still think it’s an accidental hybrid cross of Z. scopas x Z. xanthurum, which would explain the vertical lines of juvenile Scopas tang and the yellow tail of Z. xanthurum. But this explanation doesn’t exactly fit what we’re currently seeing in the yellow dorsal and anal fin, although some Yellow Scopas tangs are occasionally found in the wild.
Compared to one month ago, a lot of the original blue/purple coloration disappeared, to leave a more dominant yellow coloration bringing even more confusion into the identification process. Could this fish have some yellow tang genetics in it? It’s possible as the spawning pool contains some Zebrasoma flavescens. This fish currently still holds a juvenile coloration, and we hope that when the mature colors develop, it will make identification of its pedigree somewhat easier.
At the moment, Mr Su doesn’t want to sell it, as he can’t be 100% sure of what it exactly is, but maybe when the process is over, he will change is mind.
African Angel is also coming up from this part of the world:
A few days after ORA announced producing some African Flame-back angelfish, Mr Su also succeeded in raising the same species.
It’s an interesting coincidence that the same species spawn about the same time, in two opposite parts of the world. We saw also some cute Centropyge joculator together with the Flame-Back.
Finally at Bali Aquarich we also spotted a lonely Paracanthurus hepatus that was raised with some Purple tangs. As the Purple tangs are quite aggressive, this cute blue tang is holding on before colouring up, and we can see the last larval stage, with the characteristic black marking on the tail.
