Red Sea Sailfin Tang Color

[Falco]

My Red Sea Sailfin tang has been in my 135g mixed reef for about 2 weeks and in QT for 5 weeks before that and seems to be doing great. However the color of the tang always changes and can range from a dark brownish to a very pale white (with yellow markings). Is this normal? Most of the time he is on the pale side but he does change to darker as he is swimming around.

The tang eats everything I put in the tank and is getting fatter by the day (he was a little thin when I picked him up).

For those that have these guys any input would be great!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[jhale]

tangs will change color depending on their mood, and the light available.

for instance when I put my sailfin in the tank, he turned pale, while the scopas tang who was not happy with the new tang in the tank turned black and his normally pale fins turned yellow! once everyone got used to eachother the tangs went back to their normal colors.

 

[House of Laughter]

the sailfin can change to almost completely black - I have seen that too.

Love this fish.

House

 

[Falco]

thanks guys:flower:

I was getting worried that something was wrong and that he was sick. The only other tang that I had was a Kole and it stayed rather dark most of the time just up until it died and it was very pale.

I will be sure to keep an eye on him and I will try to take some pics of the various colors when I get a chance.

-Chris

 

[alrha]

mine does it as well.
they will also change colors when being cleaned so that parasites, etc, can be more visible.