Any Experience with White Cheeked Tang (A. japonicus)?

[Modo]

I've read as much as I can find on the Acanthurus japonicus (White Cheeked/ White Faced / Sometimes Powder Brown Tang). This sounds like a hardy species that isn't the normal Yellow or Hippo.

If someone has one of these and can give any details I would love to hear about it. Even better yet, pictures would be awesome! I'm also looking for any more data on them in the form of links, books, articles, etc...

This isn't your normal Powder Brown (Acanthurus nigricans) but the very similiar looking A. japonicus that is sometimes sold as any of the above names. Robert Fenner as well as Scott Micheals recommend this Tang vs. the normally sold Powder Brown and IMO the better looking of the two.

Thanks for any info or help!

 

[teevee]

I do believe you have it backwards, although I could be wrong. A. japonicus is the powder brown tang, A. nigricans is the white-cheek tang. I know Fenner refers to them as such (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm). Could you check Michaels' and let me know what he has?

 

[dougc]

I had an A. Japonicus for about 5 years. It took almost a month to start eating, but was the king of the tank after that. It was the most aggressive tang I ever had, although I have never kept some of the more notorious bullies, such as sohal or clown tangs. Aggression might be less of a problem in a larger tank. Mine lived in a 55 gallon tank, back when I though that was a humongous tank.

 

[Modo]

Teevee I think you might have confused yourself. But, I believe the common name is interchangable for both. Like Fenner states, a good argument against the use of common names in the industry.

From that same article:

Acanthurus (glaucopareius) nigricans (Linnaeus 1958), the Powder Brown or Gold-Rimmed Surgeon. The corrected scientific name of this species is A. nigricans (per Randall, 1988); a revision no doubt as unpopular to some as my labeling the species as "bad". The very similar A. japonicus is a far better aquarium fish; A. nigricans rarely lives for more than a few months in captivity.

Acanthurus japonicus (Fowler 1946), the White-Faced Surgeonfish; also sold as a/the Gold-Rimmed or Powder-Brown Surgeon, confusing it with A. glaucopareius (nigricans) (see below). A. japonicus has a much larger white eye patch. Ranges from the Philippines to Japan and is relatively hardy.

 

[Modo]

I had an A. Japonicus for about 5 years.

Dougc, what size was the fish when you introduced it and how large was it after 5 years? I've seen variations on full size. But, this could be the difference between true wild measurements and captive raised fish. /shrug

 

[teevee]

Going off http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm as well as what you've quoted from Michaels, I hold that my initial belief is correct. And from http://www.fishbase.org:

A. japonicus:

A. nigricans:

A. japonicus having a larger white patch under the eye, and often in captivity being a lighter shade of brown, from what I have seen - almost a brown version of A. leucosternon. A. nigricans also lacks the orange area on the dorsal fin.

I certainly agree that the confusing use of common names is an obstacle to proper identification. I believe the key here is the size of the white area under the eye. I must note that I was under the impression that A. japonicus was more difficult to keep than A. nigricans, but I certainly won't dispute Michaels' opinion.

Regardless, you are obviously interested in what I am calling A. nigricans, having the smaller white patch and lacking the orange area. I do agree that this is a more attractive fish than A. japonicus.

Edit - I've just reread your post and I think we were both referring to the same animal, but as you noted, using different common names. To me, A. japonicus is the powder brown, A. nigricans the white cheek or gold rim. Anyways I'll stop now because this is becoming superfluous.

 

[dougc]

My A. Japonicus was probably about 4" when I got him and only grew to about 5" in the time I had him. I'm sure that I would see more growth if I kept one now. Remember, I had this fish in a 55 gallon tank with an undergravel filter. No live rock, skimmer, nori, or any of the other innovations that make today's marine tanks so successful.