Biota tang.. and more

[Reefer2.0]

Just wanted to share my Biota tang. Got him a few months ago and he’s been doing really good. I have heard that they aren’t as yellow but I feel mine has great color.
Also my hippo tang I got from petco about 10 years ago he was the size of a yellow tail damsel. He’s survived my tank crash and overall is very robust.
Any other Biota tangs out there please share!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Your yellow tang looks great!

 

[Andreas' Reef]

that's the most colourful one ive seen. They're usually tanslucent, even in early adulthood

 

[Reefer2.0]

that's the most colourful one ive seen. They're usually tanslucent, even in early adulthood

I have been holding off buying them because of that. Then walked into my LFS and my jaw dropped lol. They had like 10 of them all large and very yellow. I couldn’t say no even with the ridiculous $200 price tag

 

[Andreas' Reef]

I have been holding off buying them because of that. Then walked into my LFS and my jaw dropped lol. They had like 10 of them all large and very yellow. I couldn’t say no even with the ridiculous $200 price tag

interesting, the ones in the nearest store that stock them look like this for $300

 

[exnisstech]

interesting, the ones in the nearest store that stock them look like this for $300

They are padding the price by $100 They are $199 around here.
I bought my three directly from biota last March. Mine have colored up nicely. The larger one is wild caught for reference.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

They are padding the price by $100 They are $199 around here.
I bought my three directly from biota last March. Mine have colored up nicely. The larger one is wild caught for reference.

I live in canada, and our dollar is worth nothing, its really sad, the average Bangaii cardinal here is like 80 bucks

 

[ReefinIt]

I have been holding off buying them because of that. Then walked into my LFS and my jaw dropped lol. They had like 10 of them all large and very yellow. I couldn’t say no even with the ridiculous $200 price tag

go for it. There isn’t much of a color difference between wild caught and CB. My biota yellow started more translucent but within a couple months was deep yellow.

 

[jimfish98]

My experience with Biota....

LFS had the yellow tangs for $300 from them and I couldn't justify it. Went to Aquashella and Biota was there at their normal $165 price. It was thin like the stores, a bit more white than yellow. Folks at Biota assured me they would get more yellow as they grew. It has been just over a year, the tang has grown a lot, the yellow has come through and it catches my eye every time I see it. I would not hesitate buying from Biota again, or one of their products if the LFS near you has them at a reasonable price.

 

[areefer01]

You can buy them direct for 165 USD if that is an option. I understand not everyone can.

As far as the color goes most hobbyist (generalizing I know) forget the size they arrive and the natural change of color as the fish matures. Same is true how the fish behaves around the reef. They take time to mature and get their color.

For some reason there is a debate about captive bred vs wild and their impurities. Honestly the argument is just hobbyist arguing over spilled milk. Another way to look at it is like this. You are buying a fish that you know somewhat the age of. Let us say 6 months to a year (I don't know the actual shipping age). The Yellow Tang, if properly taken care of, can reach an age of 25 to 30 years. If not more. I would wager most hobbyist today that enter don't make it past year 3...

I think @exnisstech may have a display with both captive bred and wild in their display. If you check out their build thread they added a couple of photos which was very cool of them.

TL; DR - nice fish, price is subjective, properly taken care of can reach a old age. Hope your day is well.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I love Biota and everything they are doing and stand for. I hope all saltwater fish will be captive bred one day. I will support them anytime and anyway I can.

 

[ReefinIt]

You can buy them direct for 165 USD if that is an option. I understand not everyone can.

As far as the color goes most hobbyist (generalizing I know) forget the size they arrive and the natural change of color as the fish matures. Same is true how the fish behaves around the reef. They take time to mature and get their color.

For some reason there is a debate about captive bred vs wild and their impurities. Honestly the argument is just hobbyist arguing over spilled milk. Another way to look at it is like this. You are buying a fish that you know somewhat the age of. Let us say 6 months to a year (I don't know the actual shipping age). The Yellow Tang, if properly taken care of, can reach an age of 25 to 30 years. If not more. I would wager most hobbyist today that enter don't make it past year 3...

I think @exnisstech may have a display with both captive bred and wild in their display. If you check out their build thread they added a couple of photos which was very cool of them.

TL; DR - nice fish, price is subjective, properly taken care of can reach an old age. Hope your day is well.

The interesting thing is a wild individual the same size as one from biota are deep yellow. I do a lot of diving in Hawaii and it was one difference I noticed.

 

[ReefinIt]

I love Biota and everything they are doing and stand for. I hope all saltwater fish will be captive bred one day. I will support them anytime and anyway I can.

I lost a lot of respect for Biota when they started selling nano gobies in those mini 40oz tanks.

 

[areefer01]

The interesting thing is a wild individual the same size as one from biota are deep yellow. I do a lot of diving in Hawaii and it was one difference I noticed.

Difficult to say as we don't know the age. Not taking the easy answer out. I've done a fair share of diving there as well but one advantage is natural algae which some say helps color. While I do not have a Yellow Tang from Biota I do have several other fish including the Milletseed Butterfly. Coloration changed over time as it matured.

In any case always a contested topic. Hope your day is well.

 

[Reefer2.0]

interesting, the ones in the nearest store that stock them look like this for $300

Yesss exactly that’s what I’ve always seen too. Wow $300!? And I thought mine was a lot

 

[Reefer2.0]

My experience with Biota....

LFS had the yellow tangs for $300 from them and I couldn't justify it. Went to Aquashella and Biota was there at their normal $165 price. It was thin like the stores, a bit more white than yellow. Folks at Biota assured me they would get more yellow as they grew. It has been just over a year, the tang has grown a lot, the yellow has come through and it catches my eye every time I see it. I would not hesitate buying from Biota again, or one of their products if the LFS near you has them at a reasonable price.

Agreed!

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Yesss exactly that’s what I’ve always seen too. Wow $300!? And I thought mine was a lot

yes, theres little hope for the canadian dollar

 

[Reefer2.0]

People let’s not lose track lol. I wasn’t trying to start a debate just wanted to see more of others. Loving the feedback though. One major advantage to having a tank raised tang I guess is hardiness. Although i feel wild caught yellow tangs were always very hardy anyway. And not being scared of introducing “bugs”.

 

[Reefer2.0]

I love Biota and everything they are doing and stand for. I hope all saltwater fish will be captive bred one day. I will support them anytime and anyway I can.

When the reefs are all dead and our only options to obtain saltwater fish is Biota and similar maybe they will be appreciated. I know I’m being a pessimist but just going on facts:(. They have done such groundbreaking work I applaud them for sure

 

[unchainedcoot]

More Biota Yellows
Oct’24

Today