Black Hippo Tang ??

[Krzykat]

I've had this little guy for a bit now, and I just thought it was because he was juvenile, but ... seems this is his permanent colors.
Is he a "Black Hippo Tang" or what is he?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

That is cool. Got any more pics of the whole body?

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Yep, normal. They aren't very common, but every now and then you see a hippo with extra black. Yours has some really exceptional color, though. I can only find a single specimen like it on google, and it had it's own ReefBuilders article. It will be a nice show specimen when it grows.

 

[14 foot reef]

I have one that was that color, even fuller Black, then reverted to normal hippo blue color. Not sure how are why. He was Blue, turned Black, then about a year later went back to blue. Very odd, never knew why.

 

[Krzykat]

He's shy, but let me get some good photos of him. Yes, he's like completely black with that very uniform blue on him.

 

[Krzykat]

This is a better shot.

 

[Krzykat]

I can get some better pics tonight when I'm not competing with sunlight reflections.

 

[KrisReef]

mine is 1/2 black- sorry for the sketchy picture IPhone

 

[OrionN]

@Krzykat
Any update on this unsual tang?

 

[KrisReef]

Crappie phone pic of mine from the top. The LED daylight colors are true to what I see. Their tank has algae obscured sides, they feel happier when they can hide (@Paul B ) but I may do a spring cleaning to get better side images next week or 2026?

Mine has a lot more blue then the OP’s tang, mine is more 1/2 blue.

 

[albano]

I have 2, each turned black months ago, in 2 different unconnected systems.
I did post 2 different threads about it months ago, but not much response.

 

[Tamberav]

This is a better shot.

ooo any update?

 

[BryanM]

This is a better shot.

Want! That's nifty.

 

[KrisReef]

Want! That's nifty.

I got it from a friend at a LFS who didn't care that it was one of a kind. I don't think it has changed much over time, but looking at other black.blue tang threads I need to keep a closer eye to see if it changes much as it grows.

I have had it 4 years (or more?) and it seems more electric blue on the top (as seen in the pics) then I recall when I brought it home, but I didn't have The Blade blasting it with photons when I first brought it home. I was also a little sick looking with sketchy skin blotches in the store, so I got it for a regular price even though it was not a standard pattern morph.

I think it might have valuable genetic potential for a breeder who wanted to try selective breeding to make designer Dory's, but so far I have just been enjoying it selfishly as an unusual fish. It's also has been slow growing over the time I have had it, I had a tiny tang grow to this size in a year, this one is fat but not lengthing very quickly.

 

[14 foot reef]

I posted my findings back in 2021 that aggressive activated carbon was the leading suspect..

Do you run an aggressive carbon ? And did this coincide with the blackening of the Paracanthurus hepatus
( Pacific Blue tang ) ?

 

[KrisReef]

I posted my findings back in 2021 that aggressive activated carbon was the leading suspect..

Do you run an aggressive carbon ? And did this coincide with the blackening of the Paracanthurus hepatus
( Pacific Blue tang ) ?

No activated carbon in my system or in the LFS where I got the fish. I believe my fish is a genetic coloration expression and not a reaction to anything in the environment?