Do juvenile tangs grow "scalpels"?

[fragit]

I have a juvenile Kole Tang, that I'm pretty sure did not yet have its scalpels. You know the defensive bony growths on both lateral aspects of the tail just before the tail fin. Any way I noticed yesterday that he has these two bony areas that seem to be erupting on either side right where those are supposed to be. The fish is very healthy not known parasites and eats like a pig. I fact that is her name Miss Piggy. So my question is do all surgeon have these "scalpels", and do they develop with age. Thanks for your input.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have a juvenile Kole Tang, that I'm pretty sure did not yet have its scalpels. You know the defensive bony growths on both lateral aspects of the tail just before the tail fin. Any way I noticed yesterday that he has these two bony areas that seem to be erupting on either side right where those are supposed to be. The fish is very healthy not known parasites and eats like a pig. I fact that is her name Miss Piggy. So my question is do all surgeon have these "scalpels", and do they develop with age. Thanks for your input.

They have spines but bristleooth tangs have smaller scalpels to begin with. But they have them already.

 

[fragit]

They have spines but bristleooth tangs have smaller scalpels to begin with. But they have them already.

Thanks for the reply @4FordFamily. They seem to have grown dramatically over the last 4 days. And they do look like little spines.

 

[eatbreakfast]

They are born with them. Some species can retract them to a degree.