Help, What am I?! Vlamingi tang or Lopezi tang? Picts of me included...

doin' fin · 09/03/2006, 07:02 PM

Mom and Dad bought me at the LFS. They were told I was a "unicorn" tang and would be about 12 inches big. Trying to raise me and make sure my diet was as close to the real thing as possible, they begain to try and id me. They have narrowed it down to the Vlamingi or Lopezi. Please help them in determining which of these I am...

Thanks!

Fishfreak218 · 09/03/2006, 07:33 PM

looks like a Vlamingi tang to me.. they get HUGE... around 24"

wigo · 09/03/2006, 08:08 PM

I am the husband/dad in this situation and I love the fish. All the more reason to build the 450gal tank :-)

NaClH20NMYVEIN · 09/03/2006, 09:05 PM

I second the vlamangi!

garvin90 · 09/03/2006, 09:10 PM

The lfs employee thirds it. I love those little guys, such interesting personality. Ours at the store practically begs to be fed when you walk by.

r00onmac · 09/03/2006, 10:12 PM

i also say vlaming and i have seen one of these that is RIDICULOUSLY huge in a LFS display tank here in miami... at least one foot six inches....

reefinmike · 09/04/2006, 12:18 AM

a lfs employee fifths it

doin' fin · 09/04/2006, 08:57 AM

Thanks everyone! I guess that settles it, Vlamingi he/she is! We had been talking about getting a larger tank, I guess this just necessitates it. Any ideas on the growth rate? Obviouslyl the 90 isn't going to work for him - so how long do I have?

He does have a great personality. If you are at the tank, you cannot look in without he being right in front of you- all the time. Forget getting a pict of anything without him being in it! My husband was handfeeding him the day we got him in the tank. We have a 15 mo old (as you could tell by the fingerprints on the tank) and a 5 yr. old. The tang loves having them watch him. Not scared a bit and never hides.

Amphiprion · 09/04/2006, 11:27 AM

Naso vlamingii. The main reason is that this individual is developing a nuchal protuberance (hump) on the end of the head. Naso lopezi does not have this appendage and tends to elongate quite noticeably as it gets older. Think of it this way--you will know after you've had it a while. Also, N. lopezi is much more uncommon in the trade.

doin' fin · 09/04/2006, 12:19 PM

Thanks Amphiprion for the info!
How long would you say I have before he runs out of room in my 90? (We are planning on upgrading but need to establish a time line and make plans). It feels like now I can see him growing!

snorvich · 09/04/2006, 03:39 PM

Naso vlamingii. Tangs eat well (be sure and have greens) and process it quickly (be sure you have a good skimmer). You are basically out of room now but you probably have a year before the fish will get stressed out. Remember, it is not gallonage that is the primary issue, it is tank length. Minimum of six feet, preferably eight feet or more feed laterally.

snorvich · 09/04/2006, 03:41 PM

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that they change their color depending on their mood. Fun to see.

boostd2valve · 09/04/2006, 04:13 PM

hes a cool looking guy!

thor32766 · 09/04/2006, 04:20 PM

beautiful fish good luck val's are great fish.

Amphiprion · 09/04/2006, 04:26 PM

It is very important to provide meaty planktonic foods, as well as algae, for this species. They are more like Paracanthurus hepatus in this regard.

84scrambler · 09/04/2006, 06:05 PM

I have had mine for about a year now.. Its main diet consists of formula 1 and formula 2 along with occasional sheets of algae. Just make sure you get a strong clip when they get big they like to take rip the clip off. Since I have had it I would say that it has grown about an inch. Its a gorgeous fish and the center piece of my tank.

doin' fin · 09/04/2006, 07:48 PM

I have noticed him change color- olive green almost with lateral stirpes. The first time he did totally freaked us out but now we think it is neat. We weren't sure why he does it or what prompts it. Figured it was when he gets upset maybe?

Our 90 is 4ft long so we will begin making plans asap. This big guy is a pet already- can't imagine getting rid of him.

He has quite the appitite- but he doesn't care for the red alge sheets at all, went to green and he will eat it a little. He won't eat it off of a clip though. (Ours looks like nemo so maybe that is the problem.) If you hold it for him or shred it when it goes into the tank he will munch on it. He LOVES to eat the frozen Formula One and Two. Also gets a little of the Formula two pellet and the Prime Reef flakes. We have a skimmer and it does get a work out! He has three tank mates- a PJ cardinal that he pushes around a little, a lawnmower Blenny and a Skunk Cleaner whom he adores (over that way just a bit... right there!)

He loves getting attention. Who says fish aren't smart?!

09/03/2006, 07:02 PM	#1
doin' fin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 141	Help, What am I?! Vlamingi tang or Lopezi tang? Picts of me included... Mom and Dad bought me at the LFS. They were told I was a "unicorn" tang and would be about 12 inches big. Trying to raise me and make sure my diet was as close to the real thing as possible, they begain to try and id me. They have narrowed it down to the Vlamingi or Lopezi. Please help them in determining which of these I am... Thanks!

09/03/2006, 07:33 PM	#2
Fishfreak218 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Palm Beach Florida Posts: 1,412	looks like a Vlamingi tang to me.. they get HUGE... around 24" __________________ -30g. Oceanic Cube Cuttlefish Reef -90g. Mixed Reef -14g Biocube FW planted tank -10g. frag tank (soon) Current Tank Info: 90g. Reef, 30g. Cube cuttlefish reef

09/03/2006, 09:05 PM	#4
NaClH20NMYVEIN Red Dragons! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,897	I second the vlamangi! __________________ The planet needs a 50% water change. Current Tank Info: Pacific Ocean

09/03/2006, 09:10 PM	#5
garvin90 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: blair, Nebraska Posts: 485	The lfs employee thirds it. I love those little guys, such interesting personality. Ours at the store practically begs to be fed when you walk by. __________________ I do not scare easily however I will not be be back, nor with greater numbers. Current Tank Info: 50g salt, 5.5g fresh

09/03/2006, 10:12 PM	#6
r00onmac DVM in training Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,161	i also say vlaming and i have seen one of these that is RIDICULOUSLY huge in a LFS display tank here in miami... at least one foot six inches.... __________________ Matthew Current Tank Info: 55 display with 20L sump

09/03/2006, 08:08 PM	#3
wigo Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 223	I am the husband/dad in this situation and I love the fish. All the more reason to build the 450gal tank :-)

09/04/2006, 12:18 AM	#7
reefinmike Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ohio Posts: 846	a lfs employee fifths it __________________ 90g reef lit by 2 kessil 360's and 4 T5's. 55g sump/fuge, eshopps s-200 skimmer and slowly working on getting every apex gadget

09/04/2006, 08:57 AM	#8
doin' fin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 141	Thanks everyone! I guess that settles it, Vlamingi he/she is! We had been talking about getting a larger tank, I guess this just necessitates it. Any ideas on the growth rate? Obviouslyl the 90 isn't going to work for him - so how long do I have? He does have a great personality. If you are at the tank, you cannot look in without he being right in front of you- all the time. Forget getting a pict of anything without him being in it! My husband was handfeeding him the day we got him in the tank. We have a 15 mo old (as you could tell by the fingerprints on the tank) and a 5 yr. old. The tang loves having them watch him. Not scared a bit and never hides.

09/04/2006, 11:27 AM	#9
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Naso vlamingii. The main reason is that this individual is developing a nuchal protuberance (hump) on the end of the head. Naso lopezi does not have this appendage and tends to elongate quite noticeably as it gets older. Think of it this way--you will know after you've had it a while. Also, N. lopezi is much more uncommon in the trade. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

09/04/2006, 12:19 PM	#10
doin' fin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 141	Thanks Amphiprion for the info! How long would you say I have before he runs out of room in my 90? (We are planning on upgrading but need to establish a time line and make plans). It feels like now I can see him growing!

09/04/2006, 03:39 PM	#11
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Naso vlamingii. Tangs eat well (be sure and have greens) and process it quickly (be sure you have a good skimmer). You are basically out of room now but you probably have a year before the fish will get stressed out. Remember, it is not gallonage that is the primary issue, it is tank length. Minimum of six feet, preferably eight feet or more feed laterally. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

09/04/2006, 03:41 PM	#12
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that they change their color depending on their mood. Fun to see. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

09/04/2006, 04:13 PM	#13
boostd2valve Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 243	hes a cool looking guy!

09/04/2006, 04:20 PM	#14
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	beautiful fish good luck val's are great fish. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

09/04/2006, 04:26 PM	#15
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	It is very important to provide meaty planktonic foods, as well as algae, for this species. They are more like Paracanthurus hepatus in this regard. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

09/04/2006, 06:05 PM	#16
84scrambler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Livermore, Ca Posts: 70	I have had mine for about a year now.. Its main diet consists of formula 1 and formula 2 along with occasional sheets of algae. Just make sure you get a strong clip when they get big they like to take rip the clip off. Since I have had it I would say that it has grown about an inch. Its a gorgeous fish and the center piece of my tank.

09/04/2006, 07:48 PM	#17
doin' fin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 141	I have noticed him change color- olive green almost with lateral stirpes. The first time he did totally freaked us out but now we think it is neat. We weren't sure why he does it or what prompts it. Figured it was when he gets upset maybe? Our 90 is 4ft long so we will begin making plans asap. This big guy is a pet already- can't imagine getting rid of him. He has quite the appitite- but he doesn't care for the red alge sheets at all, went to green and he will eat it a little. He won't eat it off of a clip though. (Ours looks like nemo so maybe that is the problem.) If you hold it for him or shred it when it goes into the tank he will munch on it. He LOVES to eat the frozen Formula One and Two. Also gets a little of the Formula two pellet and the Prime Reef flakes. We have a skimmer and it does get a work out! He has three tank mates- a PJ cardinal that he pushes around a little, a lawnmower Blenny and a Skunk Cleaner whom he adores (over that way just a bit... right there!) He loves getting attention. Who says fish aren't smart?!