Reefwise: Tailless Yellow Tang

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Today, we thought we would share one of the unusual fish we received this week. This yellow tang is missing it's tail!

We are lead to believe this fish was born this way since the anal and dorsal fins wrap around the fish back of the fish and there is no sign of a caudal fin.

A fish with this kind of genetic abnormality is sure to become a conversation piece!

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Reminds me of the bandit an online vendor posted a few months back. Saw a video of it swimming and it did surprisingly well. Would be a cool score for sure.
 
ColaAddict said:
Somebody post a video of how this fish looks while swimming. Must suck to swim without a tail.
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When I watch my tangs they seem to use the fins on their sides the most and only use the tail when they really need to swim fast. Of course I probably can't see how they use their tail all the time, but those are just my observations.
 
Fish without a tail, is a boat without a rudder.. The fish has quite the disadvantage. Especially if it were to end up with aggressive tank mates. Between this, and the pied yellow tang, I'd say that the collection spot is driving up a weak gene pool. Although this is a visual abnormality, weak gene pools also spawn weak vision, immune systems and neurological disorders, among other things.
 
ADOGG80 said:
I would think a fish like this would be at a disadvantage. Jmo
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I have no doubt about that. I was just adding that I think the fish would do fine in our tanks and obviously has survived in the wild up to this point so it has overcome its lack of a tail.
 
We are going to take a video of this guy one of these days coming up.

He swims not much different than a normal tang. He is actually very quick.


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ADOGG80 said:
Yeah, but in a confined aquarium, I think it could be a different scenario.
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I could maybe see your point in a tank packed with aggressive fish, but in a tank mixed with a variety of fish I bet this tang is still a better swimmer then half of them.
 
Joe Lydon said:
Fish without a tail, is a boat without a rudder.. The fish has quite the disadvantage. Especially if it were to end up with aggressive tank mates. Between this, and the pied yellow tang, I'd say that the collection spot is driving up a weak gene pool. Although this is a visual abnormality, weak gene pools also spawn weak vision, immune systems and neurological disorders, among other things.
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I never saw this post. My only comment to that is how a row boat, canoe, or kayak works. Sure having a tail would help no doubt, but I still think it will do just fine in someones tank. The other points you bring up are probably valid points though and if the fish developed those issues would put it at a disadvantage.
 
And in regards to his swimming it may be a little different but he still is swimming strong and doesn't seem to have a problem to get around at all.
 
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