Yes, that is one of the websites I researched on. Everywhere still says "reef safe" though. Not noticeably going after the gorgonian so much anymore. Maybe just needs to acclimate a little. He is so beautiful and definitely is the japonicus (has the whole white face and the orange coloration). Really like him so hopefully he will work out! Thanks again for all of the GREAT advice and help!
Hey Louey- I'm stupid. Thats what I get for relying on my memory- Michaels book has the names right, just the descriptions of which one is easy/difficult backwards.
My point was regarding the common names. As I stated, proper names more precisely identify the fish. It is the common names that are more confusing because of interchangeable usage. Scott Michael's book has the proper names correctly assigned, but the common names reversed. If you read wetwebmedia carefully, they associate japonicus with white cheek. A. nigricans is the gold rim, by most sources.
True, but don't they seem wrong? Nigricans has a white-cheek, as opposed to a white face, and japonicus has the more prominent colorful rim. I'll stick with the latin too.
I used to call the nigricans "Powder black" tang, and the other "powder brown" considering that one is brown and the other is black
I like the nigricans more than the powder brown though.
Marco
I got an Acanthurus japonicus. I like his color much better than the A. nigricans. I find that my A. japonicus is a very easy fish to keep. I got a very thin sickly fish. After 3 months, he is a picture of health. I love him. His color rivals that of my Powder Blue tang. If you count the bans of colorS on the caudal fin and body jut in front of the tail, there are seven distinct bans of colors there. That is right, seven bans of color. His is just simply beautiful.
Minh Nguyen