yellow belly hippo vs regular blue hippo

[icemountain]

Is there a difference that we can tell between these while they are a smaller size, around 2-3"? If there isn't, how do you know that you bought a yellow belly hippo besides waiting until it matures/gets bigger and see if it develops the yellow belly?

 

[evolved]

Per Live Aquaria:

Small Yellow Belly Regal Blue Tangs will not exhibit the yellow belly coloration until they mature.

Unfortunately you can't until they're big enough.

 

[icemountain]

I read that too but was curious about the smaller sizes. How do they know they are collecting yellow belly blue hippos when they are smaller if you can't tell until they mature?

 

[evolved]

They're a regional variant, so long as the area of collection is known and they keep things straight, a wholeseller knows which is which.

 

[buddythelion]

I bought my yellow bellies as dime sized. Was a bit skeptical at first but a year later they are monsters and very yellow on the belly! Like evolved mentioned, it's a regional thing. I believe it's the african one you want.

 

[icemountain]

I ordered the African one from LA. I was skeptical when I got it in recently and called them too about it but now I feel better lol.

Buddy, at what size did you start noticing the yellow belly develop? any pics of your monsters? lol

 

[buddythelion]

It was at least 3" when they started getting yellow in. Blue tangs grow up sooooo fast. Naw, I usually don't take pics of the mostly fish only tank. I'm terrible at taking pictures of fish. They move far too quickly for me.

Started off life like this:

Then this:

And now something like this:

 

[icemountain]

hahahaha i love the "progression" pictures of it.

 

[icemountain]

Here is a picture of mine I just got. What do you think?

 

[bct15]

Mine looked regular when i got it, it has yellow coming in now. It's about four inches or so, maybe a little bigger maybe a little smaller. It was literally the size of a nickle when I got it.

 

[Genesis Corals]

That definitely has more yellow then my normal blue hippo.

 

[revhtree]

Beautiful tang!

 

[dgiglio3087]

20130611-IMG_8676 by Daniel Giglio (Gigliosgallery.com), on Flickr

Here's my SA yellow bellied regal tang. I bought him at 2012 from WordWideCorals. He's about 4-5" now, problem is he kinda bullies all the fish in my 210g tank.

 

[icemountain]

20130611-IMG_8676 by Daniel Giglio (Gigliosgallery.com), on Flickr

Here's my SA yellow bellied regal tang. I bought him at 2012 from WordWideCorals. He's about 4-5" now, problem is he kinda bullies all the fish in my 210g tank.

That is beautiful! Can't wait for mine to get that nice yellow belly.