Purple Tang - what's this?

[mark]

Behaving perfectly normal, just gone white. Probably a few hours since looked at the tank but didn't notice then. Only thing done recently was empty the skimmer cup. All the other fish and everything else in the tank normal. Had this guy around 13 years and never seen before.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h316/das75/DSC02549_zpsmg0j94ck.jpg

[mark]

about 2 hours after noticing and first picture now is all white but the tail, still acting okay. Any ideas?

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h316/das75/DSC02554_zpsvkf6aghv.jpg

[Wheelman76]

Wow that's crazy , I wish I could offer some suggestions. Anyone ?

[hillegom]

Is he getting any nori flakes?

[NIVLEM09]

Do you feed your tang garlic soaked food?

[Coral Hoarder]

Could have been stung?

[bkelly]

mine has done the exact same thing i had recently done a tank move and he got stressed and was fighting with my other tang the purple would lose its colour look beat along his side, i removed the other tang and feeding lots of vegetables and garlic soaked frozen, it seems to be better as the stress decides and he strengthens - he also got one foggy eye that also is clearing. i gave it time instead of trying to remove him and treat, also tried to let the tank settle in for him,. that was just my situation for the same symptom. he had been healthy for years before this.

[reefwars]

Ghosts?

[jason604]

He actually looks rly cool like that lol.

[mark]

to give an update.

About 24hrs after first noticing looked little whiter than first picture (but not as bad as the second). Now after 48 hours, colour has returned to the normal dark purple.

Still no idea what caused it as had the same tank mates for long time, didn't have my hands in the tank, no one banging the glass. Either way, all good.

[jason604]

Was it in the middle of the night? I notice my fishes go really pale when I peak at night when they sleeping

[mark]

was afternoon, lights would have been at max for a couple of hours by then

[kien]

That's a neat trick! In 6 years I don't think I have ever seen my purple tang do that! I've seen him get less-purple when he's freaked out (fighting with a new fish, etc), but not WHITE. Wonder if it's a pigment mutation.