Emperor Angel changing colour

[Gillybaby]

I've had my juvenile emperor angel since April and in the last few weeks noticed that his lines are starting to break up and his dorsal fin is turning yellow. Thought I was imagining it to start with and decided it would be a good idea to keep a diary thread on here, if you don't mind, so I can see how he's changing. I'll try and post a pic every month or so.

Here's how he was in April when we got him and how he looked up till about a month ago:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/uploads/current%20tank%20pics%20for%20webpage/emperor.jpg

This is how he looks today:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor15sepr.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor15sepl.jpg

[Macca]

GILLY YOUR PICS ARE AWESOME! Could you supply any for a nice banner for this site? I would do the photoshop work but copyright the product to you. Pleae reply

James

[Gillybaby]

GILLY YOUR PICS ARE AWESOME! Could you supply any for a nice banner for this site? I would do the photoshop work but copyright the product to you. Pleae reply

James

Of course you can, I would consider it an honour. Our better pics are in the gallery on my website. If you see any you think you could use, let me know and I could attempt to email the original unsized version to you. Or you can just use one of the ones straight from the site if you prefer. Its up to you.

In fact, that could be a good project for me tomorrow. I'll go through some of our old pics and will post some more of the respectable ones on our website gallery. Been meaning to do that for ages anyway ;)

[Tangman]

Hi Gilly. Its an amazing sight watchng them changing to adult, we have one at Aquarius and he/she is just starting to change colour. As James as said your pics are stunning what sort of camera are you using, i have a Fuji S7000 and i cant seem to get any decent pics at all i know a bad workman blames his tools but this is ridiculus by me. Eric

[Macca]

Eric you are not alone!! I peronally think these digital cameras are poor. I was looking back at some pics I took of my first born. I remember I borrowed a friends Olympus OM10 manual and the clarity is amazing.

James

[Gillybaby]

I use a Canon EOS 300D dslr. It takes some getting used to but if a total novice like me can get a decent pic with one then anyone can. I have an old Canon Powershot digital compact and even though I could get ok pictures with it I found it very difficult to get it to focus through the glass. Haven't had that problem with the dslr but as I haven't used any of the newer compacts I can't comment on how good they are in comparison. Personally, I like the ability of using the manual modes in the dslr, even though I'm not totally sure how to use them I seem to be able to muddle through ;)

[newkidfish]

Hi we too have problems gettin a decent photo with a digital camera, it seems the fish are too quick, the only way I have got round it lately is to use the camera in movie mode and then scan through the quicktime footage and copy a suitable frame from there. This seems to eliminate the blur a bit but gillys are still far superior.

[liquidlogic]

gilly beauty

[Kev]

great thread and stunning shots.

Kev

[Gillybaby]

Ok, its been about a month. Here's some pics I took today, getting yellower.

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor22octr.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor22octl.jpg

[Kev]

Looks great. Cracking Tang behind the main event too:D

Kev

[Gillybaby]

lol - my orange shoulder is a total poser. Can't take a photo of any other fish without him trying to muscle in. The amount of pictures I have to delete cause he's popped up in front of the subject is amazing. He's quite a character though so I let him away with it ;)

[callum_parsons]

you can see the yellow starting to break through.
this is why i love marines they change colour with age it like you are watching them change from a chld to an adult it is wonderful to watch i bet you are so happy and you are going to enjoying the colour change. please keep us posted on it

[Gillybaby]

As its that time of the month...again...here's some pics of my emperor. The major change this month being the fact that his tail is starting to turn yellow...honestly...if you look closely and squint ;)

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor20novr.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor20novl.jpg

[course-its-reefsafe]

Those pictures are amazing, looking forward to seeing this fish develop (no puin intended:D )

Cheers

Chris :)

[moorish]

nice fish,sometimes they dont always change into full adult colour,some just stick at a certain stage. i had one which did this but have had others that change with no problems.derek

[Gillybaby]

nice fish,sometimes they dont always change into full adult colour,some just stick at a certain stage. i had one which did this but have had others that change with no problems.derek

Yes, I'd heard of this. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he changes fully but tbh, it doesn't matter. He's got such a great character I don't really mind what he looks like :D

[callum_parsons]

i can really see that yellow coming through. its looks amazing

[Kev]

Very impressive pics, and an enjoyable thread. Look forward to next months update.

[callum_parsons]

Yes, I'd heard of this. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he changes fully but tbh, it doesn't matter. He's got such a great character I don't really mind what he looks like :D

i never knew that some dont ever change into full adult colours but character is more important for me as well

[Gillybaby]

i never knew that some dont ever change into full adult colours but character is more important for me as well

Yup, you can get some weird and wonderful combinations. Saw some pics over on RC a while ago of emperors that hadn't fully changed.

[callum_parsons]

i bet they would look awesome

[Kev]

Is this a captive phenomana or does this happen in the wild too I wonder?

[Gillybaby]

Time for another update:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor31decr.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor31decl.jpg

Sorry the pictures aren't too good this month, he just wouldn't pose properly. I think he was having a laugh ;)

[callum_parsons]

now that is one cool looking fish!!!!!
i love the way the colour on its mouth is turning white

[Gillybaby]

now that is one cool looking fish!!!!!
i love the way the colour on its mouth is turning white

Yeah I do too, it looks whiter in the flesh but the camera didn't pick up on it that well. I've just checked out the previous pictures and see that the snout is actually changing shape now too. Taking on that more elongated snub nosed look that the adults have. He's a lot more yellow than last month too. I didn't think there was much difference just to look at him but there's a lot when you see the past pictures.

Wonder what he'll be like next month ;)

[c0l]

Cracking looking fish.

Must get another one of these soon !

Come on Gilly where's the picks ??:cool:

[Blue]

Great pics, I wish I could take them as well as that ;) Quality :)

[Guest]

i have an emporer and he is only just starting to change i was begining to think he was never going to change ive had him over 12 months i bought him from a reefer who had him a while and he is only just starting to change as i said but not as much as gilly,s my freind had one for ages only for it to never change at all and to be honest i was giving up hope of mine changing but yopu can just see his bars are breaking up and hints of yellow but gilly,s is great looking fish great pics:)

john

[Gillybaby]

Hi Col, its really nice to see you've joined - welcome to the madhouse :D

Ok ok I get the message, here's a couple update pics taken today although I don't think there's much of a change ;)

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor18Janl.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor18Janr.jpg

There's a good diary thread on Reef Central (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=807855) where the guy reckons his emperor took about 9 months to change. Taking his pictures as a basis it would appear that my emperor is about half way through and this seems to tie up monthwise. He also suggests, the better fed they are the quicker they change. I'm sure if I fed mine any more he'd burst, he's really fat already :eek:

[trik]

what a stunning fish he is , wait till he gets bigger and even more stunning and you think he eats alot now , wait till he gets to 12/13" like my queen , he will eat you out of house and home.:eek: :)

[Gillybaby]

You know, I can't wait. If he's half the fish your Queen is, then I'll be a very happy girl ;)

[c0l]

What yellow ??? I don't see it going yellow ;)

It must be all that natural feeding it gets, sessile inverts LOL

keep the pics comming !!

[trik]

You know, I can't wait. If he's half the fish your Queen is, then I'll be a very happy girl ;)

lol, im sure he will get there in time, i dont no how i missed the start of this thread. See you at the meet if your going;)

[Gillybaby]

lol, im sure he will get there in time, i dont no how i missed the start of this thread. See you at the meet if your going;)

Unfortunately, we're a little too far away for the meets, it would be nice to meet you all :(

[Gillybaby]

What yellow ??? I don't see it going yellow ;)

It must be all that natural feeding it gets, sessile inverts LOL

keep the pics comming !!

Tell me about it. Now that he's cleared the tank of all his favourite things he's getting a bit on the grumpy side - he's grunting at me every time I go near the tank :eek: Mind you its not like he doesn't get enough flake, frozen and nori to eat. He's just greedy ;)

[c0l]

Well if he eats you out of coral and home....................I have lots of swimming space for him:D

[Gillybaby]

:D

Sorry, I couldn't part with him ...well not yet anyway ;)

[Gillybaby]

Ok, I know I'm early this month but there has been such a huge change in the last couple of weeks I just had to post.

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor12febl.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor12febr.jpg

[callum_parsons]

wow! thats a huge change compared to the last pics

[moorish]

yes, its nice to watch them change colour but they all dont change into the adult colour.some seem to stick halfway in between but quite a few do the complete change.derek

[Guest]

hey gilly ive noticed since mine has started going through the chnge hes started having a peck at my corals the swine ,but like you say cant part with him im watching the change i hope he dont stick half way
one thing how big is your emporer mine is only about 3 inch just interested at what size yours is changing at ?

john:cool:

[Gillybaby]

John, I think my emperor is a bit of a late bloomer. He was about 3" when we bought him, he's now about 5-6" maybe a tad bigger. I've seen them for sale smaller in full adult colours :o

[Guest]

thanks gilly;)

[Gillybaby]

Ok, time for an update. He's changing so fast now. Definitely looks more adult than baby now :eek:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor10marl.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor10marr.jpg

[Tetley]

Hi Gilly,

He is stunning. :) :)

Great picture as always as well. :) :)

ATB

[callum_parsons]

stunning thats a massiv change since the last update

[moorish]

he is looking great keep the pictures coming.derek

[course-its-reefsafe]

That was quick :eek:

Hell for leather in the last month then :D

We have an emporer in a tank at work, you can just see the first smidge of yellow starting, if you squint anyway :D


As above, top thread, lovely pictures :)


Cheers

Chris :)

[Pinkfish]

This is a fantastic thread Gilly credit to you, hes a real stunner.

Mike

[TerraC]

Hes looking great now! :)

[Guest]

ok gilly im jealous now mine must be a right lazy git theres hardly any change in mine since i last posted you emporer looks awsome cant wait for the change in mine god im impatient :D

john

[keith]

Congratulations. Thats the most amazing sequence of colour change photo's I've seen. It would be good to see them strung together on one post.

I've just acquired a 1.5" Juvenile.

Keith

[Gillybaby]

Believe me, no one is more shocked by the sudden acceleration than we are. But he seems to be right on course. I did some research on the other RC and came across a guy from Norway or Sweden whose had a few emperors change over the years. Apparently, they take on average 9 months provided they are fed well, ie over fed, during the change. This is important as their diet changes completely. But even so, the first 3-4 months there was very little change. That's why I decided to keep a monthly record.

Keith, once the change is more complete I'll put all the pictures in one post, either at the end of this one or in a new thread cos its amazing when you see them all together.

[boshank23]

mate awesome thread! really interesting watching him change like that.

[callum_parsons]

thats impressive hes chaging rapidly now. great pics as well

[Gillybaby]

Oops, forgot to take a picture of him last month - my bad :o

Here's a couple for April to make up for it, I don't think he's far off finished now:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor13mayl.jpg

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/userpics/10002/emperor13mayr.jpg

[Kev]

That fish is sublime! Superb pics.

[lasgringo]

i cant see em' gilly:(

[Gillybaby]

i cant see em' gilly:(

Oh dear - here's a link to my gallery, just click on the thumbnails to see them bigger ;)

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/displayimage.php?album=5&pos=0

[Gillybaby]

That fish is sublime! Superb pics.

Thanks Kev, he is gorgeous. I'm so chuffed with him. Would like the stripes to straighten a bit more but even if there is as far as he goes, I'll be happy :cool:

[ROB]

Very interesting how they change colour and you have captured it perfectly thanks for sharing,

Rob.