Blue Tang
Scientific Name : Paracanthurus Hepatus
Origin : Indo-Pacific Seas
Temperament : Semi-Aggressive
Temperature : 72F - 82F
Maximum Size : 12 Inches
Diet : Herbivore
Difficulty : Medium
Reef Safe : Yes
Tank Size : 100 Gallons
The Blue Tang, along with the Yellow Tang are the most recognizable and popular fishes within the surgeonfish family. Like its yellow cousin, it is commonly featured on a wide variety of marine products and advertising banners. Along with the yellow tang, ocellaris and percula clownfish, the Blue tang makes up one of the most popular marine fish in the saltwater aquarium hobby.
Some of its common names include the Regal tang and the royal blue tang. It is the only known member of the genus Paracanthurus. The blue tang was featured in the hit animted film, Finding Nemo. It was represented by the lovable but aloof Dory.
There is a variant that hails from the Indian Ocean. This version has a belly that is slightly yellow in juveniles but is more pronounces as the fish matures. The Indian Ocean variant is a much sought after surgeonfish and usually commands a much higher price than regular blue tangs.
Blue tangs are abundant throughout the Indo-Pacific where they are heavily collected for the trade. Due to the great numbers collected, they are one of the cheapest surgeonfishon the market. Expect to pay between $25 to $30 for a single specimen.
In the wild, the blue tang is a herbivore that glides along the reef grazing on algae in large shoals. This diet should be reflected in the types of food that is given. They are reef safe and will leave corals alone.
Offer them a good range of foods with heavy bias on vegetable matter such as seaweed. Mysis shrimp, Krill along with special foods designed for herbivores should be offered daily. A great pellet to offer your Blue tang would be those made by New Life Spectrum. Some good foods (* See Below) to offer are :-
When feeding them seaweed or nori sheets, simply fold the sheet, secure it with a * Seaweed Clip and stick it on the side of the aquarium. The surgeonfish should graze on it throughout the day.
Like all surgeonfish,they are susceptible to marine ich and lateral line erosion. Avoid any specimens that have white spots on them. They should be vigorous and eating well at the store. Always quarantine all new surgeonfish purchases before releasing into the display aquarium.
This fish can reach a length of 12 inches in captivity. The minimum sized tank for them is a 100 gallons. Of course, larger tanks are always better as they are an open swimming shoaling species in the wild.
Blue Tangs are popular choices that are beautiful, relatively inexpensive and suitable for marine reef aquariums as they do not nip or consume corals.
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