Blue Tang - Fish Of The Month February '07

[Breed]

Fish Common Names

Blue Tang, Palette Surgeonfish, Hepatus Tang, Blue Surgeonfish, and Regal Tang

Latin Name

Paracanthurus hepatus



Photo Courtesy of Mamachipy

Reef Safe: Yes

Attitude: Peacful, A good community fish.

Diet: Herbivore feeding on algae and marine based seaweed, however will also consume meaty foods like brine and mysis shrimps.

Care: Grows up to 12" and needs a fairly long and large tank of around 80 gallons to sustain its constant grazing and movement. Is normally a good eater and will recognise the hand that feeds it. As with all tangs, the blue tang must be fed marine algae and seaweed to boost its immune system and to prevent it from suffering the effects of head and latteral line disease or hole-in-the-head. They are also susceptable to ich and should be quarantined before placed into the main tank.

Origin: Indo-Pacific, Solomon Islands and Fiji

Personal Observations: Blue tangs get on well with most other fish (with the exception of predators and other tangs) are are a great canditate for the community aquarium. They will add great blue colour through the tank and are always constantly grazing on algae in the aquarium. Is a good feeder and will take all forms of food and feeds well on Nori and similar seaweeds offered of a veggie clip. A very eye catching species that will catch the eye of any wanderer.

Feeding: Offer marine based seaweed on a veggie clip or rock 2-3 times a week, and will also constantly graze on algae present on the rocks and glass of the aquarium. Mysis and Brine shrimp can also be offered to the blue tang to increase growth and strengthen its immunity against diseases.

[Birchell]

GREAT JOB!!! Great info on a beautiful fish and have fun with all the new karma, .

Michael

[mamachipy]

Looks familiar, I've had mine for three years now. It started at 2" and now is 7"-8". The kids call he Dory (go figure).

[bouraganes]

Nice

[rosereef]

Like I would think most tangs are, mine is a bit camera shy, but I managed to catch a pic of it =)
My 2" Regal tang.

[Birchell]

Mamachipy, thanks for showing that tang in the 100 gallon tank!! I was chooed out for wanting to put a hippo in a 100 on Reef Central. It made me mad, they made it sound that I could only put a yellow or mybe a kole, which is only 2-4 inches shorter. I know tangs like to swim, but they will adapt to a tank if they grow up in it. Then one guy said to put a sailfin, which gets like 4 times as big as the hippo, . Oh well, I got my majestic angel, and they can just live with it. I hate tangs just for the reason that everyone has something to say about them, and youll never have a big enough tank .

Michael

[Fish Fan]

I have had my blue tang for almost 5 yrs now. I used to have two of them but I cme home from work one afternoon and one of them was going postal on the other one. With the help of my wife we got the psycotic tang out of the tank (no small feat, 125gal with 55lbs live rock). I also have a yellow and he and the blue seem to pal around.

[Bruce]

Ah, I am a big fan of Regal Tangs. When I was first starting I got one...yes...the 55 gallon, wouldnt make that same mistake. It was doing great untill the ich started...he battled it for months then finally died. Poor little bugger.