Tangs/Surgeons 101

I will be updating this post throughout the day. Stay tuned. As you can see for the list below it will take a while to get all the info settled for each fish.

Note: If you have any pictures of these fish, Feel free to PM me with a link if you are willing to donate them to be the fishes picture!

Tangs/Surgeons​

Tangs and Surgeons are part of the Acanthuridae family. They are known for their fast swimming, large size, beauty, intense personalities and excessive eating/grazing. There are a lot of dos and donts for these fish. Hopefully I can cover them all here to help you maintain your Acanthuridae and give you a general understanding of each species!

Do:
• Research your fish
• Feed it the correct diet
• Vitamin C and HUFA supplements to food help combat disease
• In smaller systems, If having multiple tangs. Have different Genus', colors of the fish.
• If combining the same Genus, its best to do it in odd numbers.
• Purchase fish from a reputable dealer or local fish store.
• Observe the fish if possible
• Have enough rock in the tank for caves to sleep, but keep open water available

Dont:
• Put to large of a fish in a to small aquarium
• Combine the same genus in to small of a tank
• Feed improperly
• Purchase ill fish and think you can save it. Sometimes you can but not always!
• Have to much rock in your tank! These fish need places to swim in the open.


About Tank Size:
So I'm sure browsing any fish forum, You have come across the term "Tang Police". We know in this day and age, not everyone can afford that dream 300 gallon tank they have been wanting to put in their home. Now this isn't always the case. A general rule of thumb is if the fish's length is less then 8x the tanks length. You are good. However when it comes to saying that by going this route, you must decide to get a larger tank or trade in the fish once it surpasses that. On a side note, just cause the tank is long, you want to make sure it has some depth to it as well for the fish to turn around and for rocks. I have found the best way of doing this is building from the center of the tank up for your aquascape. In turn it gives your fish another roundabout path vs just swimming in the front of the tank.

Acanthurus:​

A. Achilles - Achilles Tang

Maximum Size: 8½" / 22 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods.
Price: $100 to $500
Care Level: Expert Only
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Bahianus - Ocean Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1'3" / 38 cm
Origin: Atlantic (Southeast and Southwest)
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $TBD
Care Level: TBD
Minimum Tank Size: 180 Gallons

A. Bariene - Black Spot Tang
Maximum Size: 1' 8" / 51 cm
Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $50 - $250
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Blochii - Ring Tail Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1' 5" / 43 cm
Origin: Indonesia, Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $60 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Chirurgus - Doctorfish
Maximum Size: 15½" / 38 cm
Origin: Western Atlantic
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons

A. Chronixis - Mimic Half Black Tang
Maximum Size: 10" / 25 cm
Origin: Indonesia
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $20 - $50
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

A. Coeruleus - Blue Caribbean Tang
Maximum Size: 9" / 23cm
Origin: Caribbean
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Dussumieri - Dussumieri Tang
Maximum Size: 1' 9" / 53 cm
Origin: Australia, Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $50 - $300
Care Level: Difficult
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Fowleri - Fowleri Tang
Maximum Size: 1' 8" / 51 cm
Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $150 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Glaucopareius / Nigricans - Whitcheek Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

A. Guttatus - Mustard Guttatus Tang
Maximum Size: 1' / 35½ cm
Origin: Fiji, Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $100 - $500
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons
Reef Compatible: With Caution

A. Japonicus - Powder Brown Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Indian Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

A. Leucocheilus - White Face Tang
Maximum Size: 1' 6" / 46 cm
Origin: Indonesia, Maldives
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $80 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Leucopareius - Whitebar Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 9½" / 24 cm
Origin: Hawaii, Japan
Diet: Omnivore
Price: $150 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Leucosternon - Powder Blue Tang

Maximum Size: 9" / 23 cm
Origin: Maldives, Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $40 - $150
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

A. Lineatus - Clown Tang
Maximum Size: 1' 3" / 38 cm
Origin: Fiji, Maldives, Vanuatu
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $250
Care Level: Expert Only
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Maculiceps - Black-Eared Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1'4" / 41 cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Western Pacific, Indian Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $150 - $700
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons

A. Mata - Mata Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1'8" / 51 cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Australia
Diet: Planktivore
Price: $40 - $200
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Monroviae - Monrovia Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1'6" / 46 cm
Origin: Africa
Diet: Omnivore
Price: $150 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Nigricauda - Epaulette Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 1' 4" / 40 cm
Origin: East Africa
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $100 - $400
Care Level: Difficult
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons

A. Nigrofuscus - Lavender Tang

Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

A. Nigroris - Bluelined Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 10" / 25 cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $50 - $150
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Nubilus - Pinstriped Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 10" / 25 cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $50 - $150
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Olivaceus - Orangeshoulder Tang

Maximum Size: 1' 2" / 35½ cm
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Pyroferus - Mimic Lemon Peel Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

A. Sohal - Sohal Tang
Maximum Size: 1'4" / 41 cm
Origin: Red Sea
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $100 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

A. Tennenti - Lieutenant Tang
Maximum Size: 10" / 25 cm
Origin: Maldives
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $50 - $150
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

A. Thompsoni - Thompson's Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 11" / 28 cm
Origin: Indonesia
Diet: Omnivore
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 210 Gallons

A. Triostegus - Convict Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Solomon Islands, Tahiti
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $20 - $70
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

A. Tristis - Mimic Eibli Tang
Maximum Size: 10" / 25 cm
Origin: Kenya, Maldives
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $30 - $80
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

A. Xanthopterus - Yellowfin Tang
Maximum Size: 2'3" / 70 cm
Origin: Tahiti
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $40 - $200
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

Ctenochaetus:​

C. Binotatus - Two Spot Bristletooth Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 20 cm
Origin: Fiji, Vanuatu
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $30 - $90
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

C. Flavicauda - White Tail Bristletooth Tang
Maximum Size: 6½" / 16½ cm
Origin: Africa, Red Sea
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $40 - $600
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

C. Hawaiiensis - Chevron Tang

Maximum Size: 11" / 28 cm
Origin: Christmas Island
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $100 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

C. Marginatus - Blue Spotted Bristletooth Tang
Maximum Size: 11" / 27 cm
Origin: Eastern Central Pacific, Western Indian Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $TBD
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

C. Striatus - Striated Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 10½" / 26 cm
Origin: Eastern Central Pacific, Eastern Indian Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $100 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

C. Strigosus - Yellow Eye Kole Tang
Maximum Size: 7" / 18 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $20 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

C. Tominiensis - Tomini Tang
Maximum Size: 6" / 15 cm
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Solomon Islands
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $30 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

C. Truncatus - Spotted Bristletooth Tang
Maximum Size: 6½" / 16½ cm
Origin: Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $40 - $100
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Naso:​

N. Brachycentron - Humpback Unicornfish
Maximum Size: 35½ " / 90 cm
Origin: East Africa, Vanuatu
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $TBD
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 500 gallons

N. Brevirostris - Blue Unicorn Tang
Maximum Size: 2' / 61 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $50 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

N. Elegans - Blonde Naso Tang

Maximum Size: 1' 6" / 46 cm
Origin: Maldives
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $50 - $500
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

N. Lituratus - Naso Tang

Maximum Size: 1' 6" / 46 cm
Origin: Fiji, Hawaii, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $30 - $300
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

N. Lopezi - Lopez's Unicornfish
Maximum Size: 2' / 61 cm
Origin: Western Pacific Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $30 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

N. Tuberosus - Humpnose Unicornfish
Maximum Size: 2' / 61 cm
Origin: Central Pacific, Indian Ocean
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $TBD
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

N. Unicornis - Bluespine Unicorn Tang
Maximum Size: 2' / 61 cm
Origin: Tahiti
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $30 - $200
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

N. Vlamingii - Vlamingii Tang
Maximum Size: 2' / 61 cm
Origin: Indonesia, Solomon Islands
Diet: Herbivore - Will eat meaty foods
Price: $50 - $400
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 360 gallons

Paracanthurus:​

P. Hepatus - Regal Tang / Blue Tang

Maximum Size: 1' / 30½ cm
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, Solomon Islands
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods.
Price: $15 - $200
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

P. Hepatus Variation - Yellow Bellied Regal Blue Tang

Maximum Size: 1' / 30½ cm
Origin: Kenya, Maldives
Diet: Herbivore - Will Accept meaty foods as well.
Price: $50 - $200
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Prionurus:
​

P. Laticlavius - Razor Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 2' / 60 cm
Origin: Eastern Central Pacific
Diet: TBD
Price: TBD
Care Level: TBD
Minimum Tank Size: TBD

P. Punctatus - Yellowtail Surgeonfish
Maximum Size: 2' / 60 cm
Origin: Central Pacific
Diet: TBD
Price: TBD
Care Level: TBD
Minimum Tank Size: TBD

P. Scalprum - Scalpel Sawtail
Maximum Size: 1' 8" / 50 cm
Origin: Japan, Northwest Pacific
Diet: TBD
Price: TBD
Care Level: TBD
Minimum Tank Size: TBD

Zebrasoma:​

Z. Desjardini - Desjardini Sailfin Tang

Maximum Size: 1'4" / 41 cm
Origin: Maldives, Red Sea, Sri Lanka
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $25 - $150
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Z. Flavescens - Hawaiian Yellow Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 21 cm
Origin: Hawaii
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $20 - $100
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Z. Gemmatum - Gem Tang
Maximum Size: 8" / 21 cm
Origin: West Indian Ocean, Mauritius
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $1,500 - $ TBD
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Z. Rostratum - Black Longnose Tang
Maximum Size: 9" / 23 cm
Origin: Christmas Island
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $400 - $1,000
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Z. Scopas - Scopas Tang

Maximum Size: 1' / 30½ cm
Origin: Fiji, Indo-Pacific
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $20 - $100
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Z. Veliferum - Sailfin Tang

Maximum Size: 1' 3" / 38 cm
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Sumatra
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty foods
Price: $20 - $100
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Z. Xanthurum - Purple Tang

Maximum Size: 10" / 25½ cm
Origin: Red Sea
Diet: Herbivore - Will accept meaty food
Price: $100 - $300
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Sources Cited: HTTP://www.fishbase.org , HTTP://www.LiveAquaria.com , Dr Burgess's ATLAS of MARINE AQUARIUM Fishes



Picture Credits:

•2in10 • RedGambit • TritonsGarden • MarcWeaver •ingtar_shinowa

 

Sweet idea, thanks for working on it.

 

Gah, Dang firefox crashed Had to redo a chunk of it just now

 

Bummer, pics might be a good addition to the post for each species.

 

Great looking start! I can't wait to see the finished product.

 

Only problems I see are that regular naso and blonde naso tangs need at least 8' of swimming room, and that hippo tangs should have a 180 gallon min. tank size. Great post!

 

Thanks everyone, The bottom of the list is almost done. Is there anything else people would like to see with this writeup as well?

 

Touche, These are collectively from online sellers combined. and thought out, some of them I lowered and raised a bit to be a bit more general. As for the nasos, I went by Liveaquarias updated info. They had them at 125 past. There will be more to the writeup for this then those "numbers" It will just be a bit

 

I agree - add small photos!

Great write up.

 

Check this out.

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