Convict Tang FOTM December '08

Common name: Convict Tang, Convict Surgeonfish, Manini

Scientific name: Acanthurus triostegus

Reef Safe: YES. They will nip algae off your rocks but mine never touched any of my corals!

Diet: Herbivore Marine algae and marine seaweed in a veggie clip are the best. Mine would eat Rods food but really liked the seaweed!

Origin: Indo Pacific and Hawaii
Max size: About 8 inches
Life span: about 5-7 years or possibly longer

Care: Fairly easy fish to take care of. After acclimation they seem to do very well in a tank and are very hardy! They may be a fish that gets picked on by other tangs especially if they are of the surgeonfish family. Mine always seemed to pick on other fish new to the tank but once introduced at night things seemed ok. They need at least a 75 gallon tank as they swim miles a day!
Breeding/Sexing: Both very difficult to do!
If a larger tank is available you can have several as they are schooling fish. Here is a video of them in the wild schoolling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT1-vBYMkA8&feature=related

Personal Observations: I have found this to be a great fish to watch. Mine would follow me around the tank whether I was in the tank or outside of the tank. Always wondering what I was doing and waiting for the algae scrapper to scrape scraps for him. I was reluctant to get him at first because he is kind of plain looking! He turned out to be my favorite fish. He has since passed and I am looking to get another!
Please feel free to add info or comments if you like about the Convict Tang!
Enjoy!

 

Great job dude. I have heard of this variety of tang but have never seen a pic. Thanks.

 

Hey! Very good article! It sounds your Tang is really funny!

 

Nice work...

 

Great pics, great article

 

That is a picture of mine! His name was Luke after the movie Cool Hand LUke!

Thanks everyone! They really are great fish! Full of personality!

 

Great article.

 

Yea!! and I get a new button on my name.....Look I am a 3reef contributor!