Tangs/Surgeonfish

Yellow Tang

General
 Most of these fish are well suited to aquarium life if given the proper conditions. The long nose fish in the genus Zebrasoma are the hardiest, while the Acanthurus tend to be the more delicate. The fish in the Naso genus are moderately hardy but generally grow rather large.   Care should be taken when netting any of these fish to avoid being cut by the knifelike protrusion on the base of their tails.

Feeding/Diet
 Almost all of the fish in this group are herbivores (plant eaters) and must be fed a diet rich in green foods. Tangs are constantly foraging in the wild, so frequent feedings are needed. In captivity, they can be fed a staple diet of Tetra Color Bits or some other high quality, dry, pellet food. However, this diet must be supplemented with other foods or they will suffer from Head and Lateral Line Syndrome (HLLS). Ocean Nutrition Formula Two and Seaweed Selects dry algae foods are excellent choices. A good amount of live rock in your tank will allow your Surgeonfish to forage on their own between feedings.

Compatibility
 Tangs are active fish and aggressive feeders that should be kept with other moderately aggressive active fish. It is best to have only one surgeonfish from each genus. This will minimize combativeness. If you want to have two or more tangs from the same genus, you must have a large tank (75 gallons or more) and it is best to introduce them all at once. Keep an eye out for serious damage due to fighting.

Habitat
 Tangs require brisk water movement and high oxygen levels. The tank's volume should pass through your filters a minimum of ten times per hour (a 90-gallon tank should have 900 gph filtration). Overall water quality is very important, as high levels of dissolved organic matter can promote Head and Lateral Line Syndrome (HLLS). A good amount of live rock in your tank will provide a natural food source and hiding spots.

Best Bets
 Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus)
Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii)
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)
Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum)
Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurus)

Advanced Care
 Kole or Yellow-eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Blue Regal Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)- best purchased as juveniles, avoid adults.

Expert Care
White-face Tang (Acanthurus japonicus)
Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)

Best Avoided
Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus nigricans)


Sailfin tang
Lipstick Tang
Lipstick tang
Purple Tang

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