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Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma desjardinil)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 132 gallons and keep singly due to its large size.
Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive.
Maximum Length: 16 in
Food & Diet: Meaty foods such as, mysis, brineshrimp, and chopped shellfish. It is important to provide enough green foods as well. Formula foods or dried form.
Reef Compatibility: Can nip at trailing polyp tentacle.
Quick Notes: Tangs will be bullied by other tangs, surgeonfishes, true angelfishes, and dwarf angels. Stocking small individual tangs early on can help to prevent this. These fish are very territorial.
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Yellow Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma flavescens)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 80 gallons or larger and should be kept singly, pairs, or in small groups. Simultaneous introductions is essential.
Aquarium Behavior: Not as aggressive as some members of the genus Zebrasoma. Territorial aggression may be the result of stocking the fish in a system that is too small.
Maximum Length: 8 in
Food & Diet: Dried forms, supplement algae with mysis, brineshrimp, flaked and pellet foods.
Reef Compatibility: May harm some coral polyps which has to do with its grazing instincts.
Quick Notes: Lettuce is a poor substitute for natural marine algae, as with any fish! This is a highly popular saltwater fish. Never buy a fish that refuses to eat. Should not be housed with surgeonfishes or true angels as they can become aggressive towards this species.
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Black (Longnose) Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma rostratum)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 132 gallons or larger. Can be kept as pairs.
Aquarium Behavior: Can act aggressively to new fish.
Maximum Length: 8.25 in
Food & Diet: Provide dried algae, brineshrimp, chopped shellfish, and mysis at least three times a day.
Reef Compatibility: May nip at polyp tentacles.
Quick Notes: Highly priced, but its hardy disposition means it can be successfully maintained in the home aquarium.
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Brown Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma scopas)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 93 gallons or larger. Best kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Can become aggressive to newly introductions but is short lived.
Maximum Length: 7.9 in
Food & Diet: Grazes on macro-algae; offer dried algae, frozen brineshrimp and mysis two or three times a day. Could accept flaked or granular foods with time.
Reef Compatibility: May nip at polyp tentacles.
Quick Notes: Fish such as other tangs, surgeonfishes, and dwarf angelfishes can be aggressive towards this species when first introduced.
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Pacific Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma veliferum)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 132 gallons or larger and should be kept singly due to its large size.
Aquarium Behavior: Possibly aggressive. Mixing with other tangs is possible with care.
Maximum Length: 16 in
Food & Diet: Dried forms of algae, meaty foods such as, brineshrimp, brineshrimp, (enriched forms containing Omega 3 and spirulina) and mysis. Flaked foods and granular foods with time.
Reef Compatibility: Possible nipping at coral polyps.
Quick Notes: The long fins of this species as a juvenile can be the target of fin-nippers or take battering during any territorial disputes.
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Purple Tang
(Zebrasoma xanthurum)
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Tank: Fish only; live rock-based fish-only system; or reef aquarium. Provide a minimum of 132 gallons or larger and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Can be submissive when juvenile but can get aggressive when adult. Introductions of new fish larger than a few inches is unwise.
Maximum Length: 10 in
Food & Diet: Grazes on fleshy forms of macro-algae. Supplement the diet with dried algae, formula foods containing vegetable material and enriched brineshrimp, mysis, and flaked foods. Once settled this species should accept almost any foods.
Reef Compatibility: May occasionally nip at coral polyp tentacles and have been reported killing ornamental shrimp, although rare.
Quick Notes: This species is robust and able to tolerate unwanted attention. Available at very small sizes this species will develop into a hard fish.
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Chevron Tang
(Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis)
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Adult Chevron Tang
Tank: Reef aquarium or live rock-based fish-only system. Provide 100 gallons or larger and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Can be aggressive towards other Zebrasoma spp. tangs or surgeonfishes.
Maximum Length: 10 in
Food & Diet: Fine algal films and detritus from rock surfaces. Mysis and brineshrimp, although they may prefer latter. Enrich these foods with vitamin supplements.
Reef Compatibility: No reported issues with this species and is perfectly suited for the reef aquarium.
Quick Notes: This species is most commonly available as juvenile.
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Kole (yellow-eyed) Tang
(Ctenochaetus strigosus)
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Tank: A reef aquarium with plenty of live rock or live rock fish-only system. Provide 66 gallons or larger. Should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Can become territorial towards subsequent fish introductions. Add other tangs species simultaneously.
Maximum Length: 6 in
Food & Diet: Mico-algae. Meaty foods; mysis and brineshrimp. Offer dried algae.
Reef Compatibility: Will not harm sessile invertebrates or ornamental shrimp.
Quick Notes: Be sure species are feeding before you buy! Being a bristletooth tang is one of the most useful fish species in any aquarium because it helps to remove detritus from rocky substrates.
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Tomini Bristletooth Tang
(Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
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Tank: Reef aquarium is best; live rock-based fish-only system is also acceptable. Provide 80 gallons or larger and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Generally less territorial than other tangs or surgeonfishes, take care with subsequent fish introductions.
Maximum Length: 5.5 in
Food & Diet: Detritus and algal films. Will accept dried nori and particulate frozen foods.
Reef Compatibility: With the exception of inevitable rogue specimen, tomini tangs will ignore all invertebrates.
Quick Notes: One of the least well known species of bristletooth tang, yet with the good points of its close relatives. Hardy and settles well into the home aquarium.
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