Description
Aquarium Requirements:
- Tank Size: 250+ gallons (950+ liters) due to its large size and extreme activity level.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Salinity: 1.020–1.025
- Water Flow: Strong (requires high oxygen levels).
Size & Lifespan:
- Adult Size: Up to 15 inches (38 cm).
- Lifespan: 10–15 years with proper care.
Behavior & Tank Mates:
- Extremely aggressive, especially toward other tangs and similar-shaped fish.
- Best kept as the dominant fish in a very large tank.
- Compatible with:
- Large, fast-moving fish like triggerfish, large wrasses, and groupers.
- Avoid other tangs unless the tank is massive (300+ gallons).
- Should not be housed with peaceful or slow-moving fish like butterflyfish.
Diet & Feeding:
- Herbivorous—needs a diet high in plant material.
- Feed multiple times daily with:
- Dried or fresh seaweed (nori)
- Spirulina-based flakes and pellets
- Vegetable-based frozen foods
- Occasionally accepts mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, but plant matter should be the main diet.
Additional Care Tips:
- Very susceptible to Marine Ich and other parasites—quarantine before adding to a display tank.
- Needs plenty of swimming space and strong water flow to stay healthy.
- Can become extremely aggressive as it matures—requires careful tankmate selection.
- Best suited for expert aquarists with experience handling aggressive tang species.
