Description
Aquarium Requirements:
- Tank Size: 100 gallons (380 L) minimum for juveniles; 180+ gallons (680+ L) for adults
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: <20 ppm
- Water Flow: Strong, laminar (10–15× tank volume per hour)
- Lighting: Moderate to high (PAR 150–250) to promote natural algae growth
Size & Lifespan:
- Adult Size: 10–12 inches (25–31 cm)
- Lifespan: 8–12 years average; up to 20 years in optimal conditions
Behavior & Tank Mates:
- Diurnal, highly active swimmer requiring at least 4 ft (1.2 m) of horizontal swimming space
- Semi-aggressive; territorial with other tangs or similar-shaped fish
- Best kept singly unless in 200+ gallons with simultaneous introduction
- Compatible with:
- Clownfish, cardinalfish, chromis, gobies, blennies
- Larger peaceful wrasses and dwarf angels
- Avoid: other tangs (especially Powder Blue or Achilles), aggressive triggers, large wrasses
- Fully reef-safe – ignores corals and invertebrates
- Uses sharp caudal spine (“scalpel”) for defense – handle with care
Diet & Feeding:
- Strict herbivore – requires constant access to marine algae
- Feed 3–5 times daily in small portions:
- Nori/seaweed on a veggie clip (primary diet)
- Spirulina-enriched flakes and pellets (e.g., Ocean Nutrition Formula Two, NLS AlgaeMAX)
- Blanched broccoli, zucchini, or macroalgae (Caulerpa, Gracilaria)
- Occasional high-quality frozen herbivore blends
- Must have grazing surfaces (live rock or algae-covered rubble)
Additional Care Notes:
- Highly prone to Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon) and Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium) – mandatory 4–6 week quarantine
- Drip acclimate slowly (2–3 hours); sensitive to salinity shocks
- Color fades under stress, poor diet, or low oxygen – vibrant blue returns with algae-rich diet and stable parameters
- Requires multiple caves and retreat spaces to reduce stress
- UV sterilizer and protein skimmer strongly recommended
- Boost immunity with garlic, Selcon, or beta-glucan supplements
- Wild-caught only – not captive-bred
- Famous as “Dory” from Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Finding Dory
