The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus) enjoys the honor of being one of the five the majority recognizable marine fishes together with the percula clownfish (Percula, Ocellaris), flame angel (Centropyge Loriculus), yellow tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens) and the royal gramma (Gramma Loreto). To date, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus. Its body is a dramatic bright blue while it has thick black markings that stretch out from its eyes to its tail.

The movie Finding Nemo featured a blue tang as one of its key characters. The blue tang is also known as the Hippo Tang, Royal Blue Tang, Regal Tang and the Palette Surgeonfish. Both the blue and yellow tangs unite to turn into the two the majority admired surgeonfishes in the hobby. The blue tang is a exceedingly reasonably priced fish due maybe because they are frequently found and heavily collected from the wild. Juveniles go for roughly $25 while adults can be sold for up to $80 per specimen. As with all surgeonfish, the blue tang is vulnerable to ich and lateral line erosion so pick so keep a look out for any sign of the two.

The blue tang is a relatively nonviolent fish towards other species beyond the tang family. Which is why (besides its good looks) it enjoys such fame in the saltwater hobby. They can be hostile towards other surgeonfish, especially blue tangs so the universal rule should be one blue tank per .

This species forms large shoals in the wild. If more than one is present in a big tank, such behavior can be witnessed. Always introduce many blue tangs at the same time. Violence is normally seen when putting a new blue tang in with an established one.

Blue tangs attain a maximum length of 12 inches. Tangs that size need aquariums upwards of a 100 gallons. Due to heavy collection numerous, specimens no bigger than an inch are widespread. They grow incredibly swiftly at that size and will easily outgrow a 30 gallon in a matter of months.

Sufficient swimming space are required by blue tangs so the scape should mirror this. They need a few niches/caves to bed down in every night.

Like the majority of its surgeonfish brethren, blue tangs are herbivores in the wild. They form large schools and actively graze on algae all over the day. As herbivores, they need large amounts of algae based foods in captivity. Unlike saltwater angelfish, they are totally reef safe and do not bother corals, making them incredibly admired fish for big marine reef aquariums.

Gabriela De Souyez is a hobbyist that has kept numerous reef tanks. In her extra time she pens how to guides on marine fishes for example the the blue tang Read here as well as the ever admired Yellow Tang Click here.