Blue Tang

Paracanthurus hepatus

The royal blue surgeonfish with a painter's-palette pattern. Fast, curious and forever grazing on algae.

A semi-aggressive saltwater fish that grows to 30 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–27 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 400 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

30 cm (12 in)

Aquarium

400 L or bigger (106 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Herbivore

Wild home

Indo-Pacific reefs

Good to know

• Delicate. Sensitive to poor water quality.

Tank mates

Good company: Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Copperband Butterflyfish, Coral Beauty, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Mandarin Dragonet, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Neon Goby, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Colours

• Classic rare
• Yellowbelly epic

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.