The Pacific blue
or regal
tang’s scientific name is Paracanthurus
hepatus. This species is the sole
member of
the genus Paracanthurus. It
belongs to the family
Acanthuridae. This
species can be found from Japan,
throughout the Indian Ocean down the east coast of Africa and south to the Great
Barrier Reef. Populations also exist
from Japan to the Hawaiian Islands. Tangs are part of a larger grouping of
fish commonly referred to as surgeonfish. These species have razor
sharp spurs on
their bodies near the base of their tail that will lacerate skin just
like a
surgeon’s scalpel.
This
is a relatively large fish
that will range from 8-12 inches as an adult. Its body is oval in
shape, a
characteristic common to many tangs. Primary coloration is a beautiful
royal
blue with a bright yellow triangular marking that begins on the
anterior of its
body region and extends to the tip of its caudal fin. The most
distinguishing
feature of this species is the black patterning on its body. This bold
patterning
begins below the fish’s eye, loops around the entire length
of its back and
then circles back around its mid-body section forming a distinctive
blue oval
just behind the head. The flow of this patterning combined with the
hole in the
middle bears a striking resemblance to a painter’s palette.
Aside from its two
most common names, the regal tang is also marketed as the palette
surgeonfish,
Hepatus tang, blue hippo tang, yellow-tail blue tang, and the
yellow-belly blue
tang. The members of this species endemic to the west-central Indian Ocean typically have
yellow bellies.
Pacific
blues are considered a
peaceful species. They make wonderful additions to a multi-species tank
provided their tank mates are equally docile. This fish is tolerant of
other
tangs but may demonstrate territorial behavior toward
conspefics
(members of its own species). They are
rated reef safe. A minimum tank size of 75 gallon is recommended. 100+
is
considered ideal.
These
fish are easy to maintain and
can be kept by novice aquarists. They are, however, more susceptible to
fin
erosion, lateral line disease, ich and other skin parasites than many
marine
species. Maintaining ideal water conditions will help to avoid such
complications. Caution is advised when handling these fish or any other
surgeonfish. When threatened they will thrash wildly from side to side
in hopes
of slashing open their would be predators. They are perfectly capable
of
inflicting deep wounds that often result in swelling and discoloration
and pose
a significant risk of infection.
These are
omnivorous
creatures. Juveniles feed primarily on zooplankton.
Adults lean much more toward herbivore dietary habits. Seaweed and
algae
provide their main sustenance in life. This species is extremely
beneficial in
home aquariums. They are excellent at keeping algae in check and will
keep your
living rock freshly mowed and your corals nice and clean.
In
captivity this fish
will eat mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp.
They will also nibble at flake and pellets that may be intended for
other
member of the community. This is to be expected. Make sure to
adequately
address their nutritional needs for plant matter. A well established
collection
of living rock is mandatory. Fish food formulated for herbivores can be
supplemented with dried algae sheets. With proper diet and living
conditions
these fish may live to 20 years of age.
Most tangs
are protogynous
hermaphrodites.
If two juvenile are introduced into an aquarium together the largest
most
dominant of the two will transform into a male. A male and female may
be successfully
housed together. These fish rarely breed in captivity.
