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Powder Blue TangFamily: Acanthuridae
Latest Reader Comment - See More please do not keep this fish and a tank less than 6ft it will soon get white spot and will quickly perish. I KNOW!!... (more) ben 2006-07-18
When asked "What is a Blue Tang?" This fish, the Powder Blue Tang, is often given as an example, along with a couple other tangs! Goes to show you how confusing common names can be!The Powder Blue Tang is a good example of just how beautiful a tang can be. The color of this fish is a bright light blue with a yellow dorsal fin and caudal peduncle. The face is darker and outlined in white. This is a fairly rare and moderately expensive fish. For more Information on keeping this fish see:
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| Geographic Distribution Acanthurus leucosternon |
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| Data provided by FishBase.org |
Powder Blue Tang are found in the Indian Ocean, from Africa to Indonesia. Swims at depths up to 25 meters.
Maintenance difficulty:
The Powder Blue Tang is moderately difficult to keep. But does
well once it is established.
Maintenance:
It is important that you feed tangs a good variety of live,
frozen, and prepared formula foods with emphasis in vegetable and spirulina.
Best to feed small amounts several times a day.
Foods:
Mainly found grazing on algae.
 Photo courtesy: John Rice |
Social Behaviors:
Usually found singly, they form territories in shallow moving
water around reef terraces and the edges of reefs. It aggressively defends
its territory and therefor whould only be kept singly. This tang is particularly
intolerant of other tangs and should be the last fish added to the community
aquarium.
Sometimes they form large schools
(when free algae territories
are absent)
...
to invade other fishes territories, like damsels,
so they
can eat their algae!
Sexual differences:
Unknown.
Light: Recommended light levels:
No special requirements.
Breeding/Reproduction:
Probably will not be accomplished in captivity. See the description
in the Breeding Marine
Fish page.
Temperature:
No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish
is between 75 and 79 degrees.
Length/Diameter of fish:
Powder Blue Tang adults can grow to 20 cm ( 8 inches).
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
A minimum 50 gallon aquarium is recommended.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
No special requirements.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
Swims all over the aquarium.
Availability:
The Powder Blue Tang is occasionally available at retailers though it is somewhat expensive. They are priced about $60.00 USD and up.
| Latest Comments |
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| please do not keep this fish and a tank less than 6ft it will soon get white spot and will quickly perish. I KNOW!!
2006-07-18 |
| My Powder Blue Tang (Perry) is awesome. I have had him for about a year and he is about 7 1/2 inches. His tank mates are two Clarkie Clowns and 6 snails. They just underwent a move to a new house and they are enjoying their new dwelling. Perry is just fun to have. His personality is one of a kind. He is the only fish that gets an attitude if you turn on the light too early in the morning, and wake him up. He will hide in the rocks and not come out if you are in the room. Anyhow he is a blast to watch!!
2003-10-10 |
| Some of the coolest comments: |
| If you buy this fish or any marine fish quarantine first to remove the whitespot/itch/crypto as many have this on their bodies when coming from the wild. If you can see tiny white spots on or within the skin treat with a good copper treatment (cupramine seahchem is good). Also while at the petshop make sure he is eating and buy the same food that they are feeding it.
Once you get him fat and healthy introduce into a 300 liter+ system with no other established or aggresive tangs. 2007-02-12 |
| I'm writing this in the hopes that I might save the lives of a few innocent fish, as well as save you a sizable sum of money. This is a gorgeous fish. Believe me I had my heart set on keeping one. Unfortunately I ended up killing two in the process. These fish are EXTREMELY prone to Ich (white spot), usually don't tolerate other tangs (especially the powder brown), and don't do well in tanks of less than 180 gallons (they are active and like to roam). If you do decide to buy one, avoid specimens that show ANY signs of stress (they don't usually do very well during collection). Look for vivid blue color, active, coherent, and a thick body. Have the store show you that it is eating. Once home, quarantine if possible. If not possible, these fish benefit from a freshwater dip (match PH and temperature, leave fish in for a minimum of 5 minutes, no more than 10, pull out at first signs of stress). This will help kill any hitchhiking parasites. Drip acclimate slowly and leave the lights off for a few days. Maintain high water quality and offer macro algae (brown seaweed). I know people who have kept them successfully, but they've all had to deal with Ich. If you're prepared to give this fish the care and environment it deserves, be my guest, they're a beautiful addition to a tank. If not, please consider a hardier surgeonfish like the Yellow Tang. 2006-12-25 |
| I have had my powder blue tang Starfish for 9 years! I had no idea a saltwater fish in captivity would live this long. He is only about four inches long, but so beautiful. He is like a true family pet and I will be sad to see him go. He loves brine shrimp and flakes, and dines on the algae in my tank daily. Truly a beautiful fish. 2004-12-10 |
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