Blue Tang

Scientifically known as Paracanthurus hepatus, the BLUE TANG also is known in many other names: the regal, the Flagtail surgeonfish, blue surgeonfish, Indo-Pacific tang, the hippo or the palette tang in the west. The name palette tang may be attributed to the fish’s brightest blue, black and yellow hue. They are widely known throughout the reefs of central and Indo-Pacific to Africa's east coast.

Blue Tang FEATURES
The BLUE TANG can grow to a foot long in the wild but rarely more than half this size when grown in captivity. It grows to a maximum of 12.25 inches and is generally herbivorous. They principally feed on zooplankton or on microalgae. However, they are commonly found in marine aquariums. They have a royal blue body, yellow tail, and a black 'palette' design. The fish’s color is normally the a criterion in selecting them. However, these fishes change the intensity of their depending on stress or mood and are thereby unreliable for they change quickly. Apart from that, subtle to larger color and other color differences are innate according to locality and size.

ENVIRONMENT
They are common to Indo-Pacific or East Africa to the Line Islands including the Mascarene Islands. Also in Kiribati, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia and Samoa.

The surgeonfish family usually is top choices for marine systems for several of them have proven aquarium-tough, disease resistant, easy on food, with attractive, brilliant colors and markings, beauty, adaptability to captive conditions, and more. Because of these, the yellow-tail blue tang, Paracanthurus hepatus are prized and is used extensively in the hobby and trade. They are so in demand that they are said to be a "standard" in the aquarium service industry.

However, the palette tang best dwell in a well-established system which requires "bright" clean water that is devoid of measurable organics. To keep this high water quality you must therefore pay attention to filtration and maintenance. The yellow-tail blues that have been housed and selected properly are excellent for long-term. Most of the problems which lead to their loss are initial over-stress, poor water quality and lack of nutrition.