Blue Tang

(Regal Tang ~ Blue Doctor ~ Blue Barber ~ Blue Surgeonfish)

Dory, one of the main characters in the hit Disney movie “Finding Nemo,” has helped to make the Blue Tang one of the most popular saltwater aquarium fish around. In the film, Dory is a playful and forgetful little Blue Tang -- but what are Blue Tangs really like?

The Blue Tang is one of over 70 species of surgeonfish that inhabit the western coastal waters and coral reefs from New York to Brazil. Barber, Tang, and Doctor refer to the extremely sharp spines (said to resemble surgery scalpels) on each side of the fish’s tail. The spines are usually flat against their body, extending only when the fish is alarmed or threatened. Thrashing its tail from side to side can inflict serious damage to an enemy.

Tangs live at ocean depths of between 6 and 131 feet. They can be found in grassy or rocky shoreline areas, but most live in coral reefs. They live singly, in pairs, or in small groups of up to 10 to 12 fish, although some are known to congregate in even larger assemblies on the reef.

The Blue Tang is a compressed, pancake-shaped fish with a pointed snout and small scales. The mouth is small and low on the head. The Blue Tang’s yellow and blue colors darken and change as it matures. Full-grown adults are a deep shade of blue and have black striping in the shape of a painter’s palette. Their tail fin is yellow with a protective caudal spine.

Blue Tangs use their sharp teeth to rip algae from rocks and coral, thereby helping to ensure the health of the reef by preventing algae from overgrowing and suffocating the coral. On the reefs, Blue Tangs take cover in narrow holes and crevices where they are protected from predators like tuna and tiger groupers.

The Blue Tang is usually as peaceful as it is beautiful. The only time it may become aggressive is if combined with fish of its own species. When keeping multiple specimens of this fish, it is a good idea to introduce the entire stock all at once, on the same day, if possible. When adding a Tang to a tank that has established Tangs already in it, it helps to rearrange the rocks in order to disorientate the established fish. It will usually take about three days for the fish to establish their dominance hierarchy and learn to get along.

Blue Tangs require a wide variety of foods, ranging from flakes, pellets, and seaweed, to brine shrimp and prepared-formula foods. Since they are often found grazing on rocks, one of their major benefits is controlling algae in the aquarium.

Adult tangs average about 12 inches in length. Because they can grow very quickly, it is important to allow adequate room for swimming and provide them with plenty of hiding spaces in the aquarium.

Careful observation of the Blue Tang is essential, as it is somewhat susceptible to lateral line disease, fin erosion, ich, and other skin parasites.