Saltwater Tangs are saltwater fish native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. They are usually kept in community tanks, but some people keep them alone. They are known for their beautiful colors, and are considered to be one of the easiest fish to care for.
Saltwater aquariums require a lot of time and effort to maintain, but they are also very rewarding. Saltwater Tangs are one of the most popular saltwater fish in family aquariums, and for good reason. They are colorful, active, and they are generally good fish. They also can have an array of bright colors, which makes them a great choice for a family aquarium.
A Saltwater Tang is an essential part of any saltwater aquarium. They can be many sizes and colors, and they will bring energy and activity to your aquarium. There are many species of saltwater tangs, all of which are beautiful. Some of the most popular Saltwater Tangs are the Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, and Flame Angelfish. These are all fish that are very easy to care for, and will bring tons of life to your aquarium.
Tangs are one of the most common saltwater aquarium fish. Among their many attractive traits, they are one of the larger fish. They also have a reputation for being quite personable. Although Tangs are considered reef safe, they will eat small and slow moving fish. If you are considering a saltwater aquarium, Tangs should be high on your list of fish to consider.
Saltwater Tangs Information
- Average Length: 8 – 12 inches
- Scale Colors: Blue, Black, Yellow, Brown and Purple
- Attention Needs: Low
- Tolerance to Heat and Cold: Yes
- Good Pet: Yes!
- Good with Other Tangs: Depends on the species
- Good with Other fish species: Only with non-aggressive species
- Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: Yes
- Health Concerns: Marine Ich, Fin or Tail Rot and MHLLE.
- Average Life Span: up to 25 years
Join Our Free Newsletter
For All Pet News, Tips & Tricks and lots of other goodies, straight to your inbox!
Physical Appearance of Tangs
Tangs are one of the most colorful saltwater fish species and it is one of the main reasons why they are kept in so many saltwater tanks. There are close to 80 different types of Tangs, each with a variety of different colors. The most common colors are blue, black, yellow, brown and purple.
Different types of Tangs can differ in shape and size. Depending upon the type, Tangs will grow between 6 to 12 inches long.
A unique feature with their bodies is that Tangs have blade-like fins near their tails. Tangs use their fins to fight with each other and also protect themselves from predators. This is why Tangs are often referred to as ‘surgeonfish.’
Yellow Tangs are a favorite and the most common for aquarium enthusiasts. They have an oval-shaped body and a long snout. They are bright yellow with sharp white spines on both sides of their tail. Yellow Tangs have 7 fins total which includes their dorsal and anal fins. An interesting thing about Yellow Tangs is that they change colors. During the day they are a bright yellow color, except on their spines. At night they change to a somewhat grayish-yellow with a white lateral spine.
Powder Blue Tangs are another popular type. They have yellow and blue color tones on their body with a contrasting black coloration on their face. Just like the Yellow tangs, Powder Blue Tangs also have an oval-shaped body.
Achilles Tangs are also a popular fish kept in many aquariums. They typically have a dark brown or purple body with areas of bright orange and white around their fins and gills. Something many people find very cool is their bright orange tear-drop shaped pattern near their caudal fin. In young Achilles the tear-drop marking tends to have a streak shape but can eventually change its shape as the fish grows.
Temperament of Tangs
Tangs are active fish that love to move around and explore their tank. They’ll usually be moving through all the levels in the tank, especially the front and the center sections of the tank.
They are generally a solitary fish that like to live alone or in small schools of their own species. Tangs are peaceful and can thrive in a community fish tank. Some Tangs do tend to get territorial, but if given a lot of space to move around, your Tangs will be happy and keep to themselves. Giving them enough space is the easiest way to keep them from acting aggressively with other fish.
Some Tangs can show aggressive behavior towards their own species. Yellow tangs are known to get aggressive with other Yellow tangs. To defend themselves the Tangs generally use their bladed fins as a weapon.
Best Habitat for Tangs
When setting up a tank for Tangs, the most important thing is to give them a large tank. They may only grow up to 12 inches but they need a large area to swim around. In their natural environment they are used to swimming miles in a day to explore. Having a large tank is important for them so they do not feel so confined living in an aquarium.
They can do well both in a reef only or a live rock only tank system, making them a hardy fish species.
Tank size
Yellow Tangs need a minimum tank of 55 gallons and for most other Tangs, we recommend 100 gallons tank size at a minimum. Anything smaller can cause them to feel stressed or become aggressive with other fish.
Temperature
The temperature should be kept between 72 and 82°F.
Water Hardness, pH and Salinity
Tangs need slightly alkaline water so the pH should be between 8.1 to 8.4. The water hardness should be about 8 to 12dGH. For reef tanks water hardness can be a little higher, but not much. Their water salinity should be kept between 1.024 and 1.025.
Lighting
Tangs do not have any specific lighting requirements, any commercially available aquarium lightning will be fine. They will do well with a day and night cycle that many fish need. The easiest way to have a day and night cycle is to buy a timer for the lights, this way it will happen automatically.
Decorations
Tangs are known to actively feed on algae, adding tank decorations like live rocks can benefit your fish.
Plants also make great additions because they will act as a source of algae for your Tangs. Caves, driftwood and other similar decorations should be added to the tank as well. These will help create several hiding places for your fish.
All the decorations should be placed in a way so they don’t block your fish’s swimming. As mentioned before, Tangs like to swim around and the more open space they have inside the tank, the better it will be for them.
Tank conditions
Before adding a Tang fish to a new tank make sure to properly cycle the tank. High ammonia and nitrate levels can be dangerous for Tangs like Achilles. They are extremely sensitive and adding them to a tank that is not properly cycled can quickly result in their death.
Tank Maintenance
When setting up a tank for Tangs, the most important thing is to give them a large tank. They may only grow up to 12 inches but they need a large area to swim around. In their natural environment they are used to swimming miles in a day to explore. Having a large tank is important for them so they do not feel so confined living in an aquarium.
They can do well both in a reef only or a live rock only tank system, making them a hardy fish species.
Best Tank Mates for Tangs
Most types of Tangs are peaceful and will get along with other non-aggressive fish species. When creating a community fish tank, remember to get a large tank because Tangs will need a lot of space for themselves.
If you plan to add different types of Tangs, make sure they are of the same size and introduced to the tank together. Otherwise they can get aggressive with the other fish.
Ideal tank mates include:
Health Issues
Tangs are sensitive and poor water quality or nutritional deficiencies can result in the fish developing health problems. They are susceptible to the following diseases:
MHLLE (Marine head and lateral line erosion)
As the name suggests the disease causes damage to the tissues on the head and lateral line of the fish. Sometimes it will also infect their dorsal fins. The cause of the disease can be several things, including nutritional deficiencies or poor water quality.
There is still not any conclusive research on the causes and cure of the disease. The best way to prevent Tangs from getting this disease is to quarantine all new fish before adding them to your tank. If you find your Tangs showing signs of the disease take them to a vet immediately.
Marine Ich
Marine Ich is a commonly found parasitic disease in saltwater fish species. The disease is highly contagious and can spread unrestricted to other fish in the tank. A fish suffering from Marine Ich (also called White Spot Disease) will have white spots all over its body.
Other symptoms include:
- Cysts on fins, skin or gills
- Labored breathing
- Pale Skin
- Excessive skin mucus (antibacterial enzymes that fish secrete)
The exact source of the disease is difficult to find but it generally happens when a new fish or equipment that was used in an infected tank is introduced to the tank. Stress or poor water conditions can also cause the disease. It is important to treat the disease immediately as it can spread rapidly to others. Keeping the infected fish in a separate tank is recommended as it will prevent the disease from spreading to other fish in the community tank. Treatments include using a commercially available medication like Formalin or adding a copper solution to the tank. Consult your vet for the best treatment option.
Fin or Tail Rot
Fin or Tail Rot is a disease in which the fins or tails of the Tangs get damaged. The fins will develop an uneven texture or a milky coloring in the beginning and gradually look like they have been torn. Possible reasons can be other fish biting your Tangs, poor water conditions or dietary deficiencies. Sometimes Fin Rot can also occur as a secondary symptom of another disease.
The good thing is that Fin Rot is easy to identify and there are several treatments available for it. The most common treatment is to add an antibacterial solution to your fish tank. It will kill the bacteria that are causing the disease and does not have a side effect on your fish. Drugs like Oxytetracycline, Malachite Green and Tetracycline can also be used to treat infected fish. It is recommended to treat them at the first sign of the disease because any delay can result in the fish losing their fins or even death.
Feeding Tangs
In their natural environment Tangs mostly eat algae from coral and live rocks. In captivity they should be fed a combination of vegetables and meaty foods.
Algae-based foods like pellets or flakes should make up a major portion of their diet. If your tank has plants, rocks and driftwood, your Tangs will feed the algae that grows on them.
Tangs can also be given Spirulina, Nori and blanched vegetables like spinach and peas.
For meat-based foods they can be given chopped scallops, mysis or brine shrimp and bloodworms. They can be given both frozen or live food. Always thaw frozen food before feeding your Tangs.
Give them an amount that they can eat within a few minutes. Remove any uneaten food after a few hours because Tangs will not generally scavenge for leftover food.
Related Questions:
Are Tangs Good for New Fish Tank Owners?
Tangs are prone to developing several diseases. Maintaining specific water conditions is extremely crucial to keeping them healthy and allowing them to live long. They also need a very large tank which requires regular larger water changes.
Introducing them to an existing or a new tank is also a little tricky. All these requirements make it difficult for new tank owners to look after these fish. We recommend that fish keepers have some experience managing a saltwater tank before having Tangs as pets.
Is it Possible to Breed Tangs in Captivity?
Many fish owners have tried to breed them in captivity but have failed. Because this fish is so active the Tangs need to be housed in a very large tank if you want them to breed. A minimum tank size of 175 gallons will be needed. Anything smaller will prevent your Tangs from mating. Even at 175 gallons they may not breed
Even if they mate, the limited space will make it difficult for the younger fish to survive for long. The size requirements make it difficult for a hobby fish owner to breed Tangs in a small home aquarium setup.