Powder blue tang
Acanthurus leucosternon · Acanthuridae
Also known as Powder blue surgeonfish
Advanced
An Indian Ocean showpiece, stunning but ich-prone and demanding on space and water quality.
In short: A powder blue tang needs at least 570 L (151 US gal), water at 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) and pH 8.1–8.4. It is aggressive, usually kept singly, and rated advanced to keep.
Updated
- Minimum tank
- 570 L (151 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 23 cm (9.1 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Reef & marine husbandry
- Specific gravity
- 1.023–1.026
- Reef safety
- Reef safe
- With corals
- Reef safe.
- With inverts
- Reef safe.
- Minimum in a mixed reef
- 570 L (151 US gal)
- Minimum fish-only (FOWLR)
- 500 L (132 US gal)
- Aggression
- Highly aggressive to other tangs; quarantine before adding.
- Feeding
- Continuous grazing plus two feeds daily.
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 570 L (151 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- 8–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10–20 years
- Diet
- Herbivore — nori, algae pellets, occasional mysis.
- Care level
- Advanced
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Indian Ocean, Andaman and Sri Lankan reefs
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Biotope
- Surge-swept outer reef
- Natural conditions
- Very high flow and oxygen; zero tolerance for poor quality.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- All levels
- Good tank mates
- Large peaceful wrassesClownfishFoxface
- Avoid
- Other surgeonfishAnything shy
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Not visually sexable.
- Notes
- Not bred in captivity.
- Common ailments
- Marine ichMarine velvetHLLE
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