Atlantic blue tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
Also known as Blue Caribbean Tang, Atlantic Blue Surgeonfish, Blue Tang Surgeonfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 13.8 in
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 151 gal
- 570 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Origin
- Western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean to Brazil, over coral reefs and rocky bottoms.
Overview
House a single Atlantic blue tang in 570 litres or more of swimming space at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is peaceful toward unrelated fish but scraps with other tangs, so keep it as the only surgeonfish unless the tank is very large. Feed dried seaweed, spirulina and marine algae daily plus some meaty foods. It is reef safe and does not bother corals or invertebrates.
In the wild
Juveniles are bright yellow and turn deep blue as they mature. Adults graze algae over reefs and rocky reef flats, sometimes joining feeding groups with other surgeonfish and parrotfish. They grow quickly and become bolder and more territorial with size. The species is one of the more common Caribbean tangs.
Good to know
Acanthurus coeruleus can reach close to 39 cm in the wild, though aquarium adults usually settle nearer 23 to 30 cm. The dramatic yellow-to-blue color change with age is a reliable field marker. It belongs to the same genus as the sohal and clown tangs.
Did you know
A bright yellow juvenile and a blue adult look so different that early naturalists described them as separate species.
Common questions
What size tank does an Atlantic blue tang need?
An Atlantic blue tang needs at least 151 gal (570 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Atlantic blue tang need?
An Atlantic blue tang is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does an Atlantic blue tang get?
An adult Atlantic blue tang reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).
Related species
13.8 in (35 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Orangeshoulder tang
Acanthurus olivaceus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Whitecheek tang
Acanthurus nigricans
13.8 in (35 cm) · 129 gal (490 L)
11.4 in (29 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Mimic tang
Acanthurus pyroferus
11.4 in (29 cm) · 129 gal (490 L)
8.3 in (21 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Powder brown tang
Acanthurus japonicus
8.3 in (21 cm) · 129 gal (490 L)
15 in (38 cm)238 gal (900 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Clown tang
Acanthurus lineatus
15 in (38 cm) · 238 gal (900 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Sohal tang
Acanthurus sohal
15.7 in (40 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)