Blonde naso tang
Naso elegans
Also known as Elegant Unicornfish, Orangespine Unicornfish, Indian Ocean Naso Tang
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 17.7 in
- 45 cm
- Minimum tank
- 180 gal
- 680 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Origin
- Indian Ocean reefs
Overview
The blonde naso tang is a large, open-water surgeonfish for a big reef tank. It is a step up from the easiest marine fish.
Did you know
The two yellow patches at the base of the blonde naso tang's tail sit right in front of its tail plates. That bright color likely evolved there as a warning flag to other fish.
Caring for the blonde naso tang
Give a blonde naso tang at least 180 gal (680 L) with a long, open swimming lane. Fit a tight lid, since naso tangs are known to jump when startled.
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a diet heavy in marine algae and nori, alongside meatier foods, to keep it healthy long term.
The blonde naso tang is mostly peaceful with tank mates but squares off with other tangs and surgeonfish. Keep it as the only member of its genus in the tank. It is reef safe and leaves corals and invertebrates alone. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
Naso elegans belongs to the unicornfish group of the surgeonfish family, though it never grows a horn on its forehead. It was split from the closely related Naso lituratus in 2001, based on coloration and range. Naso lituratus is a Pacific species with a mostly black dorsal fin, where elegans has a yellow one. Both carry one or two fixed, blade-like plates on each side of the tail base. Unlike the spines of other tangs, these plates do not fold. Juveniles start out gray with a yellow dorsal stripe, then settle into deeper blue-gray tones and a lyre-shaped tail as they mature.
In the wild
Blonde naso tangs live along outer reef slopes and drop-offs in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. They often cruise open water in loose groups above the reef, rather than hugging the rockwork the way many tangs do.
Common questions
What size tank does a blonde naso tang need?
A blonde naso tang needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a blonde naso tang need?
A blonde naso tang is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a blonde naso tang eat?
A blonde naso tang eats a diet heavy in marine algae and nori, along with meatier foods.
How big does a blonde naso tang get?
An adult blonde naso tang reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).
Related species
17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Naso tang
Naso lituratus
17.7 in (45 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
21.7 in (55 cm)343 gal (1,300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Spotted unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
21.7 in (55 cm) · 343 gal (1,300 L)
23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Bluespine unicornfish
Naso unicornis
23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
23.6 in (60 cm)359 gal (1,360 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Vlamingi tang
Naso vlamingii
23.6 in (60 cm) · 359 gal (1,360 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Red Sea sailfin tang
Zebrasoma desjardinii
15.7 in (40 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Atlantic blue tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)