TankBud

Mimic tang

Acanthurus pyroferus

Also known as Chocolate Tang, Chocolate Surgeonfish, Mimic Surgeonfish, Yellow Mimic Tang

SaltwaterFish

Mimic tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)
Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
11.4 in
29 cm
Minimum tank
129 gal
490 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Acanthuridae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs, from East Africa to French Polynesia

Overview

The mimic tang is a solitary surgeonfish for a large reef tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

A juvenile mimic tang impersonates a dwarf angelfish so convincingly that it can fool other fish on the reef. In the central and eastern Pacific it copies the lemonpeel angelfish, and farther west near Palau it copies the half-black angelfish. It drops the disguise entirely once it is large enough to fend for itself.

Caring for the mimic tang

Give a mimic tang at least 129 gal (490 L), with open water for cruising and plenty of live rock to claim as territory. Leave room for it to grow into its adult size.

Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Like other tangs, it can come down with marine ich if stressed during shipping or acclimation. Ease it into the tank slowly, and it settles in well once established.

Offer nori or dried seaweed regularly, along with algae-based flake or pellet food and the occasional meaty frozen food. It is reef safe with corals and invertebrates.

The mimic tang is peaceful with unrelated fish. It grows more territorial toward other tangs and surgeonfish as it ages, so keep a single adult per tank.

Good to know

Acanthurus pyroferus carries the folding scalpel spine typical of its genus at the base of the tail. It uses the spine in defense or in disputes with other tangs. Adults turn chocolate brown to blackish as they mature.

In the wild

Mimic tangs range across Indo-Pacific reefs from East Africa to French Polynesia. They usually live alone on coral and rocky reef faces, from just below the surface down to 60 m.

Common questions

What size tank does a mimic tang need?

A mimic tang needs at least 129 gal (490 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a mimic tang need?

A mimic tang is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a mimic tang eat?

A mimic tang eats nori or dried seaweed, algae-based flakes or pellets, and the occasional meaty frozen food.

How big does a mimic tang get?

An adult mimic tang reaches about 11.4 in (29 cm).

Related species