Naso tang
Naso lituratus
Also known as Orangespine Unicornfish, Lipstick Tang
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°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
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Origin
- Pacific Ocean
Overview
The Naso tang is a large Pacific surgeonfish for a big, established reef system. It is a moderate challenge, so it suits a keeper with some reef experience.
Did you know
The Naso tang's fixed orange tail spines are permanently locked in the extended position, rather than folding away like most surgeonfish scalpels. The fish is always armed and can slash sideways at a rival or a careless hand at any moment.
Caring for the Naso tang
Give a Naso tang at least 180 gal (680 L) in an established, spacious system. It is a powerful, wide-ranging swimmer. Give it a very long tank with big open swimming lanes and strong flow, not just tall rockwork.
Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Build its diet around brown macroalgae and dried marine algae, not just meaty foods, or it declines over time.
The Naso tang is generally peaceful and reef safe, and it will not touch corals. It can be mildly territorial toward other Naso or similarly shaped tangs but is calm with most tank mates. Keep one per tank.
Good to know
Naso lituratus is also called the orangespine unicornfish, though unlike true unicornfish it grows no horn. Its two forward-hooking scalpel plates on each side of the tail base are set in bright orange. Adults develop trailing filaments on the tail lobes. They also grow a yellow-and-black facial mask with orange lips, the source of the lipstick tang nickname.
In the wild
Naso tangs live on outer reef slopes and channels in the Pacific. They feed on tough brown macroalgae such as Sargassum, Dictyota and Padina, cruising along the reef face in moderate to strong current.
Common questions
What size tank does a Naso tang need?
A Naso tang needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Naso tang need?
A Naso tang is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Naso tang eat?
A Naso tang eats a diet built around brown macroalgae and dried marine algae. Meaty foods alone are not enough, and it declines over time without the algae.
How big does a Naso tang get?
An adult Naso tang reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).
Related species
17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blonde naso tang
Naso elegans
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)