TankBud

Orangeshoulder tang

Acanthurus olivaceus

Also known as Orangeband Surgeonfish, Orange-shoulder Surgeonfish, Orangebar Tang

SaltwaterFish

Orangeshoulder tang (Acanthurus olivaceus)
Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
13.8 in
35 cm
Minimum tank
180 gal
680 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Acanthuridae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs, from Christmas Island to Hawaii and southern Japan

Overview

The orangeshoulder tang is one of the larger tangs in the trade, suited to a big reef tank. It is a good choice once you have a little experience.

Did you know

Juvenile orangeshoulder tangs are such a close match for young yellow tangs that the two are often mistaken for one another in dealer tanks. The giveaway shows only as the fish matures, when its color splits into a gray front, a blue-gray back and a bright orange shoulder stripe.

Caring for the orangeshoulder tang

Give an orangeshoulder tang at least 180 gal (680 L), since it outgrows a standard 125-gallon setup. It needs a long tank with a wide-open swimming lane, plus rockwork carrying a healthy film of algae.

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 is vulnerable to marine ich when stressed. Give new arrivals a full quarantine before adding them to the display.

In the wild it grazes algae film and detritus off the bottom. In the aquarium, feed regular nori or dried seaweed plus a steady supply of meaty frozen food. Good feeding keeps it in condition and reduces squabbling over food.

The orangeshoulder tang is semi-aggressive toward other tangs and surgeonfish, though milder about it than many Acanthurus species. It is generally easygoing with unrelated fish and reef safe with corals and invertebrates.

Good to know

Acanthurus olivaceus carries the folding scalpel spine common to its genus at the base of the tail. It uses the spine mainly against other tangs while defending territory. The orange, comma-shaped shoulder patch gives the species its name. It is a big grower for a reef tang, though most aquarium specimens top out closer to 25 cm.

In the wild

Orangeshoulder tangs live on Indo-Pacific reefs from Christmas Island to Hawaii and southern Japan. Adults graze sandy and rubble bottoms between about 9 and 46 m. Juveniles shelter in shallower, more protected water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The orangeshoulder tang is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an orangeshoulder tang need?

An orangeshoulder tang needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an orangeshoulder tang need?

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

What does an orangeshoulder tang eat?

An orangeshoulder tang eats regular nori or dried seaweed, plus a steady supply of meaty frozen food. In the wild it grazes algae film and detritus.

How big does an orangeshoulder tang get?

An adult orangeshoulder tang reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).

Related species