Sailfin Tang

Care at a glance

Overview

A hardy algae grazer that is reef safe but grows large and swims hard, so it needs a big tank; it is somewhat less aggressive than the purple tang but will still defend a territory against other tangs and similarly shaped fish. Keep one per tank and add algae on a clip daily. Its only reef risk is occasional nipping of coral polyps while grazing, which is uncommon in a well-fed fish.

In the wild

A large western Pacific surgeonfish of shallow, algae-rich reefs and lagoons, where it grazes filamentous and larger algae over rock and rubble. It is a vigorous, near-constant swimmer that erects its tall dorsal and anal fins to look much bigger when threatened. It needs a long tank with wide open swimming lanes and plenty of grazing surface.

Good to know

Zebrasoma veliferum is named for its enormous sail-like dorsal and anal fins, veliferum meaning sail-bearing, which when raised make the fish's profile nearly circular and far larger than its body. It reaches about 30 cm in the aquarium, one of the largest Zebrasoma species, and juveniles are boldly barred in yellow and dark brown before the adult pattern develops.

Did you know

When it flares those huge sail fins it can nearly double its apparent size, a bluff it uses both to intimidate rivals and to startle would-be predators on the reef.

Related species

• 

  Purple Tang

  Zebrasoma xanthurum

  9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Red Sea Sailfin Tang

  Zebrasoma desjardinii

  15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Gem Tang

  Zebrasoma gemmatum

  8.7 in (22 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Black Tang

  Zebrasoma rostratum

  8.3 in (21 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Scopas Tang

  Zebrasoma scopas

  7.9 in (20 cm)90 gal (340 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Yellow Tang

  Zebrasoma flavescens

  7.9 in (20 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)