.........Flag-tailed Surgeonfish
Other names:...........Regal Tang Origin:......................Tropical Indo-Pacific Max size:..................10" Temperature:...........75-82 F. Min tank size:..........70 gallons Food:.........................live foods, vegetable matter, pellets |
The Flag-tailed Surgeonfish, or Regal Tang, makes a good addition to the reef tank. Like other Surgeonfishes, the body is round and deeply compressed. The fish is blue in color, with a yellow caudal fin that's edged in black. A black line runs from the caudal penduncle up across the body and to the eye. It also branches off to the top of the gill cover. The dorsal and anal fins are short, but long based and edged in black. Like other members of the Surgeon and Tang family, these fish have a small thorn on the caudal penduncle that can be retracted and used as self-defence against predators.
The aquarium should contain more swimming space than hiding space, and should be well lit. The Flag-tailed Surgeonfish was formerly known as Paracanthurus theuthis but has since been changed. Care should be taken when selecting tankmates for this active swimmer. Some of their brilliant coloring may fade with age. Sexing and breeding in captivity has been unreported.
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