Facts on the Regal or Blue Tang Fish

The blue tang -- also known as the palette surgeonfish, Pacific blue tang, hepatus or regal tang -- is a salt water fish that originates in Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives and the Solomon Islands. Blue tangs also are commonly kept as pets in salt water fish tanks. They often can be found in schools with other fish from their scientific family, grazing on algae.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • Blue tangs are bony fish, deep blue to purple in color, with a yellow rear fin and black markings down their sides. They are able to change the brightness of their bodies. As juveniles, blue tangs are yellow with light blue edging along their dorsal and rear fins. Both adult and juvenile blue tangs are docile in temperament. They can be as small as 5 inches or as large as 15 inches.

    Breeding in the Wild

    • Male blue tangs reach sexual maturity when they are about 11 centimeters long. Female blue tangs are a little bigger at 13 centimeters when sexually mature. Blue tangs congregate to breed. In these large groups, the females will release their eggs, and the males will release their sperm. The eggs will incubate for several weeks before hatching.

    Diet

    • Blue tangs are herbivores. They feed on algae and other plant life in the wild and tend to graze on this plant life in schools with other tangs and scientifically related fish. They will eat meaty substitutes as pets but need an abundance of ocean seaweed and algae to maintain optimal health. Their immune system and general health are directly impacted by the quality of their diet both in the wild and in captivity.

    Kept as Pets

    • As pets, blue tangs generally are easy to care for. They are exclusively a salt water fish and need a tank with at least 180 gallons. Their tank temperature and pH should be between 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. The blue tang should be introduced to its environment with other fish of its own kind at the same time to avoid same-species aggressiveness. Otherwise, blue tangs will tolerate tank mates well. They can be more susceptible to certain diseases and parasites, so blue tangs in your tank should be carefully monitored.