Powder Blue Tang

Looks how to spot one

Scaled, oval surgeonfish

An oval, flattened fish with a crescent tail and a small beak-like mouth. The sides are a soft sky blue, the head is black, and a wide white band runs from the chest up to the throat. A yellow dorsal fin and a yellow patch at the tail base complete the look, and the colours stay the same from youth to adulthood.132

Personality what they are like

A spirited, energetic fish that likes its own space and can be assertive towards other surgeonfish, especially of the same genus. When food is plentiful it is happy to graze alongside others.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active by day and constantly on the move over the reef, picking algae from cracks and surfaces. Needs generous open swimming room.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Marine reef fish for a mature saltwater aquarium. Typical reef-tank conditions are 24-27 C, salinity 1.022-1.025 specific gravity and pH around 8.2, which sits within the 23-28 C water it lives in on the reef. Keep water quality stable and offer algae-based meals every day. The blade-like tail spines are sharp, so move it with a net or container rather than bare hands. It is a good fit for reef tanks with corals but is best kept apart from other Acanthurus tangs.413

Home where they are happiest

Lives in clear, shallow water on reef flats and upper outer reef slopes, from the surface to about 25 m. A large, well-lit reef aquarium with strong water movement, open space and rockwork for grazing suits it. No minimum tank volume from a primary source was found.123

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A herbivore that grazes benthic algae, especially small tufts growing in crevices. Offer mostly marine algae and seaweed-based foods.12

Company who they like around

Forms faithful pairs in the wild and may feed in large groups when algae are abundant, but becomes territorial when food is scarce. In aquariums it is usually kept as the only Acanthurus tang.123

The story where it all began

Edward Turner Bennett described the species in 1833, naming Sri Lanka as its type locality. Its name combines Greek words for white and breast, after the white chest. It is a long-standing favourite in marine aquariums.3

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed May 2010)1

Taxonomy

Family Acanthuridae; described by Edward Turner Bennett in 18333