Fishician®Diet
Omnivore/Herbivore – seaweed/algae sheets, marine pellets, frozen brine/mysis shrimp
Aquarium species profile
Blue Tang
Paracanthurus hepatus · Indo-Pacific (Coral Triangle, Great Barrier Reef)
Minimum tank100 gal
Adult size12"
Care levelModerate
TemperamentSemi-Aggressive
Temperature72–82°F
pH range8.1–8.4
Compatible tank mates
Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Gobies; generally peaceful except with tangs
Tank mates to avoid
Other Paracanthurus tangs, overly aggressive fish; susceptible to bullying
Care notes
Prone to ich and HLLE (Head and Lateral Line Erosion). Needs lots of swimming space. Hardy once established. Feeds heavily on algae; supplement diet with nori/seaweed.
Check the whole aquarium. Tank size alone does not establish compatibility. Confirm adult size, water overlap, social grouping, territory, diet, and the individual animals before stocking.