Tang fish, also known as surgeonfish, are a diverse group of fish known for their vibrant colors and unique body shapes. Here is a list of some popular tang fish species:
- Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus): The blue Tang or Regal Tang Bis perhaps one of the most recognizable tang fish. It has a bright blue body with a yellow tail and black markings. This species gained popularity after the character Dory from the movie “Finding Nemo” was depicted as a blue tang.
- Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens): The yellow tang is known for its striking bright yellow coloration. It has a laterally compressed body and a sharp spine near the base of its tail.
- Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon): The powder blue tang has a powder blue body with a yellow dorsal fin and yellow accents near the eyes. It is characterized by a dark patch at the base of its pectoral fin.
- Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus): The powder brown tang has a brown body with light speckles and a yellow dorsal fin. It has a small white patch near the caudal peduncle.
- Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum): The sailfin tang has a deep bluish-black body with a sail-like dorsal fin, hence its name. It also has a yellow anal fin and tail.
- Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis): The chevron tang has a distinct pattern of chevron-like markings along its body. It is typically yellow with brown markings and a white caudal fin.
- Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles): The Achilles tang is highly sought after for its vibrant coloration. It has a dark body with a bright orange band running along its side and a yellow tail.
- Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas): The scopas tang has a brownish-gray body with yellow dorsal and anal fins. It has a slender body shape and a pointed snout.
- Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus): The kole tang has a bluish-gray body with white markings and a yellow tail. It is known for its ability to consume algae, making it popular for reef aquariums.
- Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis): The tomini tang has a yellowish body with a white head and a black eyestripe. It has a slender body shape and is known for its algae-eating habits.
- Desjardin’s Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii): This tang species has a vibrant yellow body with a black and white pattern on the caudal fin. It also has a prominent sail-like dorsal fin.
- Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum): The purple tang is known for its stunning purple body with a yellow tail and dorsal fin. It is a highly sought-after species for reef aquariums.
- Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus): The Atlantic blue tang is found in the Atlantic Ocean and has a striking blue body with a yellow tail and a dark black stripe that runs vertically across the body.
- Red Sea Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma saheli): This tang species has a bluish-gray body with a yellow dorsal and anal fin. It is found in the Red Sea and surrounding regions.
- Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii): The Indian Ocean sailfin tang has a distinct coloration, with a bluish-gray body, a yellow dorsal fin, and vertical black stripes along the body.
- Pacific Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer): This tang species has a predominantly brownish-black body with a long, sail-like dorsal fin. It also has yellow accents on the tail and anal fins.
- Gem Tang (Zebrasoma gemmatum): The gem tang is a rare and highly prized species known for its vibrant colors. It has a deep black body with white spots and a yellow tail.
- Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans): The blonde naso tang has a bluish-gray body with a bright yellow tail and a long, pointed snout. It is characterized by a black mask-like marking on its face.
- Mimic Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus): This tang species is known for its ability to mimic other fish species. It has a predominantly brown body with yellow and white markings.
- Vlamingi Tang (Naso vlamingii): The vlamingi tang has a striking coloration with a bluish-gray body, a yellow tail, and bright blue lines that radiate from the eyes.
- Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal): The Sohal Tang has a striking coloration with a bright blue body and yellow accents. It also has sharp spines near the caudal peduncle and a dark mask-like marking on its face.
- Orange Shoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceus): This tang species has a grayish-brown body with an orange shoulder patch near the base of the pectoral fin. It also has a yellow tail and a dark mask-like marking on its face.
- Chocolate Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus): The Chocolate Tang has a dark brown body coloration with yellowish highlights and a yellow tail. It has a distinctive elongated snout and can grow quite large.
- Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus truncatus): The Chevron Tang features a brownish body with a series of yellow chevron-shaped markings along its side. It also has a black stripe near the base of the tail.
- Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus bahianus): The Atlantic Blue Tang has a bright blue body with a yellow tail and a black stripe running vertically along the body. It is similar in appearance to the Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus).
- Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus spp.): Bristletooth tangs belong to the Ctenochaetus genus and are known for their bristle-like teeth used for grazing on algae. They come in various species, including the Yellow Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) and the Two-Spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus).
- Yellow Eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus): The Yellow Eye Tang has a bluish-gray body with yellow accents and a prominent yellow eye. It is known for its appetite for algae.
- Orangeshoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceus): The Orangeshoulder Tang has a grayish-brown body with an orange shoulder patch near the base of the pectoral fin. It also has a yellow tail and a dark mask-like marking on its face.
- Epaulette Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans): The Epaulette Surgeonfish has a unique coloration with a dark body and a distinctive white shoulder patch behind its pectoral fin. It also has a yellow tail and fin accents.
There are still many offshore Tang fish species that we have not discovered yet. Please send us information if you know any and we will update and share the knowledge with everyone.