Naso Tang

The Naso Tang is a strikingly beautiful and personality-rich surgeonfish that stands out for its dramatic coloration and distinctive facial features. Adults display a gray-brown body contrasted with a bright orange-red lip, a bold yellow dorsal stripe, and vivid orange patches at the base of the tail flanking two sharp, fixed keeled plates. The forehead gradually develops a prominent bump or rostrum as the fish matures, particularly in males, lending the species a distinguished profile. Males also develop elongated tail streamers that add to their impressive appearance, making fully grown specimens true showpieces.

In the wild, Naso Tangs inhabit steep outer reef slopes and current-swept channels throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Hawaii. They are strong, active swimmers that patrol large territories, often forming small groups or pairs. Unlike many tangs that rely exclusively on filamentous algae, the Naso Tang has a broader herbivorous diet in nature, heavily favoring brown leafy macroalgae such as Sargassum and Dictyota. This dietary preference makes dried nori seaweed an ideal staple food in captivity and should be offered daily in generous amounts.

Due to its potential adult size of up to 18 inches and its need for vigorous swimming, the Naso Tang requires a very large aquarium of at least 180 gallons, though 240 gallons or more is preferable for long-term housing. Despite its large size, this species is surprisingly personable and often develops a strong bond with its keeper, eagerly approaching the front glass at feeding time. It is generally well-mannered toward tankmates of different species but may show aggression toward other Naso species. Reef-safe and an excellent algae consumer, the Naso Tang is a rewarding fish for aquarists with the space to accommodate its needs.