Thompson's Tang

Thompson's Tang is a unique and somewhat unusual member of the surgeonfish family that stands apart from its relatives in several significant ways. Unlike the vast majority of tangs that are dedicated herbivores or detritivores, Thompson's Tang is primarily a planktivore, feeding on zooplankton in the water column rather than grazing algae from reef surfaces. Adults display a uniform chocolate-brown to dark grayish-brown body with a lighter colored tail, creating a simple but dignified appearance. The body shape is more streamlined and fusiform than the typical laterally compressed tang profile, reflecting its adaptation to mid-water feeding.

In the wild, Thompson's Tang is found across the Indo-Pacific from Hawaii to the Great Barrier Reef, typically inhabiting steep outer reef slopes and drop-offs where currents deliver rich supplies of zooplankton. It is one of the few tang species that regularly forms large schools, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, that hover in the water column above the reef, picking off passing plankton. This schooling and planktivorous lifestyle makes it ecologically distinct from most other surgeonfish and influences its care requirements in captivity.

In the home aquarium, Thompson's Tang requires a minimum of 125 gallons with strong water flow to simulate the current-rich environments it prefers. Its planktivorous diet means it readily accepts meaty foods like mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and high-quality pellets, alongside the algae-based foods that should still form part of its diet. It is one of the most peaceful tang species available, rarely showing aggression toward tankmates, making it an excellent community fish. Completely reef-safe, it will not harm corals or invertebrates.