BLUE TANG
Blue Tangs are striking tropical reef fish recognized by their royal blue bodies, bold black palette-shaped markings and bright yellow tails. These active surgeonfish live throughout the Indo-Pacific and often gather around coral reefs with strong water movement.
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ABOUT BLUE TANGS
The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) is a brightly colored surgeonfish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its range stretches from East Africa across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to islands such as Kiribati and Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to Australia's Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Adults are famous for their brilliant royal blue coloration, black palette-shaped marking and bright yellow tail. Juvenile coloration can look very different before the characteristic adult pattern develops. Blue Tangs commonly gather in loose groups around current-swept reefs and may shelter deep within branching coral when threatened.
Blue Tangs feed heavily on zooplankton and also consume algae. Like other surgeonfish, they possess a sharp retractable spine on each side of the base of the tail. These “scalpel” spines are defensive structures that can be raised when the fish feels threatened.
Care & Conservation
Blue Tangs are currently classified as Least Concern. However, healthy coral reef habitat remains essential to the species. Coral degradation, destructive fishing practices and collection for the aquarium trade can place pressure on reef ecosystems, making coral reef protection important for Blue Tangs and the many species that share their habitat.
Mon-Sat 11AM-7PM Sun 12PM-6PM
Visit Layton Aquarium & Wildlife Encounters and discover this brilliantly colored reef fish up close.