Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal)
Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Arabian Tang, Sohal surgeonfish, Zebra Surgeon, Majestic Tang, Majestic Surgeon, Zebra tang, or Red Sea Clown Surgeon is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean where its range extends to the Red Sea, east along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, to the Persian Gulf.
Sohal Tangs found in the Mediterranean during 2017 and 2017 were either released there by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts or by Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal.
Sohal Tang are a normally encountered alone or in small schools along the shallower lagoons, outer coral reef flats of their range exposed to surges, rocky formations where they graze on a variety of algae that grow on the hard substrates including Sargassum, filamentous green algae, and a variety of other algae at depths to around 65 feet or more.
Acanthurus sohal are a common solitary species that are extremely territorial of their grazing grounds. Despite being a solitary species, they will frequently school to patrol the boundaries of individual grazing territories from other fish.
Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal)
Sohal Tang has a body depth about half of its length. The body is a stunning light blue to blue gray color with dark blue to black longitudinal stripes that begin at the forehead, become squiggly behind the eye, and become broader until they join together at the orange scalpel at the caudal peduncle.
The lower head and ventral surface of the body are pale blue with faint gray or greenish grey longitudinal lines. There is an orange splotch behind the bright yellow splotched pectoral fins, with most of the fins being jet black outlined with vivid electric blue. The sharp boney scalpel on the caudal peduncle of the lunate tail is said to be venomous in this species.
Because of their large adult size, the Sohal Tang should be housed alone in a FOWLR or reef tank of at least 250 gallon capacity with a coralline or sandy gravel substrate, plenty of mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to hide among, and a lot of free swimming space. In order to maintain exceptional water quality; a wave maker for a strong water flow and an efficient protein skimmer for waste removal is essential.
The Sohal Tang is primarily a herbivore and is generally considered reef safe, however, they feed on many species of algae which may include desirable coralline algae in the system as well as some species of soft and hard corals. Caution should be exercised before including them in a well-established reef tank with abundant macroalgae.
Sohal Tangs are only suited for very large aquariums with species capable of handling their aggressive and domineering nature. Juveniles are generally well behaved with existing tank mates but can be aggressive to any new additions. It is best not to house them with other Tangs.
Some tank mates that are not likely to provoke aggression include Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris spp.), Six-Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia), Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa),
Bristletooth Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis), and Blue Green Chromis (Chromis viridis).
When setting up a new system, Acanthurus sohal should be the last fish introduced into the aquarium.
The Sohal Tang is generally not available through aquaculture and has not yet been bred in an aquarium environment.
In their natural habitat the Sohal Tangs diet primarily consists of algae. In an aquarium environment, they should be fed a varied diet of high quality marine pellets, marine algae sheets on a veggie clip, seaweeds, and occasionally fresh or frozen enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or chopped shrimp. Several feedings daily of small portions are recommended.
The majority of Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal) available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts are caught by net in the wild. They are occasionally available on waiting lists through specialty fish shops, wholesalers and online retailers like Saltwaterfish.com at approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1″ to 2″; Small/Medium: 2″ to 2-3/4″; Medium: 2-3/4″ to 3-1/2″; Medium/Large: 3-1/2″ – 4″ Large: 4″ to 5″.
Prices start at around $349.99 for small to medium size specimens.
Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal)
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 74-80° F, , dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 16″
Color Form: Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef safe
Origin: Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: 7-10 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
