Doctorfish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus)

The Doctorfish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus) more commonly known as Doctorfish Surgeonfish, or Doctorfish to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts, is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the Eastern Atlantic, it ranges to the tropical west coast of Africa (Senegal), and has been more recently identified in the central Mediterranean Sea.

The Doctorfish Tang is a dinural species that is typically found alone, in pairs, and as juveniles in loose agregations among the rocky outcrops and shallow coral reefs of its range, where it spends its daylight hours grazing on algae and organic detritus at depths to 130 feet. They are often found traveling with schools of Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) foraging through inshore seagrass beds.

At night, Doctorfish Tangs shelter in the crevices and caves along the reef to escape predators while they sleep.

Juvenile Doctorfish Tangs, Blue Tangs (Acanthurus coeruleus), and Sergeant Majors (Abudefduf saxatilis) in the Southwestern Atlantic around the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, often set up cleaning stations where they pick off molted skin, parasites, and algae growths from Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Doctorfish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus)

The Doctorfish Tang has a blue gray to dark gray body color with darker brown vertical stripes. Males are visually indistinguishable from females in size and color.

The Doctorfish is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 100 gallon capacity with a finely crushed coral or sandy substrate, and substantial quantities of mature algae encrusted live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among. Like many tangs, they require plenty of free swimming space, a good amount of water movement, and at least one shaded area in the tank.

Although Doctorfish Tangs are reef safe and will ignore coral polyps in your reef setup, they may occasionally take an interest to mussels or decorative clams. They will consume small crustaceans if an ample supply of microalgae is not present for them to graze on.

Except for conspecifics, the Doctorfish is generally peaceful towards most tank mates. In an extremely large community or reef tank with plenty of free swimming space, up to three or four can be housed together, especially when housed with other tang species. To reduce aggression between the tangs, introduce all the fish into the tank at the same time and provide plenty of algae for them to graze on.

Some good Doctorfish tankmates include Angelfish like the Emperor Angelfish, Anthias, clownfish, damselfish, Gobies (Neon Goby or Mandaring Goby), hawkfish, pufferfish, Planktivorous triggerfish (Picasso Triggerfish or Clown Triggerfish), eels, and other reef species of similar temperament. Avoid introducing other algae eaters into a FOWLR tank to minimize territorial disputes over food.

The teeth of Doctorfish are shaped for scraping algae and plant matter from the rocks they graze on. Because they swallow their food whole, they have developed a gizzard like organ in their intestine filled with particles of sand that is used to grind up algae prior to initiation of the digestive process.

Because very large aquariums are required for breeding and male and female Doctorfish Tangs, they have not been bred in an aquarium environment.

In their natural habitat Acanthurus chirurgus display the egg scattering spawning activity typical of the family Acanthuridae. They are broadcast spawners that gather in groups during the evening hours and pair up during spawning. After a brief courtship ritual, the male and female swim up into the water column to the surface where the female releases her eggs and the male immediately fertilizes them.

The small planktonic eggs (less than a millimeter in diameter) contain a droplet of oil and drift with the current along the surface until the translucent, plankton like larvae hatch out, usually within 24 hours of fertilization. The laterally compressed diamond shaped larvae have large eyes and pectoral fins. When the scales, dorsal, and anal fins begin to develop at about 1/4 inch in length, the larvae move to the bottom where they continue to grow into small Doctorfish. The juvenile Doctorfish Tangs reach sexual maturity in about nine months.

In their natural habitat Doctorfish Tangs spend their entire day in search of microalgae, seaweed, and any meaty bits of food they can find. In an aquarium environment they will graze on algae on the live rock and corals throughout the day. It is important that they are fed plenty of marine based seaweed and algae to strengthen their immune systems, reduce aggression, and improve their overall health.

Nori, Spirulina Flakes, herbivore flake foods and some meaty live or frozen foods like Mysis shrimp, krill, mussels, and brine shrimp should occasionally be offered to balance their diet and activate their metabolism. Doctorfish Tangs swallow their meals whole, so provide them with small portion sizes. Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad, and Ocean Nutrition are good, easy to use products.

Dried seaweed (Nori) tied to a rock or clamped onto a veggie clip or Chaetomorpha should be fed at least 3 times a week to avoid having a hungry tang in your tank.

Although the Doctorfish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus) is not often seen in the aquarium trade, they are available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish shops, online wholesalers, retailers, and trans shippers at the following approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1-1/4″ to 1-3/4″, Small/Medium: 2″ to 3″; Medium: 3″ to 4″, Medium/Large: 4″ to 5″; Large: 5″ to 6″. Prices start at around $25.00 for a tiny specimen to over $150.00 for adults.

Doctorfish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus)

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-79° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Maximum Size: 16″
Color Form: Gray, Brown
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef or FOWLR
Origin: Western Atlantic, Senegal
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: 7 – 8 years (28 years in the wild)
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)

Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Convict Surgeonfish or Manini is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific (except fror areas around the Arabian Peninsula), the Eastern Pacific in the lower Gulf of California down to Panama, (including the Revillagigedo Islands, Clipperton Island, Cocos Island, and the Galápagos Islands), Hawaii, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Adriatic Sea.

Their range extends from the East African coast and Madagascar to southwestern Japan, Australia, and Central America (including the many islands in the Pacific).

Convict Tangs are a peaceful shoaling species that inhabit the shallow coral reefs of their range where they can be found grazing on algae along with other species over hard bottoms in lagoons, bays, estuaries, and reef slopes at depths down to 300 feet.   Juvenile Convict Tangs are frequently collected in shallow tidal pools.

Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)

The Convict Tang has an oval shaped, laterally compressed body, a small head with a pointed snout, and thick lips.   It has six vertical black stripes equally spaced over a silver to white body that begin through the eye and end at the caudal fin.   It has two black spots on the caudal peduncle and a short, yellowish hued dorsal fin that extends almost the entire length of the body.

Like all tangs, they have a sharp retractable spine on each side of the caudal peduncle that they use for defense.  There are no distinguishing characteristics that differentiate males from females.

The Convict Tang is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 75 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or sandy substrate, substantial quantities of mature algae encrusted live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among, plenty of free swimming space, and a moderate linear flow of water movement in at least one area of the tank.

The Convict Tang is reef safe and gets along well with other peaceful tank mates.   Although they generally will not bother sessile invertebrates or corals in a reef tank, they may nibble at stony corals if enough algae is not provided.

Although the Convict Tang is one of the most peaceful surgeonfish species you can acquire, they can become slightly aggressive towards other Tangs and similar looking butterflyfish or angelfish; especially when crowded in a smaller tank.   Peaceful tank mates include Clownfish, Green Chromis, Blennies, Royal Gramma, Cardinalfish, etc.

Acanthurus triostegus will live peacefully with other Convict Tangs if they are all introduced into the tank at the same time.

Tropical fish keeping enthusiasts who intend to keep this species in a shoal should house them in a large aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with plenty of swimming area, mature live rock, and stocked with at least 6 or more tangs to spread out aggression.   To farther reduce aggression, provide plenty of additional algae for them to graze on.   Although they are a naturally shoaling species, shoals are less common in home aquariums due to necessity of adequate tank space.

Convict Tangs are very difficult to breed in an aquarium environment, mainly because the fry remain in the planktonic stage for several months and are constantly in danger of being sucked into filters.  Like other members of the surgeonfish family, they are egg scatters that broadcast their spawn in groups. Visual sexing is next to impossible but if you plan to keep a breeding harem of Convict Tangs, you will need at least 6 to 10 individuals in an appropriately sized aquarium to develop and identify a breeding pair.

The Convict Tang is an omnivore that requires a steady diet of marine based algae and seaweed to remain healthy.   Although Tangs will eat meaty foods along with the other fish in the aquarium, it is important that they are provided plenty of marine based seaweed and algae to strengthen their immune system, reduce aggression, and improve their overall health.

Spirulina flakes, seaweed, and dried nori tied to a rock or clipped on a veggie clip should be provided at least 3 times per week.   Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad and Ocean Nutrition are all ideal products that are convenient to use.

The Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus) is a common species that is frequently available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.   They are a great fish for controlling algae in the saltwater fish or reef aquarium and are available from brick and mortar fish shops and online from specialty fish shops, wholesalers, retailers, and trans shippers at the following approximate purchase sizes: Tiny: 3/4″ to 1-1/2″; Small: 1-1/2″ to 2″; Small/Medium: 2″ to 2-3/4″; Medium: 2-3/4″ to 3-1/4″; Medium/Large: 3-1/4″ to 4-1/4″; Large: 4-1/4″ to 6-1/4″. Prices start at around $89.99 for large specimens.

Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-79° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Maximum Size: 8″
Color Form: Black, White
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef or FOWLR
Origin: South Pacific, Coral Sea, Fiji, Indo-Pacific, Tahiti
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: 30 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Orange Spine Unicornfish, Elegant Tang, or Blonde Lipstick Tang is found in the Indian Ocean and ranges from Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa; and east through the islands of the western Indian Ocean to southwestern Indonesia; including Bali.

The Blonde Naso Tang inhabits the coastal and sheltered reef flats of their range, where they can uaually be found swimming in small groups and schools in open ocean locations above rocky bottoms, at depths from 15 to 98 feet, where they feed on benthic algae and seaweeds.

Although the Blonde Naso Tang is sometimes confused with the Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) which it resembles, the blond dorsal is a dead giveaway.

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Adult Blonde Naso Tangs have a dark bluish gray body color, a thin black mask between the eyes and mouth, and yellow orange colored lips. They have a yellow dorsal fin with a blue line at the base, and a black band above it. The pelvic and anal fins are dark brown.

The dorsal and anal fins have a narrow light blue margin and a black submarginal line. The yellowish colored caudal fin has black upper and lower margins and a submarginal black band joining the two. A bright yellow to orange area surrounds the pair of spines on either side of the caudal peduncle at the base of the tail.

Adult males have trailing filaments emanating from the tips of the lyre shaped caudal fin.

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Juvenile Blonde Naso Tangs have a lighter gray body color with a yellow stripe on the dorsal and anal fins. They have orange colored lips and a more orange colored lower anal fin. The body colors darken as they mature.

Blonde Naso Tangs from Hawaii are generally more brightly colored than those collected from other areas.

Because adult Blonde Naso Tangs grow to almost 18″ in an aquarium environment, they are best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 180 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or coraline sand substrate, plenty of live rock arranged into large caves and overhangs for them to hide among, and plenty of free swimming space. Like most other Surgeonfish, the Blonde Naso Tang likes water with a moderate to heavy flow that creates strong currents to swim in with higher oxygen levels. Pristine water conditions allow them to thrive.

Along with the normal maintenance required for reef systems, an appropriately sized reef filtration system with a good protein skimmer and multiple power heads is highly recommended.

Naso elegans are shy, nervous, and very active. A tight fitting lid is recommended to prevent them jumping from the tank when startled. Like other surgeonfish, they become aggressive with other tangs but are peaceful with other less aggressive fish species.

The Blonde Naso Tang is reef safe and will ignore corals, decorative clams, and invertebrates in the system. They benefit greatly from cleaner wrasses, cleaner shrimp, or neon gobies that remove parasites from their skin.   They lack a mucus barrier on their bodies which makes them susceptible to marine ich and velvet. Cryptocaryon is very common among tangs but is easily cured with copper drugs in a quarantine tank.

Because of their large size, the Blonde Naso Tang has not been bred in a home aquarium environment.   It is possible, but a huge tank would be required.

In their natural habitat Naso elegans display the egg scattering spawning activity typical of the family Acanthuridae.  They are broadcast spawners that pair up during spawning.   After a brief courtship ritual, the male and female swim up into the water column to the surface where the female releases her eggs and the male immediately fertilizes them. The planktonic eggs drift with the current along the surface until they hatch. The finless fry live off the yolk sack until completely absorbed, at which point they drift to the bottom of the reef feeding on microalgae until they grow into juveniles.

In the wild, Blonde Naso Tangs exclusively feed on marine algae and seaweed.   In an aquarium environment with plenty of mature live rock, they will generally accept a variety of foods; the bulk of which should consist of marine algae, seaweed, and other forms of vegetable matter. This will strengthen their immune system, reduce aggression and improve their overall health.   Offer dried seaweed tied to a rock or on a veggie clip, and feed at least 3 times per week.    Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad and Ocean Nutrition are all ideal products that are very easy to use.

Over time, Blonde Naso Tangs become friendly to their owners to the point of recognizing them and meeting them at the front glass at feeding time. They become tame enough to accept food from the fish keepers hand.

The Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans) is available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish shops, online wholesalers, retailers, and trans shippers at the following approximate purchase sizes from several areas in the Indo Pacific: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2″; Small/Medium: 2″ to 3″; Medium 3″ to 4″; Medium/Large: 4″ to 6″; Large: 6″ to 8″; X Large 8″ to 10″; XX Large 10″ to 12″. Prices vary depending on locale and size but start at around $250.00 for large Sri Lanka specimens to over $1,000.00 for 10″ to 12″ specimens.

Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans)

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 75-79° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 18″
Color Form: Black, Blue, Orange, Yellow
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef
Origin: East Indian and Pacific Ocean
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: Over 8 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Californian Sea Hare (Aplysia californica)

The California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) as the name implies, is found along the coast of California, USA and northwestern Mexico (including the Gulf of California).

The California Sea Hare can usually be found in the intertidal photic zone, at depths of less than a foot, to around 65 feet where they graze on red algae such as Laurencia pacifica, Plocamium pacificum, and Ceramium eatonianum.

Aplysia californica resembles the food that it grazes on and cannot be easily distinguished from the seaweed they are feeding on until they begin to move.

Because of their ability to store toxins from the seaweed that they ingest, they have few predators. The toxic nature of their flesh repels most predators except lobsters, starfish, and the ophistobranch Navanax inermis which consumes juvenile Sea Hares.

Californian Sea Hare (Aplysia californica)

The California Sea Hare  has a speckled, reddish to greenish brown body, with black splotches. The body color varies depending on what species of algae they ingest.   They have two tentacles on the head over the eyes, and two more on the face that surround the mouth.   Aplysia californica have an internal shell that protects its internal organs; two parapodia, or folds, that incase and protect the gills, and a footlike muscle that allows them to locomote over the substrate.

When threatened, the California Sea Hare is capable of releasing an ink like substance for protection, much like squid.   However, they can release two different types of ink from different locations in their body.   A reddish purple colored ink is released from their purple ink gland, and a milky white ink that contains an averse chemical called opaline is released from their opaline gland.

The purple ink creates a dark, diffused cloud in the water that acts as a decoy or screen that disrupts the sensory perception of the predator. The milky opaline ink disrupts the senses associated with feeding. It triggers an instinctive predatory attack on the chemical cloud as if it were food.

The California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) is a large species that in the wild can grow to over 24 inches in length.  In an aquarium environment, they seldom exceed 12 inches in length.  The closely related Black Sea Hare (Aplysia vaccaria) can grow even larger than adult Californian sea Hares, which can exceed 30 inches in length and weigh up to 15 pounds.

Because of their large adult size and specialized feeding habits, the California Sea Hare should be housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or sandy substrate, some mature live rock, plenty of Laurencia pacifica, Plocamium pacificum, and Ceramium eatonianum to feed on.    They are reef safe and will get along with peaceful fish but because of their size may rearrange coral frags and other décor in the tank.

Like all marine invertebrates, the California Sea Hare is sensitive to rapid changes in water quality and need stable water conditions.   A good filtration system, protein skimmer, and powerhead for some moderate water movement will keep them healthy and happy.

Aplysia californica has become a valuable laboratory animal that is being used in plasticity studies and studies of the neurobiology of learning and memory.  It has a simple nervous system that is capable of a variety of non associative and associative learning tasks such as habituation, sensation, and operant conditioning.

The California Sea Hare is hermaphroditic.  It simultaneously acts as a male and female during mating.  Mating usually commences during the summer months when the water temperatures get to 63° F.    Egg laying is normally triggered by copulation which almost always occurs during the early morning hours.  Although the passage of sperm takes only a few minutes, the act of copulation can last for hours and sometimes even for days.    After 8 or 9 days the greenish yellow eggs will turn a brown color, which is a precursor to the eggs hatching out.

It takes about 19 weeks for the California Sea Hare to regenerate itself into a juvenile.  The eggs reach the planktonic stage in about 37 days.  At around 30 days, the larvae move on from the planktonic stage and begin to feed on red algae.   It takes anywhere from 45 to 80 days after the eggs hatch for the larvae to become juveniles.  Reproductive maturity is reached 85 days after hatching, which is about 133 days after the fertilized eggs are deposited. on the substrate.   Like octopus, the California sea hare often dies shortly after laying their eggs.

In less than a five month period, an individual California Sea Hare weighing 5.8 pounds was recorded to have laid about 500 million eggs during 27 separate spawning occasions.

In their natural habitat, the California Sea Hare feeds mostly in the shallow intertidal zones on several varieties of red algae.    Red algae such as Laurencia pacifica, Plocamium pacificum, and Ceramium eatonianum give the Aplysia its pinkish to reddish brown coloration and helps them blend into their surroundings.  In an aquarium environment, they require large quantities of algae in their tank to keep them healthy.

Lacking a steady diet of algae in their diet, they will usually not eat enough of anything else to thrive and will slowly starve to death.  Because of this and their short life span, only expert tropical fish keeping enthusiasts should attempt to maintain this species.

The California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) is occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as juveniles from local divers, specialty fish shops, Nudibranch forums, and a few online sources who sell Nudibranchs at reasonable prices.

Californian Sea Hare (Aplysia californica)

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: Established FOWLR or Reef
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Relatively hardy
Water Conditions: 72-78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size:  16″
Color Form: Reddish Brown, Black, Purple
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Origin: eastern Pacific Ocean
Family: Aglajidae
Lifespan: Unkonwn
Aquarist Experience Level: Advanced

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

The Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Orange Spike Polycera or Sorcerer’s Nudibranch has been encountered from Cape Arago, Oregon, USA, to Bahía Estero de Coyote (on the Punta Eugenia peninsula, just south of Bahía Tortugas), Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The Pen And Ink Nudibranch is usually found in bays and estuaries rather than the open coastal areas of their range. Found at depths to 60 feet, Polycera atra are rarely found in the intertidal zones.   They are fairly common in kelp forests where they feed on bryozoans such as Bugula pacifica and the encrusting bryozoan, Membranipora membranacea, known colloquially as the “coffin box”, which is abundantly found encrusting seaweeds; particularly kelp.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch are normally found in groups; seldom as solitary individuals. Juveniles less than 1/4 inch and adults around 1 inch in size are easy to spot among the clumps of Bugula. Usually, either a white ribbon like eggmass, or a variety of sizes of nudibranchs feeding on the outer edges of the Bugula will be visible.

Orange Spike Polycera are also occasionally found among communities of organisms that grow on artificial surfaces like the sides of docks, marinas, harbors, and boat hulls.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

The Pen And Ink Nudibranch has a translucent gray white body color with longitudinal black stripes interspersed with rows of raised yellow orange spots. The rhinophores and gills are black with orange tips. About a half dozen orange tubercles are visible on the dorsolateral ridge from each rhinophore to the gills, and the front veil has 4 to 8 tapering yellow orange tipped papillae.

There is an almost white form of Polycera atra with black stripes that occurs among the kelp beds of

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

Southern California. Originally believed to be a geographical color phase, the white form is due to their feeding habits on the bryozoan Membranipora, which encrusts offshore kelp. When this species feeds on the arborescent bryzoan, Bugula, they have much wider black stripes. Subtidal specimens collected from the southernmost limit of their range are darker in coloration.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

Because of their specialized feeding habits, the Pen And Ink Nudibranch has a relatively short life expectancy when kept in an aquarium environment. Although they are not recommended for home aquariums, tropical fish keeping enthusiasts able to fulfill their dietary requirements can house several individuals in an established reef tank of at least 30 gallon capacity with a fine crushed coral or sandy substrate, plenty of mature live rock, and obviously plenty of Bugula specific to the territory they were collected from.

Polycera atra should hava a good amount of water movement, so at least one powerhead is recommended in the system. Like all invertebrates, the Pen And Ink Nudibranch is very sensitive to rapid changes in water quality and requires stable water conditions. They are especially sensitive to higher levels of nitrates and cannot tolerate any amount of copper in the system.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch are simultaneous hermaphrodites that have both male and female organs. Spawning is seasonable. Mating occurs

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

when both individuals dart their penis’s toward each other until a victor penetrates the body wall of the other and becomes the dominant male. This behavior induces one organism to act as a male, and the other as the female.

Eggs are deposited as a white, ribbonlike eggmass on a substratum where they develop into a vestigial veliger larval stage. The tiny larvae grow among the plankton into adults. Careful searching of colonies of the branching bryozoan Bugula will often yield specimens of Polycera atra and their egg masses.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra) are occasionally available by request to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty shops and online from a few sites that sell Nudibranchs. Nudibranchs are most commonly added to a reef or fish only tank to eliminate specific problems like aiptasia or flatworms. The problem is that once the problem is dealt with, the Nudibranchs will starve and die.

This being said, it is not a good idea to keep Polycera atra in an aquarium environment unless a constant food source is readily available for them.

Pen And Ink Nudibranch (Polycera atra)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Aquarium Type: Established Reef
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Relatively hardy
Water Conditions: 68-77°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 0.86″ – 1.57″
Color Form: Yellow, White, Black, Orange
Diet: Specialty Carnivore (Bryozoans)
Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Origin: Eastern Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California, Mexico (East Pacific), USA
Family: Polyceridae
Lifespan: Unknown
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert Only

California Aglaja (Navanax inermis)

The California Aglaja (Navanax inermis) is a large predatory sea slug known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts in Mexico as Navanax, is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from from Tomales Bay, California, in the north; to Laguna Manuela and to Jalisco in Mexico, in the south; including the Gulf of California.

The California Aglaja resembles a large nudibranch but is actually a sea slug that belongs to a more ancient line of opisthobranchs called the cephalaspideans, or headshield slugs and snails.

Navanax inermis are typically found on sandy, muddy, and rocky substrates associated with the rocky, intertidal regions and sub tidal mudflats of their range where they feed on a varietry of sea slugs and bubble snails of the order Cephalaspidea, and nudibranchs such as Hermissenda crassicornis, Polycera atra, and Dirona picta.

They are usually collected from tide pools, rocky beaches, mud flats, the muddy sand in shallow bays, and from the mud, rock, and sand offshore from the intertidal zone to depths of 98 feet or more.

The California Aglaja does not possess a radula or any organs associated with vision.  Despite being blind, they find their prey and locate potential mates by tracking the slime trails they leave behind using their chemoreceptors. When alarmed, they use chemical pheromones that can be sensed by other members of its species to communicate danger.

California Aglaja (Navanax inermis)

The California Aglaja has a rectangular profile with a slightly flattened head and varies in length from 2.5″ to 8.7″.   They have two large protruding lateral flaps on either side that run the length of the body and almost meet at the middle of the back, and a small internal calcified shell, somewhat like that of squid. Navanax have a dark body color that varies from black, brown, dark purple, to tan.  The margins of the parapodium are orange or yellow, edged with small electric blue dots.   Numerous white or yellow lines run the length of the body.

Because of their size and specialized feeding habits, the California Aglaja has a relatively short life expectancy in an aquarium environment. Although they can be kept as a single specimens in an established reef tank of at least 100 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or sandy substrate, some mature live rock, and various shelled species of Bulla and Haminoea for them to prey on; they are not considered suitable for aquarium keeping.

Like all marine invertebrates, Navanax inermis are sensitive to rapid changes in water quality and need stable water conditions. A good filtration system, protein skimmer, and powerhead for some moderate water movement will keep them healthy and happy.

Like all other Opisthobranchs, California Aglaja are simultaneous hermaphrodites; that possess both female and male reproductive organs. From January into the summer months, gelatinous egg masses can be found on the eelgrass of their range. Copulation frequently occurs in small groups, or “chains” of up to four individuals that can produce upwards of 800,000 eggs in a single spawn.  The eggs hatch out into embryos after 7 to 20 days and live as plankton in the upper water column.  In the southern portion of its range, Navanax inermis spawn year round.

The California Aglaja is a highly predatory sea slug that feeds on bubble snails, mudibranchs, small fish, and a variety of other sea slugs. In an aquarium environment, they require the same diet, which makes keeping them almost impossible to maintain.

The California Aglaja (Navanax inermis) are not normally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.   Aquarium specimens are occasionally collected and kept for short periods.   Their feeding requirements make them unsuitable for most aquarists.

California Aglaja (Navanax inermis)

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Aquarium Type: Established Reef
Care Level: Extensive
Temperament: Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Relatively hardy
Water Conditions: 72-78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size:  8.7″
Color Form: Yellow, White, Brown, Black, Purple
Diet: Specialty Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Origin: eastern Pacific Ocean
Family: Aglajidae
Lifespan: Unkonwn
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert Only

Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus)

The Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Clown Surgeonfish, Lined Surgeonfish, Striped Tang, Pyjama Tang, Striped Surgeonfish, Zebra Surgeonfish or Blue Banded Surgeonfish is native to the Indo-Pacific and ranges from East Africa (including the Mascarene Islands) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

The Clown Tang is a strong, active swimmer that is continually in motion.    They  gravitate toward wild reefs with strong turbid currents, and like most Tangs are aggressive and territorial with members of their species.  Clown Tangs will even lash out at similar looking Tangs during territorial conflicts.

Clown Tangs are a benthopelagic diurnal species that are normally encountered by divers in small to medium schools swimming in turbid surge zones of the seaward reefs of their range, at depths down to about 50 feet.    Juvenile Acanthurus lineatus are secretive, much more solitary, and are are normally found among rubble in shallower water from 3 to 10 feet deep, where they can easily take shelter from predators.

Clown Tangs are herbivores that control well defined feeding territories.    The largest male in a harem of females will normally take control the harem as well as the feeding territory.

Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus)

The Clown Tang has a broad, flat shaped body, a short snout with a small mouth, and a long continuous dorsal fin that extends from the top of the head to the forked caudal fin.

The top three quarters of the body has alternating horizontal blue with black edged striping on a bright yellow to orange background that extends from the head to the tail. The lower quarter of the body is a bluish white to pale purple color. The forked caudal fin is edged with black piping and has an asymmetrical blue and yellow pattern with broad separations between the lines.

The bodies of juveniles are deeper than the bodies of adult individuals.    Females are slightly larger than males.

The Clown Tang is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 250 gallon capacity with plenty of live rock with mature algae growth for them to feed upon; arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs  for them to hide among when they feel threatened.    They need plenty of open water free swimming space to accommodate their need to swim and explore, which requires a longer style tank.

Acanthurus lineatus need pristine, highly oxygenated water, and a strong turbid current in the tank to replicate their natural environment.  They are sensitive to water changes and the build up of toxic contaminants.  An excellent quality reef filtration system with a protein skimmer and several power heads strategically placed in the tank should keep them healthy and happy.

Clown Tangs are completely reef safe and will ignore coral polyps, ornamental clams, and invertebrates.  They are active foragers that love eating filamentous algae.  Although they do occasionally feed on crustaceans, their dietary habitats will help keep your reef tank vibrant and clean.

Because of their aggressive nature and high cost, it is best to keep only one tang in a FOWLR or reef system.  Coexistence is possible as juveniles, but unlikely as adults.  Generally, juvenile specimens are relatively docile, but once they reach about 6 inches in length, they become more and more aggressive.  The aggressiveness  increases as the fish fully mature into adulthood.

It is virtually impossible to breed the Clown Tang in a home aquarium environment.   They need a huge amount of space to live together, let along spawn.

In the wild, Clown Tangs live in social structure of one dominant male that protects a harem of multiple females.     They are broadcast spawners that form large spawning aggregations, but spawn in pairs.    Spawning activity occurs during full moon periods.

Courtship normally takes place throughout the day at various times.   Although actual spawning can occur from mid day throughout the afternoon and is often confined to ebb tides, it generally peaks during the morning hours.   The male and female spiral upwards towards the surface and release their eggs and sperm into the water column.   The fertilized eggs have a minute droplet of oil in them that allows them to float on the surface until they hatch out into small larvae.  The tiny larvae develop among the floating plankton until they become mature enough to swim to a reef and begin life as a juvenile Clown.

Clown Tangs are herbivorous foragers that in their natural habitat graze on algae and small crustaceans throughout the day.

In an aquarium environment, they require plenty of algae growth live rock to graze on during the day along with a variety of plant based foods like chopped leafy greens, zucchini, Nori (presented on a veggie clip or tucked in between some live rock), and occasional meaty offerings of  brine shrimp, mussels, Mysis shrimp, and blood worms.  Feeding them meaty proteins will help Clown Tangs maintain their bright colors.

Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad, and Ocean Nutrition are also good preparations that are easy to use.  Feed them at least 3 times per week.

Note: Because all Clown Tangs are wild caught and prefer grazing across reefs, new specimens will often refuse to eat when first introduced into the aquarium.   Hold off feeding them meaty protein foods until they are eating herbivore preparations well.

The Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus) is a high maintenance species that may not be suitable for all tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  They are available from marine aquarium stores and online from a variety of wholesalers, retailers, and collectors at the following approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″; Small/Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3-1/4″ Medium: 3-1/4″ to 4-1/4″.  Expect to pay $89.99 for a small fish from Sri Lanka to around $495.00 for a large specimen of 9 inches or more.

Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus)

Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy once acclimated
Water Conditions: 72-85° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 14″
Color Form: Blue, Orange, Yellow
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef Ok
Origin: Eastern and Western Pacific Ocean, Hawaii
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: 25 – 30 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert

Spider Conch (Lambis lambis)

The Spider Conch (Lambis lambis) is a large species of sea snail that is widespread in Indo-West Pacific Oceans.

The Spider Conch is a true conch in the Strombidae family that is found in the shallow waters of reef flats, mangrove flats, and among coral rubble bottoms of their range.  Spider Conchs are commonly found in colonies around growths of fine red algae at low tide depth levels, to a depth of 16 feet or more.

The Spider Conch has a large, heavy, powerfully built shell, with a flared outer lip and six long, hollow, protruding horns that resemble

Juvenile Spider Conch (Lambis lambis)

spiders legs (i.e. its common name).   They have a “trunk” like mouth and eyes on long stalks that can move independently.

Juvenile snails look like large Volutes and lack the long spines that adults posses.

Spider Conch (Lambis lambis)

The external shell color of the Spider Conch is highly variable but is usually a white or cream color splotched with patches of brown, purple, or bluish black. The upper side is usually well encrusted and blends into the surrounding sea floor.  The glazed interior can be orange, pink, or purple.

Although Lambis lambis can grow up to 12 inches (including appendages) across; their average size is about 9 inches.   Sex can be determined by the size and direction of their marginal hollow “legs”.   In males, the three forwardmost legs are short and bent towards the rear.   In females, the legs are longer and dorsally recurved.

Like other conch snails, the Spider Conch hops using the knife like operculum at the tip of its long muscular foot.  The spider like spines on the shell are believed to improve stability and prevent the snail from toppling over as it hops along the substrate.

The Spider Conch is reef safe and is best housed in a reef aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with algae encrusted live rock and large amounts of deep sandy substrate for them to sift through and feed among.   They spend a good amount of time cleaning and sifting the sand bed and can disappear under the substrate for extended periods.   Although their sand sifting does not harm beneficial sand micro fauna or disturb bacterial micro zones in the sand bed, Spider Conchs have a tendency to crawl on the live rock and could disturb loose rocks and coral frags in a reef system.   Avoid housing them with predatory fish species.

The Spider Conch has been bred under controlled conditions however, the veligers are extremely difficult to raise. In 2010, after about four months of maintenance, a pair exhibited mating behavior and laid a mass of filamentous eggs. In the middle of the day, the male and female positioned face to face and copulated for about a 3 to 4 hour period. Two weeks after mating, several brown, adhesive, thread like masses of clindrical egg filaments were deposited onto the substrate. For three days, the female remained close to the spawn, partially or entirely covering it with her shell until the eggs hatched out. After 5 days, the small veligers had a well defined digestive system and were swimming close to the surface. Unfortunately, they did not survive to adulthood. More on their breeding can be found HERE.

In their natural habitat, Spider Conchs feed on red hair algae, film algae, red algae, detritus, and many other cyano species.   They are excellent cleaners and substrate stirrers.   In a mature reef aquarium with plenty of deep, sandy substrate and live rock; they will eat excess algae and detritus.   Sinking algae pellets and spirulina can be fed to augment what they find in the tank to eat.

The Spider Conch (Lambis lambis) is a great addition to your tank if you are looking to add an invertebrate that is beautiful, unique, and beneficial. They are available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish shops and online from a variety of retailers at reasonable prices.   Adult 4″ (6″ overall) specimens are priced at around $20.00.

Spider Conch (Lambis lambis)

Minimun Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: Established Reef or FOWLR
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 74-80°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 12″
Color Form: Orange, Cream, White, Yellow, Purple
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Origin: Indo West Pacific
Family: Strombidae
Lifespan: Over 4 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen)

Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Black Angelfish, Whitespot Angelfish, Tibicen Angelfish, Melas Angelfish, or Puller Angelfish are found throughout Indo-Pacific waters from the coast of Australia and Christmas Island in the east Indian Ocean to Fiji, east through the Indo-Australian Archipelago to Vanuatu and Tonga, as far north as southern Japan and Taiwan, and south to Scott Reef and Lord Howe Island.

Keyhole Angelfish are found alone and in close groups or harems of 3 to 7 individuals among mixed coral and rubble in the lagoons and seaward reefs of their range at depths from 13 to over 180 feet where they feed on algae, tunicates, filamentous algae, and diatoms.

Keyhole Angelfish have the ability to change sex from female to male.  When there is no male is in a harem, the largest, most dominant female in the group normally makes the gender shift.

Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen)

Keyhole Angelfish have a black to dull brownish blue body color with an elongated, vertical white blotch on the upper middle body that give it its common name. The pelvic and lower portion of the anal fins are yellow, and the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are edged with a submarginal blue line.  Juveniles are mainly black with a white bar that gradually changes into a central blotch that varies greatly in shape and size with age.  Female Keyhole Angelfish are usually an overall black color, while the males tend to be more dark blue.

Keyhole Angelfish can be housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 70 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or live sand substrate and plenty of live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among.  They are not considered reef safe because of their penchant for nipping at stony and soft corals, the mantles of decorative clams, and other sessile invertebrates.  They will clean up problem  filamentous algae and diatoms in your tank.

Keyhole Angelfish should not be housed in a FOWLR tank with other fish in the same genus, pygmy angels, or fish that are similar in size, shape, or eating behavior.   A pair or small harem can be housed in a larger aquarium of 100 gallons or more with plenty of live rock, but two males will fight to the death.

Good tankmates for Melas Angelfish in a large FOWLR tank are dottybacks, 6-line & 8-line wrasse, damselfish, anthias, and clownfish.

Keyhole Angelfish have not been bred in an aquarium environment.   They are broadcast spawners that release their eggs and sperm into the water column simultaneously at dusk.    After a brief  “dance” where the male and female circle each other, the male will swim off the bottom and hover while tilting his body towards the female at a 45 degree angle.  If the female is ready to spawn, she will join the male and swim belly to belly towards the surface where they simultaneously release white clouds of sperm filled gametes into the water column for external fertilization.

The planktonic eggs drift with the current on the surface until they hatch into tiny larvae.   After hatching, the finless fry live off their yolk sack until it is completely absorbed, at which point they drift down to the bottom of the reef and begin to eat small zooplankton.

In their natural habitat, Melas Angelfish feed mainly on algae and small crustaceans.    In an aquarium environment, they need a good amount of algae growing naturally on the live rock in the tank to remain healthy.   A quality varied diet of fresh, frozen, or freeze dried meaty and vegetarian foods with marine algae, spirulina, frozen Mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, and meaty crustaceans such as shaved shrimp or clams fed 2 to 3 times a day will keep them healthy and disease free.   Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad, and Ocean Nutrition are all easy to use products that will keep them healthy.

Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen) are usually available online and in tropical fish stores at approximate purchase sizes of: Small: 1″ to 1-3/4″; Medium: 1-3/4″ to 2-1/2″; Large: 2-1/2″ to 4-1/2″; XLarge: 4-1/2″ and Larger.  Prices start at around $89.99 for large specimens from Indonesia.

Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen)

Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOWLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 8″
Color Form: Black, Blue, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef Ok with Caution
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Pomacanthidae
Lifespan: Up to 10 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus)

The Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Threespot Angelfish is widely distributed throughout Indo-West Pacific waters and ranges from East Africa south to the 28° parallel, east to Samoa, north to southern Japan, and south to the northern coasts and islands of Australia.

Juvenile Flagfin Angelfish are very secretive and are usually encountered alone near sponges and corals in the lagoons and seaward reef slopes of their range, at depths from 9 to over 190 feet.   Although juveniles are usually found below 80 feet around the protection of rocky crevices and caves; adults are normally encountered at more moderate depths swimming alone, in mated pairs, or in small, loose groups feeding on sponges, algae, and tunicates.

Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus)

Flagfin Angelfish have a bright yellow body color with blue lips, a dark blueish black dorsal spot on the forehead above the eye, and a lighter tan spot behind the eye above the gill covers.   The dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins are yellow.  The anal fin is white with a wide black stripe along the outer half that resamples a flag, which gives them their common name.   Males tend to be larger than females.

Juvenile Flagfin Angelfish lack the spots about the head, have a narrow black band through eye, and a series of golden bars on their side.

Because of their specialized diet and timid behavior, Flagfin Angelfish are difficult to keep an aquarium environment.   Although they are most successfully housed in a mature reef aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or sand substrate and plenty of live rock for them to hide among; they feed on sponges and are prone to nip at soft and stony corals as well as decorative clam mantles.

Flagfin Angelfish can be housed in an aged FOWLR aquarium as the only angelfish in the tank provided they have plenty of live rock to graze on and hide among.  They are shy, timid, and easily stressed but do well with peaceful reef species like clownfish, gobies, damsels, etc. as tankmates.  Although tropical fish keeping enthusiasts have reported keeping juvenile Flagfin Angelfish with Regal Angelfish, Moorish Idols, and several dwarf angelfish species; no long term success has been achieved.

The Flagfin Angelfish has successfully spawned in large public aquariums, however, they have never been bred in a home aquarium environment.   `

Threespot Angelfish are broadcast spawners.  In the wild, spawning normally begins at sunset with the actual courtship ritual occurring at dusk.    Each male will swim toward and above their female and flutter their bodies in short jittery motions until the female is ready to spawn. When ready, the females will extend  her fins and rise to the surface with the male moving below her belly to nuzzle it with his nose.  As the pairs quiver and in their ascent toward the surface, they simultaneously release white clouds of sperm filled gametes into the water column for external fertilization.

The planktonic eggs drift with the current in the water column until they hatch into tiny larvae.   After hatching, the finless fry live off their yolk sack until it is completely absorbed, at which point they drift down to the bottom of the reef and begin to eat small zooplankton.

In their natural habitat, Flagfin Angelfish consume vast quantities of sponge material, sea squirts, marine algae, and tunicates.  In an aquarium environment, it is extremely important to replicate their diet to maintain proper nutrition and a healthy immune system.

They should be fed a high quality frozen angelfish preparation that includes a large amount of sponge material, a plethora of plant materials, and vitamin enriched meaty foods.  A varied diet of spirulina algae, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, seaweed (Nori) on a feeder clip, live sponges, frozen herbivore preparations, along with the live rock in the tank should provide them with their nutritional requirements.  Feed them small portions at least three times a day.

Because of its specialized dietary requirement of sponges, its inability to readily adapt to other foods, and its propensity to acquire white spot disease, velvet, viral infections, and monogenetic flukes;  Apolemichthys trimaculatus are recommended for expert aquarists only.

Although Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus) are not considered RARE, they are not readily available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.   When they arrive in fish shops in relatively good health, they are often kept in sterile quarantine settings without live rock.   Being finicky eaters, they will often reject frozen or prepared foods that could preserve their health.

This being said, they are available from specialty fish shops and online wholesalers, retailers, and collectors at the following approximate purchase sizes:  Small: 2″ to 2-3/4″; Small/Medium: 2-3/4″ to 3-1/4″; Medium: 3-1/4″ to 4″; Medium/Large: 4″ to 5″; Large: 5″ to 7″; XLarge: 7″ and larger;  Depending on size and area of collection, they range in price from $109.99 for a small specimens to over $159.99 for 6″ individuals.

Flagfin Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus)

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful, except with other large Angelfish
Hardiness: Finicky eaters, Hardy when fully acclimated
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 10.2″
Color Form: Black, Blue, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef with Caution
Origin:  Indo-West Pacific
Family: Pomacanthidae
Lifespan: Over 7 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert Only

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Regal Tang, Palette Surgeonfish, Pacific Blue Tang, Royal Blue Tang, Hippo Tang, Blue Hippo Tang, Flagtail Surgeonfish, Pacific Regal Blue Tang, Hepatus Tang, and Blue Surgeonsfish is native to tropical reefs across the Indo Pacific and is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus.

The Blue Tang has been encountered in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, East Africa, (including the Mascarene Islands to Kiribati) Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka as well as the Mediterranean Sea off Israel.

Blue Tangs are usually seen in pairs and small pods of 8 to 14 individuals among cauliflower corals (Pocillopora eydouxi) that grow along the clear, current swept terraces on the seaward sides of the coral reefs of their range, at depths from 6 to over 130 feet, where they congregate in loose aggregations 3 to 6 feet off the bottom.   Juveniles and adults are typically encountered hovering over isolated Pocillopora Eydoxi coral heads where they hide themselves tightly among the branches when startled.

Blue Tangs are a benthopelagic species that feed primarily on zooplankton and occasionally algae among the coral heads.   Because they eat the algae overgrowth that may otherwise choke cauliflower corals, Paracanthurus hepatus is very necessary to their health on the reef.

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

The Blue Tang has a flat, pancake like appearance; with a circular body shape, a pointed snout like nose, and tiny scales.  It has a vibrant royal blue body color with a black “palette” design that begins above the eye and progresses under the dorsal fin and above the lateral line to the yellow caudal fin.  The dorsal and anal fins are blue edged in black.  The bright yellow tail is also edged in black.  Males are generally larger than females.

Individuals collected in the west central Indian Ocean have a yellow lower body.

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

The Blue Tang is an active species that is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 180 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or reef sand substrate, large amounts of mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and ledges for them to graze on and hide among, and plenty of free swimming space.   Paracanthurus hepatus are reef safe and will ignore corals, decorative clams, and invertebrates in a reef tank.

In a FOWLR tank they are generally peaceful towards most tankmates, but they can become aggressive towards other fish of its own species when housed in a smaller aquarium.   It is possible to keep pairs and multiple specimens in larger marine systems by introducing the entire group at one time.   The Blue Tang requires highly oxygenated, pristine water quality for them to thrive in an aquarium environment; so a quality reef filtration system, skimmer, powerheads, and regular water changes are necessary

In 2016 after a six year long effort by biologist Kevin Barden of Rising Tide Conservation, the Palette Surgeonfish has finally been successfully bred in captivity.

Spawning occurs during the late afternoon and evening hours and is indicated by a change in the fish’s body color from the uniform dark blue, to a pale blue.

Paracanthurus hepatus are group spawners.   Males will aggressively court the females in the school until they are ready to spawn.  The pairs will quickly rush toward the surface in the water column where the eggs and sperm are released.  Each of the small (1⁄32 in dia.), pelagic, eggs contain a single droplet of oil for flotation.   The fertilized eggs hatch out in about twenty four hours.

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) larvae

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) fry

The small, translucent larvae have silvery abdomens and rudimentary caudal spines and remain in the planktonic stage for up to 60 days. When they are close to 1 inch in size, the small larvae settle out of the water column to the bottom where they feed on small zooplankton among the seagrass until they develop into juveniles.    The black “palette” pattern on juveniles do not fully connect until they fully mature.   Paracanthurus hepatus reach sexual maturity in approximately 9 to 12 months.

In their natural environment, Juvenile Blue Tangs feed primarily on plankton.   Adults are omnivores that feed on plankton and algae among Pocillopora Eydoxi coral heads.   In an aquarium environment with large quantities of aged live rock for grazing, they remain picky eaters that require a varied diet of meaty items and marine algae.

Although most Tangs require a steady diet of algae, the Pacific Blue Tang should also be fed meaty fares to satisfy its zooplankton dietary requirements.   Finely chopped fresh or frozen shrimp, Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and flake foods soaked in a liquid vitamin supplement like Kent Marine Zoecon, Selcon, or garlic to ward off parasites is highly recommended.

Dried seaweed offered on a veggie clip or some Nori tied to a rock should also be feed at least 3 times per week.    Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad, and Ocean Nutrition are all good, easy to use products that will keep them healthy.

It is important that they are provided plenty of marine based seaweed and algae along with meaty fares to strengthen their immune system, reduce aggression, and improve their overall health.

Because tangs produce much less body slime than other saltwater fish, they are often referred to as “dry skinned” fish.   The lack of body slime makes them very susceptible to Cryptocaryon (saltwater ich), lateral line disease, fin erosion, hole in the head, and other marine diseases. Pristine water quality and a varied diet will keep your Blue Tang in optimal health.

The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) is readily available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts at reasonable prices from specialty fish shops and online wholesalers, retailers, and collectors at the following approximate purchase sizes: Tiny: 1/2″ to 3/4″; Small: 1″ to 2″; Small/Medium: 2″ to 3″; Medium 3″ to 4″; Medium/Large 4″ to 5″; Large: 5″ to 6″; XLarge 6″ to 8″. Depending on size and locale they are collected from they range in price from $109.99 for a small/medium to well over $350.00 for 6″ specimens.

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 12.2″
Color Form: Blue, Black, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Reef Ok
Origin: Indo-Pacific Ocean, East Africa, Japan, Great Barrier Reef
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: Over 5 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert

Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus Tominiensis)

The Bristletooth Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus Tominiensis) known to tropical fish keeping enthuisiasts as the Tomini Surgeonfish and Flame Fin Tang is found in the Western Central Pacific and ranges from Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands, Palau, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga.

Although Bristletooth Tomini Tangs are commonly found in the Solomon Islands, they are most abundant along the northern half of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Bristletooth Tomini Tangs are encountered singly and in small groups along the coral rich drop offs of sheltered coastal waters of their range where they feed on algae and microfauna living among the algae.

Juvenile Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus Tominiensis)

Juvenile Bristletooth Tomini Tangs have a yellowish tan body color with yellow, blue, and white highlights; angular dorsal and anal fins that are colored orange along the soft outer portion; and a white forked caudal fin.   They have a white underbelly that turns brown as they mature into adults.

Adult Bristletooth Tomini Tangs have an almost solid brown body color, with bright golden yellow to orange tipped dorsal and anal fins, and a distinctly blue crescent shaped caudal fin. The forehead area above the eyes is dotted with small golden flecks and a yellow gold half circle surrounds the lower half of the large eyes.

The Bristletooth Tomini Tang is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 75 gallon capacity with a crushed coral or sandy substrate, substantial quantities of mature coral encrusted live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among, plenty of free swimming space, and a good amount of water movement. This species does not appreciate bright lighting.

This species is totally reef safe and will not bother sessile invertebrates, decorative clams, or corals.

Except for conspecifics, the Bristletooth Tomini Tang is peaceful towards most tank mates.  In a very large community or reef tank with plenty of free swimming space, up to three or four can be housed together, especially when housed with other tang species.   To reduce aggression between the tangs, introduce all the fish into the tank at the same time and provide plenty of algae for them to graze on.

Bristletooth Tomini Tangs are compatible with clownfish, angelfish, hawkfish, pufferfish, gobbies, eels, and other reef species of similar temperament.

Apparently Ctenochaetus Tominiensis have spawned in an aquarium environment but it is not known if the larvae were raised to adult size.

In their natural environment, Bristletooth Tomini Tangs are group spawners and open water egg scatterers. Breeding them successfully in a community tank is impossible, but in a very large tank specifically set up for group spawning, eggs have been laid in open water when the water temperature is slightly increased.

In their natural habitat on the coral rich tropical reef drop offs, Bristletooth Tomini Tangs spend their entire day in search of seaweed, marine algae, and any meaty bits of food they can find.   In an aquarium environment they will graze on algae on the live rock throughout the day.   It is important that they are fed plenty of marine based seaweed and algae to strengthen their immune systems, reduce aggression, and improve their overall health.

Nori, Spirulina Flakes, frozen Mysis shrimp, herbivore flake foods and some meaty live or frozen foods should occasionally be offered to balance their diet.   Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad, and Ocean Nutrition are good, easy to use products.

Dried seaweed (Nori) tied to a rock or clamped onto a veggie clip should be fed at least 3 times a week. This species needs plenty of greens to maintain good health.

The Bristletooth Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus Tominiensis) is available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish shops, online wholesalers, retailers, and trans shippers at the following approximate purchase sizes: Tiny: 3/4″ to 1-1/4″, Small: 1-1/4″ to 2″, Small/Medium: 2″ to 3″; Medium: 3″ to 4″, Medium/Large: 4″ to 5″; Large: 5″ to 6″.   Prices start at around $60.00 for a tiny specimen to over $275.00 for adults.

Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus Tominiensis)

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 75-82° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.026
Max. Size: 6.3″
Color Form: Brown, White, Yellow, Blue
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef Ok
Origin: Western Central Pacific
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: Over 5 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) school

The Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Powder Blue Surgeonfish is found throughout the shallow clear coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and ranges from eastern Africa to the Andaman Sea, southwest Indonesia, and from Christmas Island, into the western Pacific Ocean to Bali, Indonesia.

The Powder Blue Tang is a solitary dinural species that lives in the clear shallow waters of the reef flats and upper seaward slopes that surround the inshore coral reefs of their range, at depths to over 82 feet, where they feed on green macro algae, brown filamentous algae, benthic weeds, and small growths of algae among the crevices of reef rocks.  Their small protruding snouts allow them to feed on the algae that grow in the crevices.

Although the Powder Blue Tang is aggressive with other surgeonfish and usually encountered singly;  when there are plentiful supplies of food available, they will occasionally join up into large shoals and can be seen grazing together.

Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)

The Powder Blue Tang has an oval shaped laterally compressed body with a small snout and sharp small teeth that are used for grazing. It has a vivid powder blue to medium blue body color,  with a black head and a broad pale blue to white band around it from pectoral fin to the throat, and a vivid yellow dorsal fin, thinly edged in black and blue, that ends at the base of the caudal fin.   The pelvic and anal fins are white to pale blue and the crescent shaped caudal fin is white to pale blue outlined in black.   Like all tangs, they have a sharp scalpel like spine at base of the caudal fin that they use for defense. Males are smaller in overall body size than females.

The Powder Blue Tang can be housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a sand or crushed coral substrate, copious amounts of mature live rock for them to graze on and hide among, and plenty of free swimming space.  They need a moderate amount of water movement in the tank and unlike most tangs, the Powder Blue Tang prefers water temperatures to be around 82˚F.

The Powder Blue Tang is entirely reef safe and will not bother corals, decorative clams, or invertebrates in the tank.
They are aggressive towards its own species and conspecifics, but peaceful towards other fish of the same or larger size. Never house them with aggressive triggerfish, Sohal Tangs, or other similarly aggressive tangs.

Acanthurus leucosternon must be the dominant fish in the system that you house them in.

Some good tank mates for the Powder Blue Tang include Clownfish, Damselfish, Angelfish, Dottybacks, Wrasses, Gobies, Cleaner Shrimp, Urchins, and Turbo Snails.

Although Powder Blue Tangs have been bred in an aquarium environment, their larvae have not been successfully reared.   Because of their adult size and breeding habits, it is unlikely that Powder Blue Tangs can be successfully bred in an aquarium environment by the average tropical fish keeping enthusiast.

In the wild, Powder Blue Tangs are open water pair spawners that reproduce in large groups. Mated pairs appear to stay together even within large groups. When ready to spawn, the males change color to warn off rival males and attract females.   When they are in a large school, a bonded pair will break away and rise upward toward the surface where they release their gametes.    The small (.17mm diameter), spherical, fertilized eggs have a single oil globule to aid in their buoyancy and dispersal.  Once hatched out, the small larvae remain in the planktonic stage for 42 to 68 days.   When they are close to 1 inch in size, the small larvae settle out of the water column to the bottom where they feed on small microalgae among the seagrass and develop into juveniles.

Even if you happen to purchase a bonded pair and have an enormous tank with plenty of swimming depth, it is extremely difficult to replicate their breeding behavior.

In their natural habitat, Acanthurus leucosternon feed on green macro algae, brown filamentous algae, and benthic organisms.  In a mature community aquarium environment they will eat meaty foods along with the other fish in the tank but should be provided with plenty of marine based seaweed and algae to reduce aggression, strengthen their immune system, and improve their overall health.

Spirulina Flakes, frozen Mysis shrimp, and flake foods soaked in some type of vitamin supplement (Selcon or garlic) to ward off parasites is highly recommended. Dried seaweed offered on a veggie clip or some Nori tied to a rock should be feed at least 3 times per week. Ocean Nutrition, Sea Veggies, and Seaweed Salad are also ideal products that are very easy to use.

Because tangs produce much less body slime than other saltwater fish, they are often referred to as “dry skinned” fish. The lack of body slime makes them very susceptible to Cryptocaryon (saltwater ich) and other marine diseases.

The Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) is readily available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts at relitively reasonable prices from specialty fish shops and online wholesalers, retailers, and collectors at the following approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/2″; Small/Medium: 2-1/2″ to 3″; Medium: 3″ to 4″; Medium/Large 4″ to 5″. Depending on size and locale they are collected from they range in price from $70.00 to over $300.00.

Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderately Difficult
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Hardy
Water Conditions: 74-83° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.5, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 9.1″
Color Form: Blue, Black
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef OK
Origin: Africa, Maldives, Sri Lanka
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: Over 7 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Bicolor Basslet (Lipogramma klayi)

The Bicolor Basslet (Lipogramma klayi) is a deep water species that is found in the Western Central Atlantic and ranges from the Bahamas to the South Caribbean, and Central America to northern coast of South America.

The Bicolor Basslet is a shy, reclusive, carnivore that lives in the deep crevices, caves, and rocky ledges along the steep seaward slopes and outer walls of the deep seaward reefs of their range at depths between 150 to over 498 feet where they feed on zooplankton, tiny fish, and small invertebrates.

The Bicolor Basslet is very territorial and seldom strays far from the recesses of their cave or ledge; only venturing out to defend their territory or to search for food.

Bicolor Basslet (Lipogramma klayi).mp4

The Bicolor Basslet has an elongated compressed body with a large eye, a short snout, and a relatively large turned down mouth at the lower front. The dorsal, pectoral, anal, and slightly forked caudal fins are rounded, and the pointed pelvic fins reach past the base of the anal fin.

About one third of the Bicolor Basslet is a dark purplish color that is darker at the head and gradually blends into a bright yellow towards the rear.   The large eye has a black iris, with a fine yellow orange line surrounded by a wider dark blue line around it.   The front third of the dorsal fin is the purplish color of the head and the rest of the dorsal, including the anal, pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins are a light, to almost translucent yellow.

The Bicolor Basslet is best housed as a single species or in pairs in a dimly lit aquarium of at least 20 gallon capacity, with a finely crushed coral or sandy substrate and plenty or mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and ledges for them to hide among.   Although they will ignore corals and most invertebrates in a reef tank, they will eat tiny invertebrates if they can fit them into their mouth.

The Bicolor Basslet one species that will never become social with other tankmates and will always remain close to their hiding areas. Although peaceful tankmates like Chromis or Dartfish can be housed with them in a FOWLR tank, they will mostly hide and come out from their caves or crannies only to eat.   Even then, their shyness may cause them to starve to death if their tankmates become aggressive.   Do not introduce fish of similar shape and color into their tank regardless of temperament.   Peaceful tankmates, if any, are a must.

Because the Bicolor Basslet is collected by submersibles at the same approximate depths as Banded Basslets, they require pristine water quality and a dimly lit tank with an aquarium chiller to maintain their optimal 67⁰F temperature requirements.

Until recently, the Bicolor Basslet was never bred in an aquarium environt, however, in 2012 Todd Gardner reported the successful breeding of this species. His successful spawns were from small clutches of one to five eggs at a time with a one month long larval period.

Bicolor Basslet Larvae (Lipogramma klayi)

This suggests that breeding Lipogramma klayi on a commercial scale could be challenging.

In their natural deep water habitat, Bicolor Basslets feed primarily on zooplankton and tiny microorganisms. In an aquarium environment, they will accept small micron sized foods like baby brine shrimp, LRS Reef Frenzy Nano, PE Calanus, Brightwell Aquatics Zooplanktos, high quality Hikari Frozen Foods, or crushed up dried carnivore flakes.   A varied diet of fresh or frozen finely chopped marine fish, crustacean flesh, clams, and other meaty marine foods will also be eagerly accepted.   Feeding small portions 3 to 5 times per day is highly recommended.

Although this deep water species is rarely seen in the trade, the Bicolor Basslet (Lipogramma klayi) is occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts online from a select few specialty rare fish retailers and wholesalers at prices at around $799.99 on a back order basis with a 1 month lead time.

Like the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans), Lipogramma klayi has to be carefully collected and decompressed from very deep water in Curacao, making the price for the past five years hover between $1,000 and $2,000.   Only recently has the Curacao Aquarium Submarine been able to collect this species in high enough quantities to reduce the price to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts to under a thousand dollars.

Bicolor Basslet (Lipogramma klayi).mp4

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 68°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.0 – 8.5, sg 1.020-1.026
Max size: 2″
Color Form: Purple, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef with Caution
Origin: Western Central Atlantic: Bahamas, and Central America to northern South America.
Family: Grammatidae
Lifespan: 3 – 4 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate/Expert

Yellow-Banded Basslet (Lipogramma Haberi)

The Yellow-Banded Basslet (Lipogramma Haberi) is recently identified deep water species that is indigenous to the southern coast of Curaçao and probably Bonaire, and St Eustatius in the Caribbean.

The Yellow-Banded Basslet has previously been believed to be the juvenile form of the Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni) which would extend its probable range throughout the Caribbean and West Atlantic to Dominica, San Salvador, Jamaica, and the Netherlands Antilles.

The Yellow-Banded Basslet is a small, peaceful, demersal basslet that is encountered alone and often in pairs hovering among the small rocky rubble that is found on the gradual slopes of the deep outer reefs at depths from 498 to over 760 feet.

Like the Hourglass Basslet, the Yellow-Banded Basslet is collected by deep diving submersibles and will quickly disappear into the rubble on the slopes when approached.

Yellow-Banded Basslet (Lipogramma Haberi)

The Yellow-Banded Basslet is similar in appearance to the Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni) however it is smaller in overall size and has thicker bands. Lipogramma Haberi has a yellowish to white body color with three wide, dusky brown vertical bars running over its head and body in the same pattern as Lipogramma levinsoni however, the rear bar is much lighter than the other two bars.

Because they are collected by submersibles at the same depths as Banded Basslets (from 300 to 500 feet), the Yellow-Banded Basslet requires pristine water quality and a dimly lit tank with an aquarium chiller to maintain their optimal 67⁰F temperature requirements. They are best housed alone or in pairs in a mature reef tank of at least 20 gallon capacity with a finely crushed coral or sandy substrate, plenty of live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and ledges for them to hide among, and sufficient swimming area.

Yellow-Banded Basslets are completely reef safe and will not disturb corals, decorative clams, or most other reef inhabitants. They are peaceful, extremely shy, and will shelter above their cave or crevice most of the time.

Although peaceful tankmates like Chromis or Dartfish can be housed with them, because of their small size, they are best enjoyed as a single species. They should never be kept with aggressive tankmates.

Yellow-Banded Basslets have never been bred in an aquarium environment.

In their natural habitat, Yellow-Banded Basslets are small carnivores that feed primarily on zooplankton and tiny microorganisms.   In an aquarium environment, they will accept small micron sized foods like baby brine shrimp, LRS Reef Frenzy Nano, PE Calanus, Brightwell Aquatics Zooplanktos, or crushed up dried foods.

Because of the rarity of the species, the depths that it frequents, and its recent reidentification; the Yellow-Banded Basslet (Lipogramma Haberi) is not yet available for sale to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.

Because Lipogramma Haberi are collected by marine submersibles at depths to over 500 feet which is

beyond the limits of scuba and most rebreather divers, and decompressed in the same fashion as the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans); rare tropical fish keeping connoisseurs can expect to pay a five figure selling price for this species.

Yellow-Banded Basslet (Lipogramma Haberi)

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 68°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.0 – 8.5, sg 1.020-1.026
Max size: 1.31″
Color Form: White, Black, Brown, Blue, Orange
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef OK
Origin: Indigenous to Curaçao
Family: Grammatidae
Lifespan: Unknown
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate/Expert

Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni)

The Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Banded Basslet, is a small deepwater species that is indigenous to Bonaire, Curaçao, and St Eustatius in the Caribbean and ranges throughout the Caribbean and West Atlantic to Dominica, San Salvador, Jamaica, and the Netherlands Antilles.

The Hourglass Basslet is a small, peaceful, demersal basslet that is encountered alone and often in pairs hovering among the small rocky rubble that is found on the gradual slopes of the deep outer reefs at depths from 300 to over 500 feet.

When approached by deep diving submersibles, the Hourglass Basslet will quickly disappear into the rubble on the slopes which makes capturing them difficult.

The Hourglass Basslet has an elongated, compressed body with a large eye large, a short snout, long, slightly pointed pectoral fins that reach past the base of the anal fin, round slightly pointed rear dorsal and anal fins and a rounded caudal fin.

Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni)

The Hourglass Basslet has a snowy white to tan body color that is gray on the nape with three broad, black to dark brown vertical bars spaced  across the body.   The first bar starts at the forehead, intersects the entire eye and ends below the throat.   The second hourglass shaped bar starts at the lower dorsal fin and ends around the rear of the pectoral fins.  The third hourglass shaped bar begins at the rear base of the dorsal and ends at the rear base of the anal fin.

The dorsal fin is gray at the base with large brown to black blotches at the base above the second and third bars, painted at the rear with very light blue markings and bordered at the top by an orange margin.  The bluish gray anal fin mimics the colors on the dorsal with the same orange margin, and the translucent blue gray caudal fin has an orangish base.  The long pectoral fins are a light whiteish blue color that becomes slightly more blue at the rounded tips.

Males and females are unsexed.

Because they are collected by submersibles at depths from 300 to 500 feet, the Hourglass Basslet requires pristine water quality and a dimly lit tank with an aquarium chiller to maintain their optimal 67⁰F temperature requirements.   They are best housed alone or in pairs in a mature reef tank of at least 20 gallon capacity with a finely crushed coral or sandy substrate, plenty of live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and ledges for them to hide among, and sufficient swimming area.

Hourglass Basslets are peaceful, extremely shy, and will shelter or hover above their cave or crevice most of the time.  They are completely reef safe and will not disturb corals, decorative clams, or most other reef inhabitants.

In a reef or FOWLR aquarium, they should never be kept with aggressive tankmates. Although peaceful tankmates like Chromis or Dartfish should be able to be kept with them, because of their small size, they are best enjoyed as a single species.

To date, the Hourglass Basslet has never been bred in an aquarium environment.

In their natural habitat, Hourglass Basslets are carnivores that feed primarily on zooplankton and tiny microorganisms.   In an aquarium environment, they will accept small micron foods like baby brine shrimp, LRS Reef Frenzy Nano, PE Calanus, Brightwell Aquatics Zooplanktos, or crushed up dried foods.

Because of the rarity of the species and depths that it frequents, the Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni) is rarely available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.

In addition to being difficult to catch, Lipogramma levinsoni are collected at depths from 300 to over 500 feet, which is well beyond the limits of scuba divers and most rebreather divers.

Specimens are normally collected by marine submersibles and decompressed in the same manner as the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans).

Despite the factors that contribute to its rarity and five figure selling price; the Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni) is occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts online from a select few specialty rare fish wholesalers and retailers on a back order basis at prices starting at $1,699.99 per individual, with an approximate 1 month lead time.

Hourglass Basslet (Lipogramma levinsoni)

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 68°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.0 – 8.5, sg 1.020-1.026
Max size: 1.5″
Color Form: White, Black, Brown, Blue, Orange
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef OK
Origin: Indigenous to Bonaire, Curaçao, and St Eustatius
Family: Grammatidae
Lifespan: Unknown
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate/Expert

Three Line Basslet (Lipogramma trilineatum)

The Threeline Basslet (Lipogramma trilineatum) found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the waters off S.E. Florida, south through the Bahamas, into the Gulf of Mexice and the Caribbean Sea, and along the coasts of Central and South America from Quintana Roo, Mexico to Nicaragua, and the seas off Cartagena, Venezuela at Curacao and Bonaire, is a deep water species that is rarely available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.

The Threeline Basslet is a shy, reclusive, carnivore that lives along the outer walls and in the deeper reefs of their range under corals and rocky ledges at depths between 70 to over 498 feet where they feed on zooplankton, small fish, and invertebrates.  Even though the Threeline Basslet has been encountered in shallow waters, most of the specimens collected have been by submersibles from deep water.

Three Line Basslet (Lipogramma trilineatum)

The Threeline Basslet has has an elongated, compressed body with large eyes, a short snout, and a wide mouth that sits at the bottom front of the head. The upper part of the head, the back, and majority of the dorsal fin is a reddish orange to yellowish color. The yellowish scales are outlined in a greenish brown color that darkens toward the caudal peduncle and gives it a bluish gray color.

They have three thin black edged deep blue lines on the head; one directly on top that runs from the lower lip along the center of the snout into the dorsal fin, one line behind the upper eye that runs up over the front third of the body, and another short line visible just under the eye. The pelvic, anal, caudal and rear portion of the dorsal fins are a translucent pale blue with light yellow spots, and a light blue line runs along the outer margin of the dorsal fin.

Juvenile Threeline Basslets are colored similarly to adults except for the blue eye stripe that extends along the upper side to the upper end of tail base. They have an additional blue stripe that extends from the upper base of the pectoral fin to the tne of the lower part of the caudal peduncle.

Because the Threeline Basslet is collected from very deep water, they are best housed in a mature, dimly lit FOWLR or reef tank of at least 20 gallon capacity with a crushed coral substrate and plenty of live rock arranged into numerous caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to take shelter among. They are reef safe with corals but will eat small crustaceans and invertebrates if they can get them into their mouth. Because of the extreme depths they are collected from, they require low, dim lighting conditions, cool water temperatures, and pristine water quality for them to thrive. An aquarium chiller, a good reef filtration system, and regular water changes is recommended to keep this species healthy and vibrant.

Threeline Basslets are extremely shy and will shelter in their cave or crevice most of the time. They should never be housed in a reef or FOWLR aquarium with aggressive tankmates or they could starve to death. Even with peaceful tankmates like Chromis or Dartfish, they will never become social, outgoing tankmates, and wll always stay close to their hiding area.

Lipogramma trilineatum have not been bred in an aquarium environment.

In their natural environment, Threeline Basslets feed on zooplankton, small crustaceans, and tiny fish that may venture into their territory. In an aquarium environment, they should be provided with a varied diet of fresh or frozen marine fish, finely chopped clams, Hydrozoa polyps, Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, crustacean flesh, etc. Finely chopped enriched freeze dried foods and even carnivore flake foods can also be offered to three times a day.

The Threeline Basslet is another rarely encountered deep water species that is seldom available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.

In addition to being difficult to catch, Lipogramma trilineatum are found at depths to over 500 feet, which is well beyond the limits of scuba divers and most rebreather divers.

Most specimens are collected by marine submersibles and decompressed in the same manner as the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans).  Additionally, its range has been invaded by lionfish, an invasive species in the western Atlantic, which prey on both juvenile and adult Lipogramma trilineatum.

Despite the factors that contribute to its rarity and five figure selling price; the Threeline Basslet (Lipogramma trilineatum) is occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts on a back order basis with a 1 to 2 month lead time from a select few specialty rare fish wholesalers and retailers online at prices starting at $1,199.99.

Although it is not as elegant and graceful looking as some of the other Lipogramma species, the Threeline Basslet will continue to command a high price to anyone who is willing to pay for it.

Three Line Basslet (Lipogramma trilineatum)

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 68⁰-77 °F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.0 – 8.5, sg 1.020-1.026
Max size: 1.4″
Color Form: Orange, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef with Caution
Origin: Aruba, Curacao, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Jamaica, Mexico (East Pacific), Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, USA, West-Atlantic Ocean
Family: Grammatidae
Lifespan: 3 – 4 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate/Expert

Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans)

The Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Eye-Stripe Basslet is found in extremely deep waters from Curacao to North Carolina.

Although the Golden Basslet occurs in the Gulf of Mexico to the South Caribbean, it lives at extreme depths making it just barely out of reach of Florida and other Atlantic fish collectors.   Their range includes The Bahamas, the Caribbean, USA, Belize, Cuba, Curacao, Gulf of Mexico, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, and the West-Atlantic Ocean.

The Golden Basslet has a compressed, pointed head with a moderately elongated body, and a rather large mouth with a slightly protruding lower jaw. The split spinous dorsal fins, pectoral, anal, and slightly forked caudal fins are all pointed.

Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans)

The Golden Basslet has small rough scales over its body, and colors that are unbelievably vibrant.   They have a rosy orange to salmon colored head and mid body, with a bright yellow stripe that runs from the snout, through the center of the black eye to the corner of the operculum.  The lower two thirds of the body is salmon colored and the upper third is either yellow or salmon colored with dense yellow blotches.   The pectoral fins are clear, and the dorsal, anal, pelvic, and anal fins are yellow.  The yellow caudal fin has a large reddish brown blotch in its center, and is bordered by white.

Juvenile Eye-Stripe Basslets are completely yellow with just a faint orange glow on their bellies.  As they mature their yellow underbody morphs into the beautiful orangish red color of adults.

The Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans) is similar to the Wrasse Basslet (Liopropoma eukrines) andCave Basslet (Liopropoma mowbrayi).

Like many other deep water basslets, the Golden Basslet is a shy, solitary species that is normally found alone or in widely spaced groups in small caves or holding next to solitary rocks where they can ambush their prey at extreme depths from 450 to over 800 feet.

Golden Basslets seem to prefer areas around sandy slopes or near little piles of rubble where they are almost always found waiting in ambush hidden behind the rocks.   In some areas, two or three individuals are encountered in the same general area, but they are always at a distance of at least 10 to 15 feet apart from each other.

The Golden Basslet is best housed in a mature, deep water FOWLR or reef aquarium with a fine crushed coral substrate and copious amounts of live rock arranged into caves, nooks, overhangs, and plenty of live Mysis shrimp or other live foods for them to eat.  Although they are considered reef safe with corals, they will eat decorative shrimp and crabs.  Because of the extreme depths they are collected from, they require low, dim lighting conditions, cool water temperatures, and pristine water quality for them to thrive.  Golden Basslets will benefit from cooler temperatures in the 60-68 degree range, but over time can be acclimated to temperatures in the low to mid 70s.

A chiller system is mandatory as is a good reef filtration system.   Once successfully acclimated, this species is incredibly adapted to captivity and can live a very long time with proper care.

The Golden Basslet has not been bred in an aquarium environment and little is known about their breeding habits.

In their natural deep water environment, Liopropoma abberans are aggressive hunters that feed on just about anything that moves.  In an aquarium environment, they require plenty of live or frozen meaty foods to thrive, however, getting them to eat is never an issue.  Golden Basslets definitely have an appetite and will generally eat almost anything you feed them.  Large pieces of fish, krill, Mysis shrimp, fresh cut shrimp, and even carnivore flakes will be accepted.

The Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans) is one of the rarest, most beautiful fish ever brought up from the depths and despite its five figure selling price, is available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts on a special order basis with a 1 to 2 month lead time, from a few specialty rare fish retailers, however, there are some things you need to know before you shell out the cash for this rare species.

In addition to being difficult to catch, Golden Basslets are most often found at depths between 350 and 800 feet.    The majority of specimens that have been collected are with deep water submersibles between 350 to 500 feet, which is way over the limits of scuba divers and well beyond the limit of most rebreather divers.

Normally, most deep water Mesophotic zone fish are collected by rebreather divers and placed into a pressurized chamber where the pressure is slowly bled off over the course of a few days, but because  these fish are caught with a submarine, putting them into a small pressure chamber to decompress is not feasible.

Instead, the fish are slowly brought up to a shallow enough depth by the submersible where divers can then decompress them.  This means that every day for about a week, the fish are brought closer and closer to the surface where they are “pinned” to relieve the gas buildup in their expanded swim bladders.   As they reach a shallower depth, the rate of ascent must be even slower until the atmospheric pressure is at sea level.  The last 100 feet is where is where severe damage to the fish usually occurs.   For this reason Golden Basslets and other extremely deep water species are often plagued with decompression and bacterial problems caused by improper “pinning”.

Assuming that your retailer has a healthy Golden Basslet that has successfully survived collection, be prepared to part with anywhere from  $7,500.00 – $9,000.00.

Golden Basslet (Liopropoma abberans)

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy once acclimated
Water Conditions: 68 °F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.2, sg 1.023-1.025
Max size: 5.31″
Color Form: Orange, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Reef with Caution
Origin: Western Central Atlantic, Cuba.
Family: Serranidae
Lifespan: 6 +years
Aquarist Experience Level: Expert

Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi)

The Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Candy Cane Basslet is found in the western Atlantic and ranges from the Bahamas and Florida Keys in the U.S.A., along the eastern Caribbean all the way down to some of the smaller islands (Curacao, Bonaire, and Ascension) off the northern coast of South America.

The Candy Basslet  is a solitary species that lives in the caves, crevices, and overhangs found on the outer walls of the deeper coral reefs or their range at depths from 50 to over 230 feet where they feed on small fish, small invertebrates, and crustaceans. Most of the specimens collected for tropical fish keeping enthusiasts are found around the 80 depths.

Candy Basslets are very territorial and seldom stray far from their home rock, cave, or ledge; only venturing out to defend their territory or to search for food.

Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi)

The Candy Basslet has a torpedo shaped body with a pointed head with a relatively large mouth. Although individuals vary in color and intensity, they generally have an orange body color with five intensely bright lavender and red alternating horizontal lines running from the anterior through the pectoral, ventral, and caudal fins.  They have a large black spot outlined in deep lavender blue on the upper rear of the dorsal fin, and two black spots on the upper and lower caudal fin joined by a black bar outlined in deep lavender blue.

The Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi) is similar in size and coloration to the Swissguard Basslet (Liopropoma rubre) and Swales Basslet (Liopropoma swalisi) but is easily differentiated by its more intensely colored body.

The Candy Basslet is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef aquarium of at least 20 gallon capacity, with a fine crushed coral or sandy substrate and plenty of aged live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs.   The Candy Basslet is reef safe and compatible with most fish and invertebrates that are too large to be consumed.   They will eat any shrimp or crab that is small enough to fit into their mouth. Because it is found in the deeper waters of the Caribbean, it needs subdued lighting or several areas in the tank with lower light levels where it can shelter from bright lighting.

The Candy Basslet is friendly and peaceful with tank mates close to it’s size, but it can be highly aggressive with their own species. That said, only one pair or one individual per tank is recommended unless you budget accommodates purchasing a 135 gallon or larger reef aquarium.   Although they mix well other small reef basslets like the Ridgeback Basslet, Grammas, Anthias, Tangs, and most small Angelfish; keeping the Candy Basslet with any Pseudochromids or wrasses, especially in a smaller reef aquarium is highly discouraged.

Because of their small size and reclusive personalities, this is one species that is best viewed in smaller nano type system.   They will literally lose themselves in a large 125 gallon aquarium.

Although mated Candy Basslets have spawned in an aquarium environment, their larvae have not been successfully raised to adulthood.   There is some evidence that they are protogynous hermaphrodites.

In their natural deep water environment, Candy Basslets feed mainly on crustaceans and tiny fish.   In an aquarium environment, they will accept a variety of fresh or frozen meaty seafoods such as Mysis shrimp, shredded Krill, silver sides, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, squid, and clam.   Over time they will accept carnivore and Spirulina based flakes and pellets but a fresh carnivore diet is recommended.

Arguably the most beautiful and brightly colored of all the coral reef fish, the Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi) is rarely available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.   Online specialty fish shops, wholesalers, and collectors will occasionally offer them for sale on a waiting list basis. Prices vary from $799.98 – $1099.00 and up for a single specimen; to $1,699.99 for a “mated” pair collected in Curacao.

Candy Basslet (Liopropoma carmabi)

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 68-74 °F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.2, sg 1.023-1.025
Max size: Males 2.5″, Females 1.75″
Color Form: Orange, Lavender, Red, Black, Blue
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Excellent Reef
Origin: Western Atlantic
Family: Serranidae
Lifespan: 4 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Advanced

Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum).mp4

The Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Yellowtail Tang, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, or Blue Surgeonfish is native to the Red Sea however, they have also been encountered in the Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and recently in the Mediterranean Sea near Sardinia. They have been recorded from Maldives.

Although the Purple Tang is most abundant in the coral reefs of the Red Sea, smaller numbers are found in the Arabian Sea, the western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Persian Gulf.

Adult Purple Tangs are usually encountered swimming in large groups over rocky bottoms and the coral rich reefs of their range where they spend the majority of their time grazing voraciously on filamentous algae at depths from 6 to well over 65 feet.   Juvenile Purple Tangs are more solitary and prefer the shallower waters over coral rich reefs. As they mature they form schools and become more easy going.

During daylight hours, Purple Tangs are extremely active as they forage on algae among the substrate. At night they shelter between the rocks to protect themselves from larger predatory reef species.

Purple Tangs have numerous small pharyngeal teeth that are used to scrape filamentous algae from the rocks and substrate. It is an excellent rock cleaner and will quickly eliminate any nuisance algae found in your aquarium.

Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

Zebrasoma xanthurum have moderately elevated dorsal and anal fins , a deep body, and a protruding snout mottled with dark spots that continue to the abdomen, anterior body, and forehead.  Although some Purple Tangs have a deep rich blue or indigo shaded body color, most are colored a vivid purple with a bright yellow, slightly rounded tail, and yellow tipped pectoral fins.

Tiny black dots, which in most cases are barely perceptible through the deep purple body color, form somewhat scribbly thin horizontal bands towards the posterior of the body.

Juveniles have a dark blue body color with grey striping and a yellow caudal fin.  The blue color darkens into a deep purple or less frequently into a deep dark blue as they mature.  Males are slightly larger than females.

The Purple Tang is best housed in a mature FOWLR or reef tank of at least 125 gallon capacity with a fine crushed coral or sandy substrate, substantial quantities of mature algae encrusted live rock arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among, plenty of free swimming space, and a good amount of water movement.  They are completely reef safe and will not harm corals, decorative clams, or sessile invertebrates.

Purple Tangs can be very aggressive and do not do well with tank mates of similar body shape; especially other Tangs of the genus Zebrasoma.   Although their hyperactive swimming nature can intimidate most shy, docile, and passive species; they can be kept with many reef species. Some good tankmates include Blood Red Fire Shrimp, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Blue-Green Chromis, Lyretail Anthias, Majestic Angelfish, Coral Beauty Angelfish, Foxface Rabbitfish, Tomato Clownfish, Wrasses, and Neon Gobies.

Zebrasoma xanthurum are virtually impossible to breed in an aquarium environment. They are difficult to sex and the cost of establishing a breeding pair would be prohibitive.  They are broadcast spawners that would require a huge commercial tank for them to mate and produce offspring.  In the Red Sea mainly during the late winter to early spring, males and females swim up into the water column to the surface where the females releases their eggs and the males immediately fertilizes them.   The planktonic eggs drift with the current along the surface until they hatch.   The finless fry live off the yolk sack until it is completely absorbed, at which point the fry drift to the bottom of the reef feeding on microalgae until they grow into juveniles

The Purple Tang is an omnivore that in the wild grazes heavily on plant based foods, primarily filamentous algae which they are constantly devouring. In an mature aquarium environment with plenty of algae encrusted live rock, they need a constant supply of marine based algae and seaweed in their diet to strengthen their immune system, reduce aggression, and remain healthy.   Dried seaweed (Nori) tied to a rock or in a veggie clip should be offered 3 or more times per week.   Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad and Ocean Nutrition are also easy to use seaweed supplements.

The Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) is commonly available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from specialty fish shops, online wholesalers, retailers, and trans shippers at the following approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1-1/2″ 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 vary depending on size but start around $219.99 for small specimens to over $499.00.

Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: Reef or FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 74-82° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 10″
Color Form: Purple, Blue, Yellow
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: Reef
Origin: Red Sea
Family: Acanthuridae
Lifespan: 10+ years, 30 – 45 years in the wild
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate