Description
The Clown Tang is a bold, striking surgeonfish, instantly recognized by its electric blue and orange horizontal stripes. Native to reefs across the Indo-Pacific, it’s a high-energy swimmer with an attitude to match. This is a species for advanced aquarists who want a living lightning bolt tearing around their reef. Appearance: Vivid alternating blue and orange/yellow stripes running across the body, accented by a sharp white spine on each side of the caudal peduncle. Adult size: Up to 38 cm. A real beast compared to many tangs. Temperament: Aggressive, especially toward other tangs and similarly shaped species. Will often dominate smaller or less assertive tankmates. Tank requirements: Absolute minimum 700–800 L, but realistically 1000+ L is recommended. Needs vast open swimming space, strong flow, and plenty of grazing surfaces. Diet: Herbivore. Provide constant access to dried seaweed (nori), macroalgae, and high-quality herbivore pellets/flakes. Will accept frozen foods but thrives on greens. Care level: Expert. Very active, highly territorial, and prone to stress in undersized or unstable systems. Demands top-tier filtration and aquarist experience.
