Sailfin Tang

With the presence of a very large and pronounced dorsal fin,  this fish is aptly named the Sailfin Tang. When threatened, they can raise their dorsal fin ton appear larger than they reallly are, protecting themselves from predators.  The Sailfin Tang is also known as the Eastern sailfin tang, Pacific sailfin tang, Sail fish tang, Ringed tang, Purple-lined tang, Pacific sailfin surgeonfish, and Pacific sail-fin surgeonfish. They are indigenous to the Pacific Ocean and Western Indian Ocean. The Sailfin Tang is mainly found in rock and coral reefs. During the juvenile stage, the fish are solitary creatures who prefer to stay hidden among rocks or corals. When they are adult, they mostly live singly or in pairs. The Sailfin Tang species is one of the largest members of the genus Zebrasoma. The Sailfin Tang needs a bigger aquarium and should not be housed in tank smaller than 75 gallons. They are a hardy and tolerant species who thrive well in a temperature range of 72-78 degrees and pH range of 8.1 to 8.4. The Sailfin Tang fish feeds on leafy microalgae, so any tank with a sufficient amount of algae makes a very good habitat for this species. The male Sailfin Tang tends to grow larger that the female Sailfin Tang. Though they can get along with other tank mates quite peacefully, they are territorial in nature towards similar looking fish. The Sailfin Tang helps keep corals healthy by preventing overgrowth of algae by feeding around them.