Powder blue tang

Acanthurus leucosternon

FishMarine

The powder blue tang has an electric blue oval body, a white head with a black band through the eye, and yellow dorsal and anal fins. It reaches up to 25 cm. It is very active and requires a large swimming space. It is sensitive to skin diseases like ich. In the aquarium, it can be aggressive towards other surgeonfish. Its caudal spine is very sharp.

Recommended parameters

ParameterRecommended range
Temperature24–28
pH8.1–8.4
Salinity1.023–1.025
NO₃≤ 5
PO₄≤ 0.05

Care

Difficulty4/5
Dietherbivore
Min. tank400 L
Min. group1
Adult size25 cm
Lifespan12 ans
Temperamentaggressive

Care notes

Aquarium of at least 400 L, very stable seawater (salinity 1.023–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–28 °C). Good water flow and moderate lighting are necessary. Herbivorous, feed with algae and enriched foods. Very sensitive to parameter fluctuations. Quarantine is highly recommended. Avoid aggressive tankmates. A powerful protein skimmer is essential.