Sohal tang

Acanthurus sohal

FishMarine

The sohal tang can reach 40 cm. Its body is gray-blue with dark vertical bands and an orange spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Its caudal fin is crescent-shaped. It has a very developed caudal spine. It is one of the most aggressive surgeonfish, dominating the entire aquarium. It needs a very large volume and powerful filtration. In the wild, it lives in harems with a dominant male.

Recommended parameters

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

Care

Difficulty5/5
Dietherbivore
Min. tank500 L
Min. group1
Adult size40 cm
Lifespan15 ans
Temperamentaggressive

Care notes

Aquarium of at least 500 L, ideally 800 L or more. Stable seawater (salinity 1.023–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–28 °C). Herbivorous, feed with algae and vegetables. Very aggressive, do not keep with other surgeonfish or shy fish. A powerful protein skimmer is essential. Water changes must be frequent. Keep nitrates and phosphates very low.