Blue Regal Tang

Description

🐟 Blue Regal Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) – Care Guide & Compatibility

Also known as the Blue Tang, Regal Tang, or Palette Surgeonfish, the Blue Regal Tang is an iconic reef fish known for its brilliant blue body and black ‘palette’ markings. It requires ample swimming space, stable water conditions, and careful tankmate selection due to its sensitivity to stress and susceptibility to ich (white spot disease).

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🔹 Quick Facts

• Common Names: Blue Tang, Regal Tang, Hippo Tang, Palette Surgeonfish
• Scientific Name: Paracanthurus hepatus
• Family: Acanthuridae
• Origin: Indo-Pacific (East Africa, Great Barrier Reef, Japan)
• Size: Up to 30 cm
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive (especially toward similar tangs)
• Reef Safe: ✅ Yes
• Minimum Tank Size: 475 liters (long tanks preferred, at least 150 cm in length)
• Diet: Omnivore (primarily herbivorous – marine algae, nori, supplemented with mysis/brine shrimp)
• Care Level: Moderate to Advanced
• Jump Risk: High – tight-fitting lid required

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🎨 Appearance

Features a vivid blue body with bold black ‘palette’ markings and a bright yellow tail. Juveniles display more yellow on their sides, which fades as they mature.

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🌿 Behavior & Habitat

• Active, fast-swimming fish that require large open swimming spaces and strong water flow
• Peaceful as juveniles, but can become territorial toward other tangs or similar fish as adults
• Sensitive to poor water quality, overcrowding, and stress, often showing signs of ich quickly if stressed

Best suited to large, well-established reef aquariums with plenty of swimming space and hiding spots.

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🤝 Compatibility

✅ Best Tank Mates (Peaceful to Semi-Aggressive Community)

• Clownfish
• Wrasses (Fairy, Flasher, Tamarin, larger Halichoeres)
• Anthias
• Cardinalfish
• Gobies and Blennies
• Angelfish (dwarf and large)
• Butterflyfish (with coral compatibility considerations)
• Other large tangs from different genera (Zebrasoma, Ctenochaetus)

⚠️ Use Caution With

• Other Blue Regal Tangs or similarly shaped tangs (may fight unless introduced as a juvenile group in tanks over 1,000 liters)
• Triggerfish (ensure species are reef-compatible and not overly aggressive)
• Larger Damselfish (may be harassed in smaller or crowded setups)

🚫 Not Recommended With

• Small, delicate, or timid species (e.g., Firefish, Seahorses, Pipefish)
• Small nano species (stressed by the tang’s speed and activity)

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🌀 Compatibility With Wrasses

Blue Regal Tangs are highly compatible with most peaceful and semi-aggressive wrasses, including:

• Pink Streak Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)
• Fairy Wrasses (Cirrhilabrus spp.)
• Flasher Wrasses (Paracheilinus spp.)
• Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella spp.)
• Tamarin Wrasses (Anampses spp.)
• Larger Halichoeres species (e.g., Canary Wrasse)

✔️ Tangs and wrasses typically do not compete and will coexist peacefully when the tank is large enough and well-scapped.

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✅ Summary

The Blue Regal Tang is a beautiful, energetic addition to large reef tanks, thriving in well-maintained aquariums of at least 475 liters (preferably larger) with plenty of open swimming areas and hiding spots.

• ✔️ Iconic, eye-catching reef fish
• ✔️ Reef-safe and generally peaceful with non-tang tank mates
• ✔️ Compatible with a wide variety of wrasses and peaceful to semi-aggressive species
• ❗ Needs large tanks (475+ liters, ideally over 600 liters)
• ❗ Prone to ich and other stress-related diseases—requires stable, clean water
• ❗ May become territorial toward similar tangs and surgeonfish

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Would you also like a side-by-side compatibility matrix showing Pink Streak Wrasse, Domino Damsel, and Blue Regal Tang with common fish and wrasses?
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