Blonde Naso Tang

The blonde naso tang is the close Indian Ocean relative of the naso tang (Naso lituratus), which has its own page on the site, and was long considered the same species. The easiest way to tell them apart is the dorsal fin: in N. elegans the dorsal fin is yellow, with a black band at its base, while in N. lituratus the dorsal fin is largely black. The yellow band running from the corner of the mouth to the eye, the black snout in front of it and the two orange bony plates on the caudal peduncle are also typical. In adult males the two tips of the tail fin develop into long filaments.

A large share of the fish sold in Europe as "naso tang" are this species, coming from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. All individuals are wild-collected. Once settled it is a robust fish, but because of its size and swimming needs it is only suitable for very large aquariums.

It lives in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, on coastal and sheltered reef flats and rocky bottoms; it roams in small groups or schools. In the wild it feeds on brown leafy algae.

• Volume: at least 1000 liters and a tank longer than 200 cm for an adult. Juveniles grow fast; do not plan on a temporary small tank.
• Water: salinity 1.023–1.026 specific gravity, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C. High oxygen, strong flow and a powerful protein skimmer.
• Decor: wide, unobstructed open water; rocks should be concentrated in one part of the aquarium.
• Reef compatibility: reef safe; it does not touch corals or invertebrates. It may eat macroalgae in the aquarium.

Herbivorous. The staple is dried seaweed; brown seaweeds in particular (e.g. kombu types) and nori should be given every day. Granules containing spirulina and frozen mysis several times a week provide support. It is a greedy fish; it should be fed 2–3 times a day.

An active, curious tang that learns to recognize its keeper once settled in. It is cranky toward its own kind and other Naso species; it is usually peaceful with fish of a different shape. Nervous new arrivals may change color rapidly and hide during the first days.

Good companions: in a very large aquarium, a single tang from the genus Zebrasoma or Acanthurus, large and Genicanthus angelfish, large wrasses, foxface, anthias groups.

Avoid: a second Naso, cramped aquariums, aggressive triggerfish.

Keep a single individual in a home aquarium. Groups can only be tried in public-aquarium-scale systems.

It releases pelagic eggs; the larvae live in the plankton for a long time. It does not breed in home aquariums.

• Marine ich and velvet: large tangs should be observed in quarantine.
• Head and lateral line erosion (HLLE): associated with a lack of brown seaweed and poor water quality.
• Stress and loss of color: in a cramped tank, persistently pale color and loss of appetite are seen.

Adult males develop long filaments on the tips of the tail fin; in females these filaments are absent or very short.