Scopas Tang

The scopas tang is a sailfin tang of the same genus (Zebrasoma) as the yellow tang and the purple tang. Its body is tall and flat; its mouth sits at the tip of a pointed snout. The front half is light brown–olive in tone, darkening towards the rear until it is almost black; there are fine light blue–green dots on the head and chest. The scalpel spine on each side of the tail base is white and stands out clearly against the dark background. In juveniles the yellowish vertical bands and spots are more distinct.

Because it is less colorful than the yellow tang it is cheaper, but it is at least as hardy. Most specimens are wild-collected. Although larger sizes are mentioned in the literature, adults in the aquarium usually stay around 20 cm.

It lives in the coral-rich lagoons and on the outer reef slopes of the Indo-Pacific. Adults graze rock and dead coral surfaces in groups; juveniles hide alone among coral branches.

• Volume: At least 400 liters and 150 cm in length; swimming space matters more than depth.
• Water: Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C. High oxygen, moderate to strong flow and a good protein skimmer.
• Decor: Algae-covered live rock to graze on and crevices to shelter in at night.
• Reef compatibility: Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone and helps clear filamentous algae from the rocks.
• Quarantine: A new specimen should be observed in a separate aquarium for 4–6 weeks.

Herbivorous. The staple food is dried seaweed (nori) on a clip and herbivore granules or flakes containing spirulina; these should be offered every day. Frozen mysis and brine shrimp can be added a few times a week as a supplement. 2–3 meals over the day, feeding little and often, is ideal.

An active fish that swims and grazes the rocks all day. It is cantankerous towards its own kind and similarly shaped Zebrasoma species; it chases rivals while swinging its scalpel. It usually causes no trouble with differently shaped fish.

Good companions: Clownfish, anthias, fairy wrasses, dwarf angelfish, cardinalfish, gobies; in a large enough aquarium, a tang from a different genus (e.g. Ctenochaetus).

Avoid: A second Zebrasoma (except in very large systems), narrow aquariums, large triggerfish.

In a home aquarium it is kept as a single specimen. If more than one tang is planned, they should be chosen from different genera, with the most docile species added first.

In the wild it releases pelagic eggs in pairs or groups. Because the larvae live in the plankton for a long time, it is not bred in the home aquarium.

• Marine white spot (Cryptocaryon) and velvet: The common weakness of tangs; quarantine is essential.
• Head and lateral line erosion (HLLE): Associated with a lack of green food and poor water quality.
• Scalpel injury: When handling it or removing it with a net, the scalpel can cause a deep cut; use a container.

Cannot be reliably distinguished externally.