Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

The Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) is one of the most eye-catching reef fish in the hobby, dressed in a deep electric blue-purple body set off by a brilliant yellow tail and yellow flashes on the pectoral fins. Hailing from the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean, it is an active, hardy grazer that spends its day picking film and hair algae off rock. This is an intermediate-level, semi-aggressive fish that does best as the only tang in most home reefs.

Pairing it with the right cleanup crew and tank mates makes a huge difference. Browse the rest of our saltwater livestock to round out a reef-safe community around your new tang.

Care Guide

Tangs are strong, constant swimmers that need open water and pristine conditions to thrive and hold their color. Give your Purple Tang plenty of swimming room, plenty of grazing surface, and a steady supply of marine vegetable matter.

• Tank size: 100 gallons or larger. This is an active fish that cruises the whole tank, so length and swimming room matter more than height.
• Diet: Primarily herbivore. Offer dried marine seaweed (nori) clipped in the tank several times a week, plus a quality herbivore pellet or flake. Round out the diet with occasional meaty foods like mysis for protein.
• Water quality: Keep parameters stable with strong flow and high oxygen. Tangs are sensitive to swings in nitrate and alkalinity, so consistent water changes pay off in brighter color.
• Aggression: Semi-aggressive, especially toward other tangs and fish of similar shape. Add it last, and keep only one Zebrasoma per tank unless the system is very large.
• Handle with care: Like all surgeonfish, it has a sharp scalpel-like spine near the base of the tail. Take care when netting, and let us bag it for you at pickup.

Specifications

Compatibility

The Purple Tang is reef safe and will not bother corals or clams, which makes it a favorite display fish for established reef tanks. It mixes well with most peaceful and semi-aggressive reef community fish, including Blue Green Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, Coral Beauty Angelfish, and firefish and gobies. An Emerald Crab makes a great algae-eating partner in the cleanup crew.

The main thing to watch is tang-on-tang aggression. Avoid housing it with other tangs or surgeonfish unless your system is large, and always add it as one of the last fish so it does not claim the whole tank as territory.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Rod's Food Leafy Purple Seaweed - certified raw seaweed, ideal staple for tangs
• Rod's Food Three Weed Blend - mixed seaweed for marine herbivores
• Seachem NutriDiet Herbivore Tabs - probiotic herbivore food
• Freeze-Dried Mysis Shrimp - occasional meaty treat for protein
• Browse all marine fish food and saltwater livestock

FAQ

Is the Purple Tang reef safe?
Yes. It grazes on algae and leaves corals, clams, and invertebrates alone, so it is a great choice for a reef display.

What size tank does it need?
Plan on 100 gallons or more. Tangs swim constantly and need open horizontal space to stay healthy and active.

Can I keep more than one tang together?
Generally no, not in a typical home tank. Purple Tangs are territorial toward other tangs. Only attempt multiple tangs in a very large system, adding them at the same time.

What should I feed it?
A mostly vegetable diet. Clip dried seaweed in the tank several times a week and supplement with a quality herbivore pellet or flake, plus occasional meaty foods.