Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus Japonicus)

Species Name : Acanthurus Japonicus 

Care Level : Moderate

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Red, Tan, Yellow

Diet : Herbivore 

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 8"

Origin : Sulawesi (Indonesia) to Philippines and Ryukyu Islands

Family : Acanthuridae

Minimum Tank Size : 125 gallons

The Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus Japonicus), also known as the Powder Brown Surgeonfish, Japan Surgeonfish, and White-faced Surgeonfish, has a brown body with a white mark on the cheek between the mouth and eyes. The pectoral, anal, and dorsal fins are dark brown with light blue highlights at the tip. The dorsal fin also has an orange stripe present. The tail is blue with a yellow vertical bar. Yellow striping runs along the body, against the anal and dorsal fins, forming a wishbone-shaped marking.

A 125 gallon or larger aquarium is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room. Keep only one Powder Brown Tang per tank. These fish are perfect for a large open reef tank that has plenty of live rock to graze on.

Use caution when housing with other Tangs or Surgeonfish. Similar shaped Tangs can be very aggressive towards each other. Tangs are generally community fish and get along with most other tankmates. Most do not bother corals and can actually help keep nuisance algae trimmed and under control. Tangs may get territorial and aggressive towards similar tangs, so always use caution when keeping these fish together or with other fish that have a similar body shape or coloration.

Even though these fish enjoy a diverse type of frozen foods, it is imperative that its primary food, is algae based, thus ensuring that the fish`s immune system remains healthy. This can, for example, be plant based fish flakes, Nori seaweed or similar. They need to be fed frequently, preferably many small servings spread out over the whole day. An automatic feeder or an algae rock can make this easier to achieve.

Size:

Small: 2" to 2 1/2»

Small/Medium: 2 1/2" to 3»

Medium: 3" to 4»

Medium/Large: 4" to 5" 

Large: 5" to 6"