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Convict Tang
Tang

Convict Tang

Acanthurus triostegus

A silver-white surgeonfish crossed by five to six vertical black bars, named for the prison-stripe pattern. In the wild it grazes filamentous algae in large roving shoals, and that is the behaviour to plan for: it swims constantly and needs length rather than height, plus dried algae several times a week to keep it fed and calm. It leaves corals and inverts alone and is one of the more reef-appropriate tangs, but it will be bullied by other Acanthurus species and should not share a tank with them. Like all tangs it is thin-skinned and prone to ich, so quarantine before it goes in.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
10.6"
Min tank
130 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Herbivore
Zone
Mid-water, Open water, Rockwork
Best in a group of 3+.
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Tankmates

How Convict Tang gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Yellow TangAn established yellow tang will usually pick on a convict tang added later — the convict is the peaceful one and takes the beating. Workable only in a long tank with lots of grazing algae, and best if both are introduced at the same time.Purple TangThe purple tang is the one decidedly aggressive Zebrasoma and turns on tankmates with a similar flattened disc-shaped body. The convict tang is a peaceful species that gets bullied rather than fighting back, so it usually ends up hiding and off its food.Powder Blue TangThe convict tang is the victim here, not the aggressor. Powder blue tangs are territorial toward other surgeonfish and are especially hostile to fellow Acanthurus species — in the wild they actively drive off shoals of convict surgeonfish with their tail scalpels. In a tank the convict tang has nowhere to retreat to.Achilles TangAchilles tangs are among the most aggressive surgeonfish and are documented to fight to the death with other Acanthurus species. The convict tang is one of the most peaceful tangs and will be on the receiving end. Keep the Achilles as the only tang unless the tank is very large and both go in together.Mimic TangConvict Tang and Mimic Tang are the same genus (Acanthurus) and will fight — keep only one.Powder Brown TangConvict Tang and Powder Brown Tang are the same genus (Acanthurus) and will fight — keep only one.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Convict Tang.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Convict Tang.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Convict Tang.Orange Shoulder TangConvict Tang and Orange Shoulder Tang are the same genus (Acanthurus) and will fight — keep only one.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Percula ClownfishConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Percula Clownfish and may harass it.Maroon ClownfishConvict Tang and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Banggai CardinalfishConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Banggai Cardinalfish and may harass it.Pajama CardinalfishConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Pajama Cardinalfish and may harass it.Green ChromisConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Chromis and may harass it.Blue DamselConvict Tang and Blue Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellowtail DamselConvict Tang and Yellowtail Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishConvict Tang and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishConvict Tang and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishConvict Tang and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishConvict Tang and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishConvict Tang and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Helfrich's FirefishConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Red Sea ClownfishConvict Tang and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yasha GobyConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Tailspot BlennyConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Tailspot Blenny and may harass it.Sailfin TangBoth are large disc-shaped grazers competing for the same algae and the same territory. The sailfin grows bigger and holds rank; the convict tang, being one of the meekest surgeonfish, is the one that gets chased. Add them together rather than one after the other.McCosker's Flasher WrasseConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful McCosker's Flasher Wrasse and may harass it.Lubbock's Fairy WrasseConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse and may harass it.Royal GrammaConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Royal Gramma and may harass it.