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Sailfin Tang
Tang

Sailfin Tang

Zebrasoma velifer

A towering, disc-bodied Zebrasoma whose enormous dorsal and anal fins make it look twice its size when flared — a genuine showpiece that reaches nearly 40 cm. It grazes algae peacefully among a community but is territorial toward other tangs, so it needs both a very large footprint and one-tang-per-genus discipline. Reef-safe as long as it is kept well-fed on marine algae; a hungry sailfin will sample coral.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
15"
Min tank
180 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Herbivore
Zone
Mid-water, Open water, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

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

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Percula ClownfishSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Percula Clownfish and may harass it.Maroon ClownfishSailfin Tang and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple Queen AnthiasSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Purple Queen Anthias and may harass it.Banggai CardinalfishSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Banggai Cardinalfish and may harass it.Radiant WrasseSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Radiant Wrasse and may harass it.Pajama CardinalfishSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Pajama Cardinalfish and may harass it.Green ChromisSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Chromis and may harass it.Blue DamselSailfin Tang and Blue Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellowtail DamselSailfin Tang and Yellowtail Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishSailfin Tang and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishSailfin Tang and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishSailfin Tang and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishSailfin Tang and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishSailfin Tang and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Helfrich's FirefishSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Red Sea ClownfishSailfin Tang and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yasha GobySailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Tailspot BlennySailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Tailspot Blenny and may harass it.Powder Blue TangSailfin Tang and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.McCosker's Flasher WrasseSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful McCosker's Flasher Wrasse and may harass it.