Description

• Scientific Name: Acanthurus tennentii
• Common Names: Tenneti Tang, Tennent’s Surgeonfish, Doubleband Surgeonfish, Lieutenant Tang
• Maximum Length: 12 inches (31 cm)
• Minimum Aquarium Size: 180 gallons (681 liters); these are large, active swimmers that require substantial open swimming space and well-oxygenated water.
• Foods and Feeding Habits: Primarily herbivorous, grazing on filamentous algae and microalgae in the wild. In aquariums, offer a diet rich in marine-based seaweed and algae sheets (nori), supplemented with spirulina-enriched flakes, mysis shrimp, and quality pellet foods. Provide frequent feedings to maintain health and prevent lateral line erosion.
• Reef Safety: Reef-safe; will not harm corals or sessile invertebrates and actively helps control nuisance algae growth.
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive, particularly toward other tangs and surgeonfish. Best kept as the only tang in smaller systems. May coexist with other tangs in very large aquariums with plenty of territory. Generally peaceful with non-tang species.
• Description: The Tenneti Tang is a handsome surgeonfish from the Indian Ocean, recognized by its dark brown to olive body with two distinctive dark bands behind the eye. As juveniles, they display a more muted coloration that deepens and intensifies with maturity. They are hardy, disease-resistant fish that adapt well to aquarium life and serve as excellent algae grazers.
• Fun Facts:
  • Like all surgeonfish, Tenneti Tangs possess sharp, scalpel-like spines at the base of their tail that can be extended for defense.
  • They are one of the more disease-resistant tang species, making them a good choice for intermediate aquarists.