| Can I keep an Achilles or Powder Blue Tang in a | | | | family-especially other Acanthurus tangs. The Achilles |
| 90-gallon tank? | | | | Tang is best kept as the only tang (and possibly only |
| Thanks for the question. Both of these fish are | | | | large) species in your tank. |
| extremely hard to keep unless you are very | | | | The Powder Blue Tang, in my opinion, is one of the |
| experienced with sensitive fish. The ones we sell at | | | | most beautiful fish available to the marine hobbyist. |
| Blue Zoo Aquatics have been through a pretty | | | | Like the Achilles Tang, the Powder Blue Tang may |
| extensive quarantine process before they are | | | | show signs of aggression toward all other |
| released for sale, meaning that when they reach you, | | | | Surgeonfish, and as such, it is best living as a single |
| they are eating well and disease free. Nonetheless, | | | | specimen. If the Powder Blue Tang is to be kept |
| you still have to worry about these tangs breaking | | | | with multiple tangs, it is best to add them all at the |
| down with parasites and infection. | | | | same time. |
| Sorry for the doom and gloom response, but the | | | | As I mentioned above, 90 gallons, in my opinion, is a |
| reality is that neither the Achilles nor the Powder Blue | | | | tad small for this genus let alone these species. If |
| Tang would be my first choice for a reef tank, | | | | you get one that is no bigger than our medium size, |
| especially if it is only 90 gallons. If you want to give it | | | | you should be okay for quite a while, but you will |
| a try, and think you can be successful based on your | | | | need to provide this fish with a bigger tank |
| experience level, then by all means go ahead. As you | | | | eventually. The Achilles Tang is considered a nervous |
| probably know, Achilles Tangs are much rarer than | | | | swimmer, as it frequently paces back and forth. Not |
| Powder Blue Tangs; in fact, we have a waiting list for | | | | providing a large enough space for this tang to move |
| them as I type. The Achilles Tang is also by far the | | | | around in will likely see a very short life span. |
| hardest one of the two to keep. | | | | If you are open to considering a different tang |
| Now that you have been warned, let me tell you | | | | species, better long term choices would include |
| that the Achilles Tang, with its striking black body | | | | anything in the Zebrasoma genus or the |
| and red and white accents, is truly a beauty. If you | | | | Ctenochaetus genus (such as the very cool Spotted |
| do get one, know that these fish prefer turbulent | | | | Yellow Eye Tang - Ctenochaetus truncates - pictured |
| water flow and a large open water column with | | | | here). These tangs have much smaller overall sizes |
| unobstructed swimming space. They will frequently | | | | and do extremely well in captivity. Plus both groups |
| attack and harass other members of the acanthurid | | | | perform better janitorial work at removing algae. |