The name 'Naso Tang' simply describes its genus while its other common names, the Lipstick Tang or Orangespine Unicornfish, touch on its outstanding appearance.

Orangish lips and a pair of spines surrounded by a bright orange area on either side of the caudal peduncle are some of the distinct features that make this fish stand out.

Along with these add a strong yellow line running from the back of the mouth up to the eye and bold colored stripes on the top and sometimes bottom fin, and you have a true beauty.

The Naso tang is a very personable fish that once its comfortable can be trained to accept foods from its keeper's hand.

A little shy at first, it can be hard to acclimate to aquarium life.

Provide it with lots of room to roam around in and some live rock with naturally growing algae and/ or blanched lettuce and brine shrimp to entice it to eat.

Once eating it can be offered a variety of algae based aquarium fare for its basic diet, along with some meaty foods.

Being a peaceful fish with an amicable nature, it will get along with most other marine fish.

Though it can be kept with a variety of tank mates this species has been known to get aggressive with other surgeonfish, especially those of its own genus.

Unless you have a huge (hundreds of gallons) system, it is best to house just one Naso tang to a tank.

Recommended Tank Size:

This handsome fish is very active; thus, it is important to provide it with plenty of swimming space.

A minimum recommended tank size is 125 gallons.

Like all surgeonfish and tangs, the Naso Tang likes a lot of water turbulence rather than a placid aquarium.

Being very active during the day they need a large tank with plenty of room to swim about but will also need rocks/ corals to provide some cover and to sleep in at night.

As they are primarily herbivores they generally ignore invertebrates, but lush natural algae growth will be greatly appreciated.

Once they get acclimated and become accustom to aquarium foods they are quite hardy and long lived.

Food and Diet:

The Naso Tangs are primarily herbivores. In the wild they feed mainly on leafy brown algae like Sargassum and Dictyota.

Provide lots of algae, prepared frozen formulas containing algae or spirulina, and flakes.

Japanese Nori or other seaweed can be adhered to the aquarium glass with a vegetable clip.

It will also feed on some frozen brine and mysis shrimp, mosquito larvae, grindal worms, tubifex, and Enchytaeidae.

Live rock with heavy algae growth will be greatly appreciated as it will allow this fish to constantly scrape with its rasping teeth.

Feed at least 3 times a day in smaller amounts instead of a large quantity once a day.

Providing a vitamin supplement (including vitamin C) can help provide for their nutritional needs, and vitamin C can help prevent or reduce Lateral Line Erosion (LLE). This can be done by soaking dried pellets with liquid vitamins, adding vitamins to the food, or adding a liquid vitamin into the water.

It is also said that pellets soaked in garlic may help fend off Marine Ich.

Some hobbyists also report success with supplemental foods such as previously boiled or frozen zucchini, broccoli, spinach, and leaf lettuce.

Reef Compatability: Good Reef Fish

Level of Care: Moderate

Approximate Purchase Size:

Small 1-2 " Medium: 2.5" to 3-1/2"; LG 4-5" XLarge: 6-1/2" to 7-1/2";  XX Large 8" to 9"

NO GUARANTEE ON SIZING

NO FREE SHIP ON LG OR XLG