The Achilles tang is a beautiful fish that pops up from time to time. It is a dark chocolate throughout with a single orange teardrop on its spine. White, orange and chocolate lines its tail. It is commonly known as the Achilles surgeonfish and the red-tailed surgeonfish.
This highly prized tang is endemic to Hawaii. A quick seller, finding one in the market may prove frustrating.
A very pricey tang, small specimens go for $100 or slightly more while adults can fetch up to $300 per fish. Extra large show quality specimens can fetch even more, $400 and above.
Sadly, this tang doesn't do all that well in captivity. Unlike some other species like the blue tang (paracanthurus hepatus) or the yellow tang (zebrasoma flavescens), they seem to be a bit more delicate. But that's only part of the story, they're not too keen on prepared foods either.
Like its brethren they are also prone to lateral line erosion, hole in the head disease and marine parasites.
In the wild, achilles tangs are known to interbreed with the goldrim tang (acanthurus nigricans). They're highly prized offspring rarely appear on the market and usually cost quite a bit.
Considered an aggressive surgeonfish, they've been known to harass other large tank mates. Smaller species like gobies, damsels and dottybacks are usually left alone. They do not take too kindly to sharing tank space with other tangs and are relentlessly hostile towards other achilles tangs. As always, if you must keep multiple achilles tangs always keep put them in at the same time and make sure your tank's big enough.
The Achilles tang reaches 9 inches in the wild, which means a maximum length of 7 inches or so in captivity. The minimum size tank for them should be a 100 gallons. Larger tanks are recommended as they require ample swimming room.
Getting these fishes to eat in captivity is challenging to say the least. Nevertheless, we should try our best.
They do not eat corals, making them reef safe. They are algae eaters in the wild so ensure a large part of their diet in captivity has enough algae.
Despite the fact that they're primarily herbivores in the wild, they are open to just about anything offered once acclimated. Krill, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, pellets, they take them all.
We should ensure that a large part of their diet is algae based, since they eat so much of it in the wild.
A good form of algae to feed tangs would be nori sheets.Depending on the brand, prices vary greatly. Some people may find Julian Sprungs Sea Veggies to cost a little too much. Good quality stuff though. They come in flake form too, making feedings very convenient.
Thankfully there are many other brands that produce nori primarily for human consumption. Some are cheap while the really high quality sheets can be very expensive.
You'll need to secure the nori to a clip. You could DIY a clip yourself and spend a couple of bucks on a commercial type. The sheets are sometimes rolled up and cut beforehand, most however, feed it as is. Secure the nori to your algae clip and attach it to the side of the aquarium.
Ocean Nutrition produces another good quality food, Formula Two. Along with mixed sea food, vitamins and whatnot, there is an extra amount of algae added to the mix. Available in three forms, pellet, flake or frozen cube.
The best flake food for the yellow tang would be Sea Veggie mixed flakes followed by formula two flakes. A great all-rounder with a good balance of ingredients, New Life Spectrum comes highly recommended as well.
Do not feed your tangs lettuce of any kind (romaine or iceberg). You'll normally see this happening at pet stores that are trying to save a few bucks. Lettuce doesn't have a place in this hobby as nutritionally its rubbish.
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