About Purple Tang
Purple tang — vivid violet body with a bright yellow tail. One of the most striking tangs in the hobby. Like other Zebrasomas, semi-aggressive toward similar-shaped tangs; add early or last in the stocking order.
Zebrasoma xanthurum, the purple tang or yellowtail tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is endemic to the north western Indian Ocean.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Vivid violet body with a brilliant yellow tail. One of the most striking tangs in the hobby and a frequent centerpiece for medium-to-large reefs.
In your tank. Semi-aggressive toward similar-shaped tangs; add early or last in the stocking order to manage territorial behavior. Reef-safe and constantly grazing.
Care notes. 125+ gallon tanks for adult-stocked specimens. Susceptible to ich during stress; quarantine is essential.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Red Sea and Indian Ocean reefs; mid-to-premium priced ($150–400). Herbivore — nori daily, prepared herbivore foods, supplemental algae.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 219681).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: no rights reserved · CC0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).