{"product_id":"lieutenant-tang-ba9344","title":"Lieutenant Tang | Acanthurus tennenti","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Lieutenant Tang is an active, elegant surgeonfish that brings colour and constant motion to a larger reef or fish-only display. Named for the sharp chevron markings on its flanks, it is a hardy grazer once settled, but it grows to around 30 cm and needs genuine swimming room. Best suited to keepers with an established, well-oxygenated system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFound across the Indian Ocean and into the western Pacific, the Lieutenant Tang inhabits clear seaward reefs, reef flats and slopes with good water movement. These are algae-rich environments where the fish grazes benthic algae throughout the day. Replicating this means providing strong, well-oxygenated flow, mature live rock with algae films and plenty of open water to swim.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is a warm brown to olive, marked with fine darker lines and a distinctive dark chevron behind the gill cover, with a pale tail base and a lyre-shaped caudal fin. Colour is richest in a healthy, well-fed fish and can pale under stress. Like all surgeonfish it carries a sharp scalpel near the tail base, which should be respected during handling and netting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is semi-aggressive, mainly towards other tangs and especially its own species or fish of similar shape. It mixes well in a spacious community with clownfish, wrasses, angels, rabbitfish and other robust reef fish. Keeping more than one tang, or two Lieutenant Tangs, is only advisable in a large, thoughtfully stocked aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding should be predominantly herbivorous. Offer dried marine algae and nori on a clip, algae-based flakes and pellets, and a rotation of prepared herbivore foods, with small feeds through the day suiting its natural grazing. Occasional meaty foods such as mysis shrimp are fine, but the diet should remain mostly plant based to maintain condition and colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 475 L, with 680 L or larger strongly recommended for swimming room and long-term stability. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Strong, well-oxygenated flow, mature live rock for grazing and open swimming lanes are important. Efficient skimming and regular water changes help keep this active swimmer healthy; like most tangs it can be prone to white spot, so stable water quality and quarantine are advised. It is reef safe, grazing algae without harming corals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in the home aquarium is not achieved and should not be expected. Surgeonfish spawn in open water, releasing eggs and sperm into the current, and the larvae drift as plankton for an extended period requiring specialised conditions well beyond home aquarium keeping. The focus for hobbyists should be long-term health, correct herbivorous feeding and low stress.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcanthurus tennenti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLieutenant Tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndian Ocean to western Pacific; seaward reefs and slopes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 10 years or more with excellent care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive, especially to other tangs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e475 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e680 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore; marine algae, nori and algae-based prepared foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, established reef and fish-only systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, wrasses, angelfish, rabbitfish, chromis and other robust reef fish that differ in shape and colour, provided swimming room is generous.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other tangs of similar shape and colour in all but very large systems, and avoid highly aggressive fish that will harass it or small, newly set-up tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234149417251,"sku":"BA9344","price":95.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55304236138787,"sku":"BA8934","price":115.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234149482787,"sku":null,"price":290.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-31cm)","offer_id":55353177899299,"sku":null,"price":335.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Lieutenant_Tang_Large_Acanthurus_tennentii_09ca1574-72f6-4b9c-85c8-6979bf7cb079.jpg?v=1781695625","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/lieutenant-tang-ba9344","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}