{"product_id":"naso-tang","title":"Naso Tang | Naso lituratus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Naso Tang, or Orangespine Unicornfish, is a large, graceful surgeonfish with sweeping fins, a bright orange-and-yellow face and vivid tail streamers on mature males. A magnificent centrepiece fish, it grows big and needs serious swimming room, reaching around 45 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaso lituratus is found across the Pacific on outer reef slopes and channels, where it grazes on leafy brown macroalgae and cruises long distances in open water. In the aquarium this translates to a need for a very large tank with long, open swimming lanes, plenty of live rock and a stable, well-established system. Length of tank matters more than height for this powerful, active swimmer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is grey to olive with a black-and-yellow face mask, bright orange lips, and orange spines set on the tail base within yellow patches. Mature males develop long trailing filaments from the tail lobes. It is a large, deep-bodied fish; adults can reach around 45 cm, though 30 cm is more usual in aquariums. Healthy specimens are full-bodied, brightly marked and graze actively.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is semi-aggressive, mainly toward other Naso and similar tangs; it is usually peaceful with unrelated species. Keep one Naso per tank unless the aquarium is very large. Its size and speed mean it needs robust, similarly sized tank mates rather than tiny timid fish. It mixes well with clownfish, larger wrasse, angelfish, rabbitfish and other large reef fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis species is a herbivore with a particular liking for leafy brown macroalgae. Offer dried seaweed (nori) on a clip daily, along with spirulina and herbivore preparations, and some meaty foods such as mysis for variety. Generous, regular vegetable feeding is essential to maintain its colour, weight and immune strength, and helps prevent the head and lateral line erosion tangs are prone to.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 700 L, with 900 L or larger strongly recommended for long-term housing of this large, active swimmer; bigger is always better. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity 1.023–1.025. Strong flow, high oxygenation and long open swimming space are essential, along with live rock for grazing and shelter. Use strong biological filtration, protein skimming and regular water changes to keep water quality high and stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in home aquariums is not practical. Like all tangs it is a pelagic spawner with tiny larvae that require specialised commercial rearing systems. For aquarium keeping, focus on a large stable system, excellent nutrition and suitable tank mates rather than breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNaso lituratus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNaso Tang (Orangespine Unicornfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePacific outer reef slopes and channels\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e45 cm (usually around 30 cm in aquariums)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (mainly to other Naso)\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\u003e700 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e900 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore; leafy macroalgae, dried seaweed (nori), spirulina preparations and some meaty 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\u003e1.023–1.025\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge reef aquariums and FOWLR systems with long open swimming space\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes; safe with corals and invertebrates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, larger wrasse, angelfish, rabbitfish, cardinalfish and other robust, similarly sized reef fish. Choose active tank mates that can share space with a large, fast grazer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other Naso and similarly shaped tangs in anything but a very large tank, tiny timid fish that may be intimidated, and aggressive species that may harass it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55304235352355,"sku":"BA8054","price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234130510115,"sku":"AA1341","price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234130542883,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-45cm)","offer_id":55353177702691,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Naso_Medium_Naso_lituratus_da325144-a66a-4efa-a5f5-7412e02d217a.jpg?v=1781681470","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/naso-tang","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}