{"product_id":"vlamingii-tang","title":"Vlamingii Tang | Naso vlamingii","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Vlamingii Tang, or Bignose Unicornfish, is a magnificent, intelligent surgeonfish that develops a bulbous forehead and stunning electric-blue scribbles and facial markings as it matures. Be warned: this is a giant, reaching around 60 cm, and it is one of the largest tangs in the hobby. It needs an enormous aquarium and is a fish for public displays and very large home systems only.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bignose Unicornfish roams clear outer reef slopes and drop-offs of the Indo-Pacific, often in loose aggregations feeding on zooplankton and algae in the water column. Recreating this means a very large tank with strong, open water flow, long swimming lanes and mature live rock for grazing and refuge. This is a fish of open water that will not thrive in a cramped system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdults are grey to purplish-brown, overlaid with fine electric-blue lines and spots, a blue-edged tail and a distinctive rounded \"bignose\" bump on the forehead. When displaying, it can flush dramatic pale bars and intensify its blue. Like all surgeonfish it carries a sharp scalpel near the tail base, and in this large species those blades are formidable. A healthy specimen is alert, full-bodied and actively swimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful towards dissimilar fish but semi-aggressive towards other tangs and unicornfish. Given its eventual size, it is best housed with other large, robust fish in a spacious system. It will not harm corals or sessile invertebrates. Add it to a settled tank and plan tankmates around its adult bulk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding should be varied. In the wild it takes both zooplankton and algae, so offer dried marine algae and nori on a clip alongside meaty foods such as mysis and enriched brine, plus quality pellets. A varied, generous diet keeps this large, active fish in good colour and condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of 900 L for a juvenile, with 2000 L or larger essential for an adult; realistically this is a fish for public aquaria and exceptionally large home systems. Maintain temperature at 24–26°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Powerful, well-oxygenated flow, heavy filtration, a large skimmer and generous water changes are needed. Surgeonfish are prone to white spot, so stable water quality and quarantine are advised. This species is reef safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is not achieved in the home aquarium. Unicornfish are open-water spawners with drifting planktonic larvae, which cannot be replicated at home. The focus should be on long-term health, correct feeding, excellent water quality and, above all, providing sufficient space.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNaso vlamingii\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVlamingii Tang (Bignose Unicornfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific outer reef slopes and drop-offs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOften 15 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 to advanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e900 L (juvenile)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2000 L or larger for an adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore; zooplankton, meaty foods and marine algae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–26°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\u003eVery large home systems and public aquaria\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 other large, robust fish such as big angels, large wrasses, rabbitfish and other sizeable community species in a spacious aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other tangs and unicornfish except in very large systems, and never house it in a tank too small for its considerable adult size.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234135261475,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234135294243,"sku":"BA8494","price":95.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234135327011,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-55cm)","offer_id":55351937466659,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Vlamingii_Tang_Naso_vlamingii_74577450-e048-475f-b82e-a2f1018bd837.jpg?v=1781681544","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/vlamingii-tang","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}