Species Profile

Convict Tang

Acanthurus triostegus

Also known as: Manini, Five-Banded Surgeonfish

Tangspeaceful

Adult size

8″

Minimum tank

100 gal

Temperature

72–82°F

8.1–8.4

Schooling

Group of 6+

Water level

mid

Grows from juvenile

Typically sold at ~2.5″ and reaches 8″ over ~2 years. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.

Diet

Marine algae sheets, herbivore pellets — constant grazer

Notes

Unusual among tangs in being a schooling species — keep 3+ when possible. Cream body with five vertical black bars. Far more peaceful than Zebrasoma or Acanthurus tangs and tolerates conspecifics. Often safe with other tangs because of the schooling temperament.

Build a tank →Photo credits

Photo: Jaroslaw Barski / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0