Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) Care Guide

One of the most beautiful tangs with a powder blue body, dark face, yellow dorsal fin, and white chest. Notorious for being prone to ich and requiring excellent water quality.

Overview

Acanthurus leucosternon is a species in the family Acanthuridae. One of the most beautiful tangs with a powder blue body, dark face, yellow dorsal fin, and white chest. Notorious for being prone to ich and requiring excellent water quality. Territorial toward other tangs. A showpiece fish that demands an experienced keeper.

Taxonomy

Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
Scientific name: Acanthurus leucosternon
Other names: Powder Blue Surgeonfish
Origin: Indian Ocean

Habitat

Distributed across the Indian Ocean from the East African coast to the Andaman Sea, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, on shallow reef flats and outer slopes down to 25 m. Feeds primarily on filamentous algae and is notoriously susceptible to marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) in captivity.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 400 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
GH: 8-12 °dGH
Water flow: strong
Adult size: 15-23 cm
Lifespan: 8-15 years
Difficulty: advanced

Diet

Classified as herbivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 3x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: aggressive
Swimming level: middle
Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Firefish Goby, Royal Gramma
Avoid with: Other Tangs, Aggressive Fish

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
Breeding difficulty: advanced