Description
Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)
Overview
The Naso Tang (Naso lituratus), often called the Lipstick Tang or Orangespine Unicornfish, is a large, vibrant, and energetic surgeonfish. It is widely admired for its personality and striking appearance, but it requires a very specific environment to thrive.
- Care Level: Moderate
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive (often territorial toward other tangs, but peaceful with other fish)
- Max Size: Up to 46 cm
- Minimum Tank Size: 600+ litres (800+ litres preferred)
Care Requirements
- Swimming Space: These are highly active, fast-swimming fish that require long, open aquariums. They do best in tanks that are at least 6 feet long to allow for their “frenetic” swimming style.
- Lid: A tight-fitting mesh or netted lid is mandatory. Like most surgeonfish, they are known to jump if startled or stressed.
- Water Conditions:
- Temperature: 22–26°C
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG
- Filtration: They are messy eaters and produce a high bioload. A powerful protein skimmer and efficient filtration system are essential to maintain water quality.
Maintenance
Consistent maintenance ensures health, vibrant coloration, and longevity.
- Water Changes: 10-20% weekly using RO/DI water matched to tank parameters.
- Filtration: Use a protein skimmer, canister filter, or refugium. Add activated carbon to remove toxins.
- Testing: Weekly checks for pH, salinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate using reliable kits.
- Cleaning: Siphon detritus during water changes; clean filters monthly. Monitor algae growth, as the tang grazes but requires supplemental feeding.
- Handling: Use caution due to sharp caudal spines, which can cause painful cuts. Transfer using a container, not a net.
Diet
- Primary Diet: They are herbivores. In the wild, they graze extensively on macroalgae. In the aquarium, their health depends on a consistent supply of vegetable matter.
- Feeding: Offer high-quality dried seaweed (Nori) on a veggie clip at least 3 times per week. They will also graze on film and filamentous algae growing on rocks.
- Supplementation: While they are primarily herbivores, they will accept frozen foods like mysis or brine shrimp. However, these should be seen as a supplement rather than the primary diet. A well-fed Naso Tang is less likely to develop Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE).
Behavior and Compatibility
- Aggression: They are generally peaceful toward most non-tang species, but they can be highly territorial toward other tangs—especially other Naso species or those with similar body shapes.
- The “Scalpel”: Like all surgeonfish, they have sharp, razor-like spines on either side of their tail (the caudal peduncle). Handle them with extreme care when netting; they can easily get tangled in nets, which can damage their spines or cause injury to you.
- Reef Safety: They are considered “reef safe” as they typically do not harm corals, though their large size and active swimming can sometimes disturb smaller corals or rockwork.
Tips
- Acclimation: They can be shy and slow to start eating in a new environment. Ensure the fish is actively eating at the store before purchasing.
- Lighting: They appreciate bright reef lighting, which helps showcase their brilliant reds, oranges, and blues.
- Distinction: Note that the Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans) is a closely related species (often found in the Indian Ocean) that looks very similar but has a yellow dorsal fin, whereas the standard Naso lituratus has a black dorsal fin.
- Avoid “Overstocking”: Because of their size and waste output, avoid keeping multiple large fish that also require high swimming volume in the same system, unless the tank is exceptionally large (800+ litres).
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
