Blue Tangナンヨウハギ

Species Data

Classification

Acanthuriformes / Acanthuridae Source

Size

Total length about 20 cm, reaching 30 cm in large individuals

Weight

About 600 g as an adult

Lifespan

Said to be about 15 years in captivity

Diet

Omnivore Omnivorous; in the wild it feeds mainly on zooplankton but also grazes algae, and in captivity it eats krill and leafy vegetables

Distribution

Widely distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to northern Australia and Kiribati, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and the Great Barrier Reef. Source

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

• It hides a sharp spine near the base of its tail and, when fighting, flicks the spine outward and slashes its body sideways at rivals. Source
• Its body color shifts with its condition, appearing vivid blue when healthy but paling to a whitish hue when sleeping or unwell; at night it wedges itself into a crevice and lies down to sleep. Source
• It ranks as the 8th most traded aquarium species worldwide, with about 95,000 individuals imported in 2011 alone; captive breeding was long considered difficult until biologist Kevin Barden achieved it for the first time in 2016 after a six-year effort. Source

FAQ

Why is the blue tang also known as Dory?

The species was the inspiration for the character Dory in Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, which brought it worldwide recognition even though it was already among the most popular aquarium fish before the films. Source

How does the blue tang defend itself?

It has a sharp, scalpel-like spine hidden near the base of its tail, which it flicks outward and slashes sideways at rivals or threats. Source

How many operating facilities are registered here?

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source

Books & gear

• Blue Tang book
• binoculars