From ReefPedia

[edit] Sailfin Tang Scientific Name Zebrasoma veliferum (Bloch 1795) Max. Size: 16 " or 40 cm Tank Size: 100 gallons and up Aggression: Peaceful when added as a juvenile to moderate aggression when add as an adult. Hardiness: Score 8 of a possible 10 Reef-Safe: Very reef safe and a tremendous 24/7 grazer of macro algeas, the mouth form is designed for picking macro algea from the rocks. Available as captive-bred: Not commonly captive bred, the Pacific Sailfin Tang is collected out of the Philippines and Indonesia, though better specimens come out of Hawaii, Ceylon and other places in the eastern Pacific.

Sailfin Tang

Physical Description

Some call this THE Sailfin tang for it's gorgeous flowing dorsal and anal finnage which it can display and double its size of appearence. Adults have broad dark bands on a whitish background. Thin yellow lines run through this dark and light banding. The head is white with a black bar through the eye, and yellow dots and lines. The tail is yellow with a blue-white margin.

When confronted or stressed, the Sailfin Tang may turn dark brown or even solid black.

Distribution

Philippines and Indonesia, though better out of Hawaii, Ceylon and other places in the eastern Pacific.

Taxonomic Stuff you know you Care About

• Family: Acanthuridae

• Genus: Zebrasoma

• Species: veliferum

Behavior

Very graceful and constant lateral swimmers which is why a larger gallon tank is required. Will coexist with other tangs that are not from its own genus and have different dietary requirements, as this abates territorial food squabbles. Will display on occasion and does not harrass other docile tank mates. Can be seen picking up sand which aids in the digestion of their vegatable diet. These fishes, as all tangs, are best placed in your tank near the last of your livestock list to ensure aging and stability of the system. Given plenty of room and hiding spaces your Sailfin tang should not be overly intimidated by any but the worst bully tank-mates. Maximum nook and cranniness should be provided for ducking in and out of vision and harm's way.

Sailfin's require some shady areas in the tank and may not tolerate strong Metal Halide lighting for long periods. Large specimens will soon dominate the tank, taking on all but the most aggressive species.

Feeding

Avid grazers of macro algeas that will supplement their diet with meaty foods and cyclopeze.

Breeding

Zebrasoma tangs show little sexual dichromatism or dimorphism (color or structural differences between males and females). Spawning by Zebrasoma species occurs by pairs and schools, with two or more fishes swimming rapidly toward the surface releasing their gametes. Planktonic larvae drift about via currents for weeks to a few months, with good fortune settling about a propitious reef.

Social Structure

Sailfins are better to keep just one individual of one species to a system. They can and will fight with their species and other tangs, seriously damaging other similar appearing fishes, even in tanks of hundreds of gallons.

Additional Notes

Zebrasoma vileferum display the most tolerance for variable water conditions. Nevertheless pH should be maintained between 8.0 and 8.4., temperature kept ideally in the mid-seventies; to low eighties F. maximum.

Sailfin tangs require stable, aged systems with diatom, green algal growth and detritus... on the other hand, they demand low waste loads and high dissolved oxygen.

I have really enjoyed having this fish as part of my Indo Pacific reef set-up. Craig Manoukian