Do Convict Tangs need to be kept in groups?

While they are schooling fish in the wild, they do perfectly well as solitary individuals in the home aquarium. If you wish to keep a group, you must provide a massive tank (800+ litres) and introduce them all simultaneously to prevent territorial disputes.

Are Convict Tangs reef safe?

Yes, Convict Tangs are entirely reef safe. They are dedicated herbivores and will spend their time grazing on algae growing on the rocks and glass, leaving your corals and invertebrates completely alone.

What size tank does a Convict Tang need?

A single Convict Tang requires a minimum of 400 litres. They are exceptionally active swimmers and need long, open swimming lanes to prevent stress and pacing behaviours.

Will a Convict Tang eat hair algae?

Yes, they are excellent grazers and will readily consume many types of nuisance algae, including green hair algae, making them highly beneficial for reef tank maintenance.

Why is my Convict Tang losing its colour?

Fading colour is typically a sign of stress, poor water quality, or malnutrition. Ensure they are receiving a highly varied herbivorous diet rich in marine algae and check your water parameters immediately.

MarineMarineIntermediate

Convict Tang

Acanthurus triostegus

A striking, highly active, and peaceful surgeonfish renowned for its zebra-like vertical stripes and exceptional algae-grazing capabilities.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 14 – 22 dGH
Salinity: 1.02 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 15 – 25 cm
400L minimum for a single adult; 800L+ for a group: 400 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 10 years
Diet: Herbivore
Water flow: High
Preferred setup: Reef or FOWLR with extensive live rock for grazing and vast open swimming lanes.

About the Convict Tang

The Convict Tang (*Acanthurus triostegus*) is easily recognisable by its pale white to yellowish-silver body adorned with six stark black vertical bars, resembling a traditional prison uniform. Unlike many surgeonfish, they naturally form large shoals to overwhelm territorial damselfish on the reef. In the home aquarium, they are prized for their utility as relentless algae grazers and their constant, dynamic movement.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Convict Tang against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Convict Tang comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific

Countries / regions

Australia, United States (Hawaii), Japan, Maldives, French Polynesia

Habitat

Shallow reef flats, lagoon shores, and surge zones with abundant benthic algae.

Extremely widespread across tropical marine waters, from East Africa to the western coast of the Americas.

Similar species

Black-barred Surgeonfish
Acanthurus polyzona
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Kole Tang
Ctenochaetus strigosus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful and occupies different tank zones, avoiding any territorial disputes.
Great
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
Calm, mid-water swimmers that will not compete with the tang for grazing surfaces.
Great
Powder Blue Tang
Acanthurus leucosternon
Other Acanthurus tangs can be highly territorial towards closely related species; requires a very large tank.
Compatible with caution
Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus
May face heavy competition for natural algae grazing on the live rock.
Compatible with caution
Dwarf Seahorses
Hippocampus zosterae
Tangs are far too active and boisterous, which will stress and outcompete delicate seahorses for food.
Not recommended

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