Vampire Tang (L)

Description

Vampire Tang

Acanthurus tennentii

Origin: Indian Ocean – Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, East Africa

Size: Up to 26 cm

Reef Compatibility:

• Small Fish Safe: ✅ Yes
• Invert Safe: ✅ Yes
• Coral Safe: ✅ Yes

Diet: Herbivore – primarily grazes on algae; accepts nori, spirulina, and herbivore pellets.

Care Level: Moderate

Aggression: Semi-aggressive – may be territorial with other tangs, especially Acanthurus species.

Captive-Bred Available: ❌ No

Notes:

The Vampire Tang, also known as Tennent’s Surgeonfish, is a striking species with a grey body accented by a bold black face mask, yellow tail, and bright blue edging. It requires a large, mature reef aquarium with abundant swimming space and established rockwork for grazing. Like other surgeonfish, it can be aggressive toward similar tangs, so careful tankmate selection is important. Provide supplemental algae sheets to keep it well fed and healthy.

Why We Like It:

Distinctive in both pattern and behaviour, the Vampire Tang is a bold algae grazer that doubles as a showpiece fish. Its striking mask-like markings and vibrant highlights bring a unique flair to the reef while contributing to algae control.