Vlamingi tang (Naso vlamingii) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Bignose unicornfish, Vlaming's unicornfish, Zebra unicornfish, Scribbled unicornfish
Family
Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes, tangs and unicornfishes)
Origin
Indo-Pacific, East Africa (Kenya to South Africa) across the Indian Ocean and Indonesia into the Pacific, including Australia; deep lagoons and seaward reefs.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
60 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes
Lifespan
Up to 40 (captivity) years

Care

Tank: at up to 60 cm and schooling around deep slopes and drop-offs, this is a fish for public-aquarium-sized systems, not home aquaria. It can live up to 40 years in captivity, a very long commitment. Water: our sources give no species-specific figures, so the values shown (24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, SG 1.023–1.026) are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific. Like other surgeonfish it needs well-oxygenated water with strong flow and stable quality. Behaviour: adults change colour quickly; the blue markings brighten in courtship and at cleaning stations. Like all surgeonfish it carries sharp tail blades; never handle it by hand. Trade and status: occasionally collected for the trade; juveniles are sometimes confused with Naso lopezi. IUCN: Least Concern. Not CITES-listed. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasovlamingii). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Juveniles eat mainly algae, subadults are omnivores, and adults mostly hunt zooplankton, sometimes taking waste from predatory fish at night. Captive fish need meaty plankton-type foods plus algae.

Breeding

Females release eggs in batches, fertilised externally, usually in group spawns. Not bred in aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe and usually peaceful, but needs a huge system.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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