All About the Doctorfish Tang
- Jun 16, 2024
- Anshika Mishra
- 118 0 0
If you are looking for a Tang fish with a round body that gets huge, then this Doctorfish Tang is a great choice. The Sergent fishes, known for their sharp scale-like spines on either side of the tail, will be a very active choice for a more extensive reef or a fish-only tank.
Prices: If you can fish the Doctofish, the juveniles will usually cost about $80. However, you'll have to pay much more if you want the bigger fish.
They don't seem a very high-in-stock item among online and local fish stores because it takes a specific tank to care for them. So, even though they are the least concerned about conservation status, they are not caught often because they are not a big seller.
Tank Size: This plays a significant role for this fish as it reaches adulthood. It would be best to have something 200 gallons or more. You want a tank that is very long but also has a pretty good width. A typical tank setting would include a very high live rock structure with archways, caves, and holes in the tank for them to explore and graze for algae throughout the day.
Care Level: Moderate, even easy at times. Tangs require moderate care because you have to add tools to your tool kit, and one of them is that they will be eating algae. It's great to let natural algae grow in the tank, like hair algae. They'll eat that stuff up. However, you also want to supplement the algae in their diet if there isn't any algae.
The other learning curve deals with the diseases that tangs can quickly get. Their smooth skin can contract things much more rapidly than other fish. So, quarantine tanks are a big plus before placing them in the display tank. Ask your local shop if they've already had them in copper or some dip before you buy them.
Temperament: They are a Tang so that they will be semi-aggressive at the minimum. They'll bully newcomers and will be the first out to get the food. They'll chase fish around whenever they get near a spot they like to hang out by.
It's a round-body tang, and if you want to mix it with other Tangs, it works best with different shapes, so add them as close as possible.
Reef Compatibility: It's definitely yes. They're found in the western Atlantic Ocean, the reef, Florida, and even along the top of South America, so you'll see them there grazing on algae, looking for their next meal, and swimming around just having a good time.
Water Parameters
Temperature: 72-78 degrees
dKH: 8-12
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: 1.020-1.025
Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrate, and phosphates. If this spike, the tangs will likely get sick, and you'll deal with two issues simultaneously. So, stay on top of your water changes and test that water.
Maximum Size: They have been recorded at 15 inches long and weighing over 11 pounds. This is a huge Tang. In a typical tank setting, you'll see them about 10-12 inches. The colors are really nice. They have a matte gray body and this deep blue that shadows the outline of their fins, with black stripes running vertically down their body, which gives them a really great, eye-catching look.
Diet
It's an omnivore fish, but there is an 80-20 split between herbivores and carnivores. They will eat the Mysis and brine shrimp you feed your other fish, but their primary source needs to be algae, which will keep their colors looking great.
Pellets and flakes can also be very nutritious. Many of them contain algae, so make sure to include those in their diet, too. They have many options on hand to see what they like.
Compatibility
They are one of those Tang that get large and can hold their own against anybody. People place them on reefs with clownfish, wrasse, and gobies. On the flip side, they'll have them in a Fowler tank with Puffers, Triggers, and Groupers.
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