Scopas tang

The scopas tang is a surgeonfish of the family Acanthuridae, widespread across the Indo-Pacific. It has a rounded, disc-shaped body that ranges from brown to dusky yellow with fine dotted and streaked markings, and like all tangs it bears a sharp scalpel-like spine at the base of the tail. It is a hardy herbivore that can be territorial toward other tangs, especially those of similar shape, but generally mixes well with dissimilar reef fish. It is usually kept singly and is considered reef-safe, grazing algae without harming corals. It needs a spacious aquarium with live rock for grazing and swimming room. Its diet should be predominantly vegetable matter, including dried algae sheets and marine algae preparations, supplemented with some meaty foods. Because tangs are prone to lateral line erosion and ich, stable water quality and vitamin-enriched feeding are important. It is one of the more beginner-friendly tangs.