How big does Purple Tang get?

Purple Tang reaches an adult standard length of 18–22 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Purple Tang need?

24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

What is the smallest tank for Purple Tang?

At least 400 L, and no shorter than 150 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Purple Tang like to keep?

Temperament: aggressive. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the all levels and is herbivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".

Can Purple Tang be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Purple Tang and Yellow Tang is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 62Marine

Purple Tang紫吊

Zebrasoma xanthurum · Acanthuridae

Purple body with a yellow tail from the Red Sea; handsome and short-tempered.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 62 · Purple Tang Zebrasoma xanthurum

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 紫吊
Scientific name: Zebrasoma xanthurum
Family: Acanthuridae
Origin: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coral reefs
Adult size: 18–22 cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Herbivore
Water level: All levels
Level: Moderate
Min. tank: 400 L
Min. length: 150 cm
Reef safe: Reef safe

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–27 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.023–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Aggressive to congeners, especially yellow tangs; only in a very large tank.
2Sharp tail spines; never handle it bare-handed.
3Herbivore needing nori or algae sheets daily.
4Reasonably disease-resistant once stable, but still quarantine new arrivals.
5Reef safe; a good primary grazer for a large coral tank.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Purple Tang against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Purple Tang get?: Purple Tang reaches an adult standard length of 18–22 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Purple Tang need?: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
What is the smallest tank for Purple Tang?: At least 400 L, and no shorter than 150 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Purple Tang like to keep?: Temperament: aggressive. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the all levels and is herbivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".
Can Purple Tang be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Purple Tang and Yellow Tang is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.