Yellow Tail Purple Tang
Earns 618 Aqua Points, worth £6.18 off a future order. How points work
- Arrive alive guarantee
- Overnight, oxygen packed
- You pick the day
Livestock delivery, done properly
- Overnight insulated delivery on fish orders, £19.95, and free collection near Gatwick
- Arrive-alive promise plus a 10 day health guarantee
- You choose the delivery day at checkout. We only show days we can genuinely deliver
- £35 minimum on livestock orders. Dry goods ship free alongside fish
About this fish
Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
What is its maximum size?
Up to approximately 22–25 cm in length.
Where is its origin and where is it exported from?
The Purple Tang originates from the western Indian Ocean, primarily the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and Persian (Arabian) Gulf. It is naturally found around coral-rich reefs and rocky reef environments, where it spends much of its time grazing on algae.
Is it reef compatible?
Yes. The Purple Tang is considered reef safe and is generally suitable for both fish-only and mixed reef aquariums.
It does not normally bother corals, clams or other sessile invertebrates. In fact, it can be beneficial in reef aquariums by grazing on nuisance algae growing on live rock and other surfaces.
What should I feed it?
The Purple Tang is primarily herbivorous and requires a diet rich in marine algae and vegetable matter to maintain its health and vibrant colouration.
Offer a varied diet consisting of:
- Marine algae and dried seaweed (nori).
- Vegetable-based marine flakes.
- Occasional frozen mysis shrimp and enriched brine shrimp.
Algae-based foods should make up the majority of its diet. Regular feeding is important, ideally offering small portions two to three times throughout the day to support its natural grazing behaviour.
How many can I keep?
Best kept singly in most home aquariums. Purple Tangs can be particularly territorial, especially towards other tangs and fish with similar body shapes or feeding habits.
How compatible is it with other fish?
Generally semi-aggressive and territorial, particularly towards other surgeonfish and tangs.
Purple Tangs are usually compatible with a wide range of established marine community fish, including clownfish, wrasses, gobies, blennies and angelfish.
Water parameters
- Temperature: 24–28°C
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Specific gravity (salinity): 1.023–1.026
- Ammonia and nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Keep as low as practical through good filtration and regular water changes.
If it does not arrive alive, you do not pay for it.
Photograph the bag unopened, send it to us within four hours of delivery, and we will put it right with a refund or a replacement.* The health guarantee then covers you for a further ten days once it is in your tank.
*Whether we refund or replace is our decision and depends on the fish and its cost. A replacement may travel with a future order rather than straight away.