Regal Blue Tang

Paracanthurus hepatus

The Regal Blue Tang, also known as the Blue Hippo Tang or Palette Surgeonfish, brings vivid blue colour, bold black markings, and a bright yellow tail to a spacious marine aquarium. This active, open-water swimmer adds movement throughout the day, while rockwork gives it places to retreat and settle at night.

Care at a glance

• Care level: Moderate
• Temperament: Generally peaceful with unrelated fish; can be territorial with other tangs
• Reef compatibility: Generally reef safe
• Suggested aquarium: 180 gallons or larger, with a generous swimming footprint
• Adult size: Up to approximately 12 inches (30–31 cm)
• Diet: Marine omnivore, with a strong preference for plankton-like meaty foods plus algae

Aquarium and behaviour

Provide a mature, stable marine system with good oxygenation, strong circulation, open swimming room, and secure caves or crevices. Arrange rockwork so the fish can move around it freely rather than filling the entire swimming area. Plan the aquarium around its adult size, even when purchasing a small fish.

Regal Blue Tangs may wedge into rockwork when startled or resting. Give a newly introduced fish time to settle and avoid crowding it with aggressive tankmates.

Feeding

Offer small meals two or three times a day. A varied rotation of mysis, other suitable marine frozen foods, and quality marine pellets helps meet its meaty-food needs. Add marine algae or nori regularly for supplementary grazing. This species needs more than an algae-only diet.

Compatibility

A single Regal Blue Tang is the simplest choice for most suitable home displays. Mixing multiple tangs requires ample space, careful introductions, and observation, especially when fish have similar body shapes. Provide enough feeding opportunities so it is not outcompeted.

Healthy, well-fed individuals are usually suitable for reef aquariums, although individual behaviour varies. Very small invertebrates may be sampled.

Good to know

Use a suitable quarantine and observation routine before adding any new marine fish to an established display. Surgeonfish have sharp defensive spines near the tail base, so handle with care and use equipment that reduces the chance of entanglement.