Purple Tang

Care Summary

The Purple Tang is one of the most popular tangs in the hobby with its rich eggplant-purple body and yellow tail; it is a Red Sea endemic that commands a premium but is worth it for a show reef. House it in 100+ gallons; Purple Tangs are energetic swimmers and become chronically stressed and aggressive in tanks under 5 feet long. Feed nori clips and herbivore blends daily; the deep purple color fades to a washed-out lavender in tangs that are not getting enough algae in their diet, so consistent feeding is important for aesthetics. It can be one of the more aggressive tangs toward similar-shaped fish; introduce it with Zebrasoma species carefully and add it with or before other tangs rather than last into an established group.