Clown Tang - Acanthurus lineatus

SM (1.75-2.75")

$89.99

Reef Safe Tang

$89.99

Size Small (<1.75") SM (1.75-2.75") Medium (2.75-3.75") ML (3.75-4.5") Large (4.5-5.5")

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Goes well with:

Diet

Nori Pellets Mysis

Min Tank Size 250 gallons

Temperament Aggressive

Reef Safe Yes

Care & Diet Feeding, nutrition, and best practices.

Diet Type: Omnivore

Clown Tangs are primarily herbivores, requiring a diet rich in marine-based algae and seaweed. Offer a variety of foods such as spirulina, nori, and high-quality herbivore pellets or flakes. Supplement their diet with occasional meaty foods like mysis shrimp or brine shrimp to ensure proper nutrition. Feed them small amounts several times a day to mimic their natural grazing behavior. Providing a clip with dried seaweed in the tank can encourage natural foraging and help maintain their health and coloration.

Nori Pellets Mysis

Behavior Temperament, activity level, and interactions.

Temperament: Aggressive

The Clown Tang is an active and aggressive swimmer that requires a spacious tank environment of at least 250 gallons to thrive. It displays territorial behavior, often asserting dominance over its space, making it challenging to keep with other tangs or similarly sized fish. This species is best housed as the only tang in the tank to prevent aggressive interactions. Despite its aggression, the Clown Tang is reef-safe and does not harm corals or invertebrates. It is important to select robust tank mates that can withstand its assertive nature, avoiding shy or slow-moving species. The Clown Tang is an omnivore with a preference for algae-based foods, playing a beneficial role in controlling algae growth in the tank. A diet rich in algae, seaweed, and spirulina, supplemented with mysis shrimp, is essential for its health.

Tank & Aquascape Tank requirements and aquascaping tips.

Min Tank Size: 250 gallons
Max Size: 15 inches
Care Level: Expert
Origin: Indo-Pacific

Compatibility Tank mates, aggression, and introduction order.

Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Safe: Yes

Tang Reef Safe Algae Control

Reef & Health Reef safety, common issues, and prevention.

Reef Safe: Yes
Care Level: Expert

FAQs Answers to the most common questions.

My new Clown Tang is constantly pacing and glass-surfing in my 250-gallon tank. Is this normal, or a sign the tank is too small or not mature enough?

Clown Tangs (Acanthurus lineatus) are high-strung, open-water swimmers that often pace when first introduced, but persistent frantic glass-surfing can indicate either an undersized or visually “bare” environment, or a system that’s too young. For this species, 180 gallons is the bare minimum, and the tank should be very stable (ideally 9–12+ months old) with strong, turbulent flow and long, open swimming lanes. Add substantial rockwork for security but keep plenty of horizontal run. Dim your lights for a few days, provide nori on clips at multiple spots, and avoid sudden movements near the glass. If water parameters are pristine and behavior doesn’t calm within 1–2 weeks, the fish may be too cramped or stressed by tankmates; in that case, a larger system (240g+) or different stocking plan is often required for long-term success.

My Clown Tang is relentlessly harassing my Yellow and Kole Tangs, but ignores other fish. Is there any way to manage this aggression other than removing the Clown Tang?

Clown Tangs are among the most aggressive Acanthurus, especially toward other tangs with similar body shapes or feeding niches. Management options are limited, but you can try several steps before rehoming: - Rearrange rockwork significantly to “reset” territories. - Overprovide algae: multiple nori clips spread out to reduce competition hot-spots. - Use high, chaotic flow patterns to break up chase lines. - Temporarily house the Clown Tang in an acclimation box inside the display to break its established dominance while others move freely. - If you must keep multiple tangs, prioritize mixing very different body shapes (e.g., Zebrasoma or Ctenochaetus vs. similar Acanthurus), and introduce them all at the same time, with the Clown Tang not being the last or the sole large tang added. If aggression still escalates or causes injury, permanent separation is usually the only humane solution.

My Clown Tang eats nori but ignores all prepared foods. What specific diet and feeding pattern should I use to keep it in top condition long term?

Clown Tangs are highly active herbivores that need near-constant access to plant material and frequent supplemental feeds. Base diet on: - Dried seaweed (nori, red and brown types) clipped 2–3 times daily in different locations. - Frozen herbivore blends (with spirulina, marine algae, and some sponge/seaweed components), offered in small amounts 2–3 times per day. - High-quality pellets or flakes designed for herbivores, with spirulina and marine algae at the top of the ingredient list; soak briefly in tank water to improve acceptance. - Occasional fresh macroalgae (gracilaria, ogo, ulva) if available. Feed smaller amounts more often rather than large infrequent meals. Once the fish is stable and eating aggressively, you can slowly introduce varied prepared foods by mixing them with favored items (e.g., thawed herbivore mix on top of a nori clip), but plant matter should remain the bulk of its diet.

How much water flow does a Clown Tang actually need, and what powerhead layout works best so it can swim naturally without constantly fighting the current?

Clown Tangs come from high-energy reef slopes and thrive in strong, turbulent flow. Aim for total turnover in the range of 20–40x tank volume per hour, but distribute it smartly: - Use multiple powerheads/wave pumps on alternating or random modes rather than a single high-velocity jet. - Create a main “gyre” or racetrack current along the length of the tank so the fish can cruise in one direction, then drift back in gentler return flow. - Direct some pumps toward the surface to increase oxygenation; this species is sensitive to low O2. - Leave at least one long, relatively unobstructed side-to-side swimming lane. Watch the fish: if it can swim in place without being pinned to the glass or rock and still shows strong, purposeful movement (not struggling or hiding from the flow), you’re in the right range.

I want to keep a Clown Tang in a mixed reef with SPS corals and invertebrates. Are there any specific compatibility or behavior issues I should expect beyond the usual “reef safe with caution”?

Clown Tangs typically ignore corals and most invertebrates, making them generally safe for SPS, LPS, and soft corals. Specific considerations in a mixed reef: - They may nip at fleshy clams or graze near their mantles if underfed, so keep them very well supplied with algae. - Their constant motion and size mean they can knock over loosely placed frags or rocks; secure all coral mounts and ensure rockwork is stable. - They can outcompete shyer fish at feeding time; target feed slower species and use broadcast feeding plus nori to spread out competition. - Strong light and high-flow SPS systems align well with their oxygen and swimming needs, but ensure temperatures remain stable (ideally 24–26°C / 75–79°F) and that you have strong gas exchange, as heavily stocked reefs can run closer to oxygen limits at night. Overall, in a large, stable reef with secure aquascaping and abundant algae, a Clown Tang can be a striking but demanding show fish.

Clown Tang – Acanthurus lineatus

The Clown Tang, also known as the Lined Surgeonfish, is one of the most visually striking saltwater fish available for a large marine aquarium. Its upper body is covered in alternating electric-blue and yellow horizontal stripes edged in black, while the lower body fades into pale blue-gray. Bright yellow-orange pelvic fins and a deeply forked tail complete its unmistakable appearance.

Native to shallow, wave-swept reefs across the Indo-Pacific, Acanthurus lineatus is a powerful, almost constantly moving swimmer that naturally grazes throughout the day. Its bold coloration and commanding presence make it an impressive centerpiece for an expansive reef aquarium or fish-only aquarium.

Despite its beauty, this is a demanding and highly territorial surgeonfish best suited to experienced aquarists. The Clown Tang requires substantial swimming space, strong water movement, excellent oxygenation, frequent plant-based feeding, and carefully selected tankmates.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Expert Only
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Herbivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan and south to Australia and New Caledonia
Scientific Name: Acanthurus lineatus

Tank Requirements

House the Clown Tang in a long, wide aquarium with extensive open swimming space. Rockwork should provide secure caves and sheltered sleeping areas while leaving broad, unobstructed lanes across the front and upper portions of the aquarium.

Strong, turbulent water movement and vigorous surface agitation are important for replicating the oxygen-rich surge zones this species inhabits. Efficient filtration, protein skimming, and consistently high water quality are essential. The aquarium should be mature enough to support natural algal growth on the rockwork for regular grazing.

Arrange all rocks securely, as this active and powerful fish can dislodge unstable structures. Long-term housing should account for an adult length approaching 15 inches, its continuous activity, and the large territory it may attempt to control.

Diet and Feeding

The Clown Tang is primarily herbivorous and should receive a varied, algae-rich diet several times throughout the day. Offer dried marine algae or nori daily, ideally from more than one feeding station in community aquariums.

Supplement seaweed with spirulina-based flakes, high-quality herbivore pellets, frozen preparations formulated for marine herbivores, and foods containing marine algae. Occasional mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, or finely chopped marine foods can add variety, but meaty foods should not replace its plant-based diet.

Feed small portions two to four times daily when possible. Consistent access to algae supports body condition and reduces competition, stress, and unwanted grazing behavior.

Temperament and Tankmates

The Clown Tang is aggressive, territorial, and especially intolerant of other surgeonfish. It should normally be kept as the only Clown Tang in the aquarium and is best introduced after more peaceful residents have become established.

Avoid housing it with similarly shaped tangs, particularly other members of the genus Acanthurus, unless the system is exceptionally large and managed by an experienced aquarist. Even in spacious aquariums, serious territorial disputes may occur.

Choose robust, confident tankmates that are not easily intimidated. Large angelfish, substantial wrasses, triggerfish appropriate for the system, rabbitfish, and other assertive marine fish may be suitable. Small, timid, slow-feeding, or highly passive species can be relentlessly harassed once the tang establishes a territory.

Reef Compatibility

The Clown Tang is generally considered reef safe. It normally grazes on algae growing across rock surfaces rather than feeding on healthy corals, clams, ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, or other reef invertebrates.

An underfed or nutritionally stressed individual may investigate fleshy coral tissue or repeatedly graze around coral bases. Providing frequent algae-based meals and adequate natural grazing surfaces helps minimize this behavior.

Its primary challenge in a reef aquarium is not coral predation but its adult size, activity level, and potential aggression toward other fish.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–80°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Maintain strong oxygenation and stable water quality. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, salinity, or pH, particularly during acclimation. Consistency is more important than repeatedly adjusting the aquarium to reach an exact value.

Common Considerations

Can reach approximately 15 inches and requires an exceptionally spacious aquarium.
Highly territorial and often aggressive toward other tangs and similarly shaped fish.
Requires strong water movement, high dissolved oxygen, and excellent filtration.
Can be sensitive during shipping and initial acclimation; introduce it into a stable, mature system.
Possesses sharp caudal-peduncle spines that can cause painful injuries during handling or territorial fights.