Powder Brown Tangs are adept swimmers who cruise along the reefs edge grazing on algae, macroalgae plants and other similar items growing on or near the reef. Also known as the Powder brown surgeonfish, Powder black surgeon, Japan surgeonfish, White-nose surgeonfish, and White-faced surgeonfish.
The Powder Brown Tang has an oval disk shaped body and beautiful coloration, with a generally brown to blackish blue body, and black dorsal and anal fins that have a beautiful blue edging. A red band marks the back of the dorsal fin and yellow stripes run along the body just above and below these fins. The Powder Brown Tang also features a single spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, which is called as scalpel.
In the wild they inhabit clear lagoons or seaward reefs down to a depth of 20 meters / 66 feet and is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. Specifically, the southern islands of Japan, Ryukyu Islands to Taiwan, Sulawesi (Indonesia) to the Philippines, and have been spotted as far east as the Hawaiian Islands. They live both in small groups of 8 to 12 individuals and in large aggregations of 40 or more.
Powder brown tangs can become semi-aggressive when kept with other tangs of a similar shape, size, and color to them and can also become aggressive with other powder brown tangs in the same aquarium. This behavior can actually be fairly common with most tangs. The powder brown tang however is a great fish for a community tank as they will peacefully co-exist with any other types of fish.
The powder brown tang grows to be about 8 inches in length and require a good sized aquarium (90 gallons or larger) to provide them adequate swimming room.
Powder Brown Tangs require a diet that is heavy on marine algae and seaweed in order for them to be healthy and maintain a proper immune system. While they will also consume meaty flake and frozen foods, the majority of their diet should come from algae and herbivore preparations. Vegetable matter, dried seaweed and other herbivore preparations will strengthen their immune system and also help reduce their overall aggression towards other tank mates.
