This is a beautiful fish that is rarely seen. Notice the orange ‘tang’ on the caudal peduncle just in front of the tailfin. Also the fluorescent blue fringe on the edges of the fins. Isn’t the Sohal Tang or Red Sea Clown Tang magnificent!

   The Sohal Tang or Red Sea Clown Tang is from the Red Sea and the Western Indian ocean. Although fish from the Red Sea are generally more expensive, they are always net caught and are handled with more care, which gives them a much better survival rate. These fish are somewhat difficult to keep, but you should be able to obtain a very healthy specimen which increases the chances of this fish surviving in the aquarium.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Acanthuridae
  • Genus: Acanthurus
  • Species: sohal
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Habitat: Natural geographic location:

   Sohal Tang or Red Sea Clown Tang are found in the Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to the Persian Gulf.

Maintenance difficulty:

   The Sohal Tang or Red Sea Clown Tang is easy to moderately difficult to keep.

Maintenance:

   It is important that you feed Tangs a good variety of live, frozen, and prepared formula foods with emphasis in vegetable and spirulina. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.

Foods:

   Mainly found grazing on algae.

Social Behaviors:

   Can get territorial especially if another tang is added to a tank with an already established tang.

Sexual differences:

   Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:

   No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:

   Probably will not be accomplished in captivity. See the description in the Breeding Marine Fish page.

Temperature:

   No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine is fish between 75 and 79 degrees.

Length/Diameter of fish:

   Sohal Tang or Red Sea Clown Tang adults can grow to 40 cm (16 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:

   A minimum 100 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong

   No special requirements. 

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom

   Swims all over the aquarium.

Availability:

   The Sohol Tang is occasionally available at retailers but is rather expensive. They are priced about $100.00 USD and up.