Sohal Tang

1 Sohal Tang Species Profile

The Sohal Tang, also known as the Arabian Tang, lives on coral plains and usually reaches 25 to 30 cm in the aquarium, up to 40 cm in the wild. It is relatively easy to keep but prone to lateral line erosion and head-and-lateral-line erosion disease.

Chinese name: Sohal Tang

English name: Sohal Tang

Binomial: Acanthurus sohal

Minimum tank size: 800 L

Care level: Moderate

Requirements: salinity 1.020 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4

Temperament: Aggressive

Max adult size in tank: 40 cm

Coral compatibility: Safe

Diet: Herbivorous

Main origin: Red Sea

Family: Acanthuridae

2 Sohal Tang Appearance

The Sohal Tang, also called the Arabian Tang, is a tang. It is relatively easy to keep, but has some aggression, so do not keep it with other tangs or wrasses.

The adult body is oval and laterally compressed. The mouth is small, terminal; both jaws have a row of flat teeth, fixed and immovable, with notches. The dorsal and anal spines are sharp, rays not extended; the caudal fin is lunate; the caudal-peduncle spine is sharp and very long. The upper body is blue-gray, lower milky white; from the nape about 3/4 of the body side has over 20 light-blue to blue-brown horizontal stripes, the upper ones reaching the dorsal fin; pelvic fins black with blue edges; pectoral fins pale yellow with black edges and an orange-yellow spot near the base; dorsal and anal fins black with blue edges; caudal peduncle blue-gray, caudal fin dark brown with blue edges.

The Sohal Tang’s tail spine, at the front of the caudal peduncle, is orange-red. It differs from the Lined Tang (Acanthurus lineatus) in color: the Lined Tang is mainly yellow, the Sohal mainly blue, and the head and fins differ, so they are easy to tell apart.

3 Sohal Tang Habitat and Care

It is relatively easy to keep, but because it usually lives in water less than 20 m deep and reaches 25 to 30 cm in the aquarium, it has certain tank requirements. Recommended salinity 1.020 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4.

The Sohal Tang is aggressive; do not keep with other tangs or wrasses (e.g., the Lyretail Wrasse). It behaves well with original tank residents but will kill newly introduced fish. It suits a large tank with other aggressive fish and a reef tank, needing enough swimming space.

Hobbyists admire the Sohal Tang for its blue-edged fins and horizontal body stripes, which are attractive. Because of its aggression and size, it should be kept after gaining experience.

4 Sohal Tang Feeding

A tang and herbivorous fish, relatively easy to keep but prone to lateral line erosion and head-and-lateral-line disease. How to feed scientifically to prevent disease?

Although tangs are also fed animal food like other fish, give enough seaweed and algae plant food. This boosts immunity, reduces aggression, and improves overall health. You can tie dried seaweed to rocks and feed three times a day, or use prepared plant foods for convenience.

The Sohal Tang is easy to keep but prone to lateral line erosion or head-and-lateral-line disease. It needs higher-nutrition vegetarian food; carotene in particular helps reduce occurrence. Floating algae are also said to help prevent these diseases.