Naso Tang

• ExerciseVery high

  A powerful swimmer that needs a long tank and real swimming space.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceLarge tank

  Needs a large aquarium — several hundred liters.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment12–25 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Parasites · Nutritional deficiency

The Naso or Lipstick Tang (Naso lituratus) is an Indo-Pacific unicornfish reaching about 40 to 45 cm. It carries a yellow-orange facial mask around the mouth, a yellow dorsal fin and a pair of fixed orange keels rather than a folding scalpel at the tail base. Mature males develop long filaments from the upper and lower tail lobes. This is a fish for a very large aquarium: 800 litres or more with powerful flow and unobstructed swimming length, at 24-27C, salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4. It is a brown-algae specialist in the wild, so dried nori and other marine algae must be offered daily, along with spirulina pellets and some mysis. It is generally peaceful with other species but will not tolerate another Naso in typical home aquarium volumes. Individuals are prone to ich during acclimation and often refuse food for the first days, so quarantine and patient feeding matter more here than with most tangs.

• How active is a Naso Tang?

  Very high. A powerful swimmer that needs a long tank and real swimming space.

• How much maintenance does a Naso Tang need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Naso Tang need?

  Large tank. Needs a large aquarium — several hundred liters.

• Is a Naso Tang a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Naso Tang live?

  12–25 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Naso Tang?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Parasites, Nutritional deficiency. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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