Care
Despite being quite readily available in the trade, the electric blue Regal Tang can be fairly challenging to keep in the home aquarium and its care requirements should not be taken lightly. This fish requires an XL mature system if it is to do well in captivity. Ideally the tank will be over 6ft in length, will have been set up for several months, and will include plenty of living rock. Filtration should be oversized, with highly efficient protein skimming and powerful circulation. In the wild, Regal Tangs are found in loose aggregations a metre or so above the substrate in current-swept terraces of the seaward reefs. When startled, they dive for cover amongst the branches of Pocillopora corals. The bulk of their diet is made up of zooplankton, but they do consume some algae. The tank should be aquascaped with a decent amount of living rock to provide welcome bolt holes, leaving an open swimming space along the front of the tank. Regal Tangs should not harm sessile invertebrates, provided that they are feeding well and consuming a balanced diet. This species is not overly aggressive and can be kept in groups if space permits (specimens should be of the same size and introduced simultaneously). Juvenile fish shoal together, but adults require much more territory and will squabble if there is not enough room. For this reason it is best to keep one adult per tank, unless you are blessed with a vast system. Tankmates should be of a peaceable nature and not direct food competitors. Avoid fish that are too boisterous and which might prevent the Regal Tang from feeding, as head and lateral line erosion (HLLE) can quickly develop if the fish is undernourished, as can marine whitespot, which this species is prone to if stressed. Close relatives from the acanthurid (tang/surgeonfish) family are best avoided too. When choosing a Regal Tang for your aquarium, do ensure that they do not look underweight with a "pinched in" appearance, and instead have a nice full-looking body and are alert and inquisitive. A period of quarantine can be a valuable procedure for the acclimatisation of all livestock, and it is of particular importance for the Regal Tang which, as mentioned above, can be quite susceptible to developing whitespot. This can be difficult to treat in the reef aquarium. Ideally the fish should be quarantined and carefully observed in a separate aquarium for at least a fortnight before being introduced into your main display tank. Be very careful when netting or handling your Regal Tang, as the sharp caudal spines can inflict nasty wounds. May also be seen on sale as the Hippo Tang. ***This species is not recommended for beginners.***
Feeding
Offer a varied diet, consisting of small meaty foods such as Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, chopped krill etc, plus some vegetable matter, in small amounts 3 times per day. Although this species will browse on algae within the aquarium, the "green" part of its diet must be supplemented with frozen herbivore rations, green marine flake, Spirulina (blue-green algae), Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, cucumber, lettuce, Nori (dried seaweed) etc. Adding a specially formulated vitamin supplement to any frozen foods will be beneficial to help prevent deficiencies which may lead to HLLE.
Breeding
Unlikely in the home aquarium. In the wild, these fish spawn on a seasonal basis, with several thousand eggs released into the water column. There is no parental care.
