Powder Blue Tang - Acanthurus leucosternon

Powder Blue Tangs are one of the most beautiful and iconic tangs commonly available in the aquarium trade. Their bodies are light blue, which lends them their powder blue name. The dorsal fin is bright yellow, extending into the base of the black and white tail, while the face is a gradient of dusky blue to black at the gills, outlined with a white chin-strap below the gills.     

Care

Powder Blue Tangs grow to a maximum size of 9 inches. As with other Acanthurus tangs, they're extremely active swimmers, and should be kept in aquariums of 125 gallons or larger with ample open space for swimming. They are often described as ich magnets, so it's highly recommended to have a quarantine regimen ready with these fish. Powder Blue Tangs are one of the more aggressive tangs, and will often relentlessly bully new tankmates, especially other similarly shaped tangs. It's recommended to add this species last, though aggression can be mitigated by distracting them with a mirror, or simply turning out the lights.   

Diet

Like most tangs, Powder Blues require a diet high in algae, so provide them with plenty of nori and rock to graze on, in addition to meaty foods.