The Elegant Black Longnose Tang

Caring for the Longnose Black Tang

Black Longnose Tang

The Longnose Black Tang (Zebrasoma rostratum) is one of the most striking and elusive members of the Acanthuridae family. With its sleek, jet-black oval body, beautiful deep blue color along the base of the dorsal fin, blue pectoral fins, bright white peduncle spines that contrast against its body and the distinctive elongated snout, make this fish is highly sought after by marine aquarists and ocean enthusiasts alike. Despite its beauty, the Black Longnose Tang remains a rare sight in the aquarium trade, possibly due to low numbers encountered across its natural range and specialized care requirements.

Understanding

The Black Longnose Tang is native to the tropical waters of the west and central

Pacific, particularly around the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, and all other parts of French Polynesia. It thrives in coral reef environments, one the seaward side, where it navigates rocky crevices and reef structures in search of food. They can grow to about 8.2 inches in length.

Compatibility and Behavior

I have found them to be territorial with other Black Longnose Tangs and of all tangs of similar body shape. Be very careful when adding more than one to an aquarium where other similar tangs already reside. When adding more to an aquarium make sure that the aquarium is large enough, 180 gallons plus, with plenty of space to hide and that they are fed well and be prepared to remove a trouble maker or the one being harassed.

I have 1 Black Longnose Tang in a 360 gallon community aquarium. I have tried to add other tangs and they were quickly chased into a corner.

They are listed as semi-aggressive, but I have found them to be mostly peaceful with non-tang / surgeon fish species. However, every now & then mine will flash his spines saying "give me some space to eat." I have had success housing them with gobies, clownfish, wrasses, anthias, jawfish, damselfish, blennies, & filefish.

Reef Compatibility

Completely reef friendly

Mine is kept in a reef tank with clams, zoa, other polyp corals, and hard corals. They don't nip the clams or the corals. I feed mine a varied diet with lots of seaweed, algae, and mysis to keep him happy.

Black Longnose Tang

Feeding Your Black Longnose Tang

Diet: Omnivore

Many websites list the Black Longnose Tang as a herbivore, but that is misleading. While they primarily consume veges, they also need a varied diet to stay healthy. I feed mine:

• About 80% is Purple & Green Seaweed sheets of the brand "Two Little Fishes" that we buy in bulk from Bulk Reef Supply.

• 5% Frozen Mini Marine Mysis Shrimp, from 1LB bag, of the brand V20 Aquarium Foods from Bulk Reef Supply.

• 15% High-quality marine angelfish pellets.

• I feed small amounts 2-3 times daily to prevent overfeeding and water issues.

Setting Up the Ideal Tank Environment

To mimic their natural habitat, you need to create a suitable tank environment:

• Care Level: Moderate
  

• Tank Size: A minimum of 180 gallons is recommended for a single Black Longnose Tang

  
  

• Water Quality: The key is to maintain stable water parameters. The less variation you have over a short-time period (24 hours), the better your fish and corals will do.

  • Temperature of 72-78°F. Mine 78.1 to 78.6

  • Salinity of 1.021-1.025. Mine 1.022 -1.026

  • pH of 8.1-8.4. Mine 8.09 to 8.31

  • Alkalinity of 8-12. Mine 8.5 to 9.6

    
    

• Water Movement: Provide medium to high waterflow throughout the daytime. This replicates their natural environment of living in the seaward side of coral reefs with strong currents.

  
  

• Aquascaping: Provide plenty of rock for grazing on algae and hiding spots. They appreciate crevices and caves where it can retreat and sleep during the night.

  
  

• Lighting: Moderate to high lighting will encourage algae growth, which these fish naturally graze on.

  
  

Tips for a Happy and Healthy Fish

1. Quarantine New Fish: Always quarantine new additions to prevent introducing diseases to your main tank.

2. Monitor for Health Issues: Look for signs of stress or illness, such as loss of appetite, faded coloration, or erratic swimming.

3. Regular Maintenance: Keep the tank clean with regular water changes and test water parameters weekly. We test our water continuously using Neptune Apex to monitor salinity, temp, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels.

4. Observe Behavior: Ensure your Lemonpeel Angelfish is active, eating well, and not overly harassed by tankmates.

   
   

Wrap-up

The Black Longenose Tang is a regal reef fish that needs a large aquarium, is territorial within its family, but peaceful with other reef fish, requires a high-quality varied diet with 80% being veges. With moderate care this fish can be a rewarding addition to your aquarium!