📊 Datasheet
View More- Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Please note: These values are based on the average of various confirmed sources.
❤️ Care
The Mimic Tang, like many species in the Acanthuridae family, requires a carefully managed tank environment to thrive. This species is relatively hardy but needs adequate space and the right conditions to showcase its full potential.
- Tank Size: A minimum of 400 liters (105 gallons) is recommended due to the active swimming behavior and territorial nature of this species. The tank should provide ample open space for swimming, along with plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding.
- Water Conditions: Mimic Tangs prefer stable, reef-quality water with a pH between 8.1 and 8.4, a temperature range of 24-28°C (75-82°F), and salinity levels between 1.020 and 1.025. These conditions mimic their natural reef environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Consistent water quality is essential to prevent stress and disease.
- Diet: As primarily herbivores, Mimic Tangs feed on a variety of marine algae, making them excellent algae control agents in a reef tank. In captivity, their diet should be supplemented with plenty of marine algae sheets, spirulina, and blanched vegetables like spinach or nori to ensure they get adequate nutrition. Occasional protein sources such as brine shrimp or mysis shrimp can be offered, but a predominantly plant-based diet is best for their long-term health.
- Tankmates: Mimic Tangs are generally peaceful but can show territorial aggression toward other tangs or similar species. They do well with other peaceful reef fish, such as clownfish, gobies, and wrasses. It’s best to avoid housing them with other tangs unless the tank is large enough to accommodate multiple territories.