The Atlantic blue surgeonfish or Acanthurus coeruleus belongs to the Acanthuridae family. This family includes other varieties of tangs and surgeon fish. The Atlantic blue surgeonfish inhabits both the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Significant populations can also be found along the eastern coastal regions of the Americas, from northern New York to southern Brazil.
There is a species of fish commonly called the Pacific blue surgeon or royal surgeon (Paracanthurus hepatus). This species of fish will be addressed in another article.
The Atlantic blue tang is an oval-shaped fish with a flat body. Adult and youth color palettes are completely different from each other. Juveniles undergo a color transformation as part of adolescence. Juveniles have a bright yellow coloration with blue trim on the edges of their dorsal and anal fins. Juveniles, in fact, are often known as yellow tangs. In the transition phase between juvenile and adult, the fish will develop a very typical blue coloration with dorsal and anal fins trimmed in yellow. The caudal fin is generally the last part of the juvenile’s body to undergo color change. Adults are blue. The color gradually darkens as the fish ages. Adults also have horizontal lines on their bodies, while young tangs have no markings on their bodies.
Atlantic blue surgeonfish are also commonly sold under the names Blue Caribbean Tang, Blue Tang Surgeonfish, or simply Blue Tang. Adults range in shades from light blue to vibrant royal blue. These color variations are often incorporated into their names, for example the light blue herringbone.
Atlantic blues are not aggressive towards other species. They can be successfully integrated into a community environment without any problems. They will need a couple of hiding places and plenty of room to swim due to their size. These fish demonstrate territorial behavior and have been known to become combative with other members of their species. Therefore, it is recommended that you only keep a single adult in a tank. Adults do not tend to exert aggressive tendencies towards juveniles of their species. Generally, an adult and a minor can be accommodated together without incident. Non-confrontational behavior may continue as the young tang matures into adulthood.
Blue tangs are shallow-water reef dwellers. They inhabit the coastal coral reefs found along the western Atlantic coasts. They would be most at home in a reef tank large enough to provide them with adequate swimming space as adults.
These fish are mainly herbivores. In the wild, their diet consists of plant matter and algae. But they also show an occasional taste for small crustaceans. Juveniles often feed on parasites commonly found on sea turtles.
In a home aquarium, they can be fed plant-based marine foods. They are also known to consume meat protein-based seafood. The presence of algae in your aquarium will ensure that they remain fit and healthy in a captive environment. You can supplement their diet with algae.
This fish is of little value to the Caribbean fishing industry. They are not caught for human consumption. Ciguaterra poisoning can occur from consumption of its meat by humans. However, they are caught for the thriving saltwater aquarium industry and are often used as bait to catch other varieties of fish.
A note of caution: this species has a very sharp caudal spine. This column is only exposed when the fish is excited or feels in danger. These fins cut very deeply into human flesh and often lead to infection. Infection in the injured area is characterized by swelling and discoloration. This can persist for hours. Due to infections associated with tail fin injuries, these fish are believed to possess poison glands.