Paracanthurus hepatus
- Synonym: blue tang.
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Habitat: Wide distribution from East Africa to southern Japan to Hawaii and from Australia. Its preferred habitat is the terraces outside the reef.
- Difference between sexes are not significant.
- Social behavior: Species relatively peaceful with other fish other than those belonging to his family.
There is the possibility to hold together several copies of P. Hepatus, preferably on a one, three or more individuals.
- Maintenance conditions: Being a species acclimates well to captivity does not mean that is not a delicate fish and therefore we should neglect the water conditions. Requires water changes every two weeks. Lighting should be necessarily intense for her to develop sufficient colony of algae that feeds. Also required to maintain a number of rock between the aquarium decoration enough hiding places. Live rock provide enough algae and organisms for food during the aclimatación.El P. Hepatus is particularly sensitive to certain diseases (white spot, velvet and various skin problems) as the other species of surgeons. They are also particularly sensitive to copper. Element whose derivatives are often present in many products that treat diseases. It is more convenient to use ultraviolet sterilizers for eliminating pests causing disease.
Ph between 8.1 and 8.3. D Salinity entre1021 and 1024. Nitrate below 10 ppm and 0 Ammonia.
- Temperature: 24 to 26 º C
- Length of adult fish in aquarium: 15cm.
- Reproduction: The breeding is almost a utopia. Surgeons take a long time to reach sexual maturity, about two years. Besides group spawners and larvae require a diet for several months based complex plankton.
- Food: omnivorous species in which the vegetable diet plays an important role because otherwise your health will suffer the consequences. It should also provide the essential algae that colonize our live rock, food with spirulina. We also offer lettuce, chard or spinach or thawed boiled. Regularly we will complete the diet with frozen foods (brine shrimp, mysis or larvae). We can also provide chunks of white fish or mussels. Animals acclimated perfectly acceptable flake fish food with plant requirements.
- Specialty: The P. hepatus is one of the most popular marine fish in the aquarium. Its extraordinary color and great adaptability to life in captivity makes it a favorite for all fans. The intensity of the coloration varies depending on age.
- Degree of difficulty: Beginner