Blonde Naso Tang; Male – Naso elegans

About this fish

Blonde Naso Tang; Male – Naso elegans is a saltwater surgeonfish (tang) kept for its active swimming and grazing behavior in a reef or fish-only aquarium. This species is known as a large, long-term grazer, so the practical use is to provide an established tank with plenty of swimming space and algae/seaweed-based foods to support its natural feeding habits. As with many tangs, size and tank maturity matter more than short-term feeding alone—plan for a fish that will need room to cruise and stable water quality as it grows.

Features:

• Active, fast swimmer that benefits from open water for cruising
• Herbivorous grazer that typically does best with regular algae/seaweed-based foods
• Helps you manage nuisance algae when the tank is mature (alongside good husbandry)
• Generally does best when introduced to an environment with established rockwork and stable conditions
• Can show territorial behavior toward similar-looking tangs, so compatible tankmates are important
• Long-term display fish—plan for substantial adult size and strong filtration

Specifications:

• Scientific name (verified): Naso elegans
• Care level (general guidance): Intermediate
• Temperament (general guidance): Active; may be territorial toward other tangs
• Diet: Herbivorous/primarily algae and seaweed-based foods (e.g., nori and other marine algae foods)
• Adult size (general guidance): Can grow to the upper teens of inches
• Recommended aquarium: Larger, long-term setup with open swimming space and mature rock/algae surfaces
• Water temperature (general guidance): About 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• pH (general guidance): About 8.1–8.4
• Salinity (general guidance): Reef range, typically around 1.020–1.026 specific gravity
• Lighting: Not a primary requirement for the fish (tank lighting supports algal/natural food growth)