The White Bar Tang (Acanthurus leucopareius), also known as the Whitebar Surgeonfish, is a striking marine reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific . It is recognizable by a distinctive whitish-gray bar located just behind the eye, broadly bordered by dark brown. Because they grow quite large (up to 8 inches) and can be semi-aggressive, they require large aquariums and specialized care.
Key Species Characteristics
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Appearance: Aside from the iconic white bar behind the operculum, they feature a deep, laterally compressed body that is gray-brown. They also possess a razor-sharp, yellow spine at the base of the tail—known as a "scalpel"—used for defense.
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Diet: Primarily herbivorous; they require a diet rich in marine algae, seaweed, and spirulina, supplemented with meaty items.
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Temperament: Semi-aggressive. They can be territorial and are known to fight with similarly shaped tangs, so they are best kept as the only tang in a display tank or with much larger, non-competitor species.
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Tank Size: Due to their active swimming nature and large adult size, a minimum tank capacity of 180 gallons is recommended.
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Water Parameters: Maintain temperatures of 72°F to 78°F, pH between 8.1 and 8.4, and salinity at 1.020 to 1.025.
- Reef Compatibility: They are generally considered safe for reef setups but may nip at small mobile or sessile invertebrates if not fed enough.
