Origin
Found across the Indo-Pacific, from the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea to Micronesia and parts of Indonesia.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Electric blue, green, and purple scales shimmer across its elongated body. Its beak-like mouth constantly grazes on algae and substrate, while its fluid, gliding motion adds both size and color to expansive marine tanks.

Purpose
In the wild, it helps control algae and contributes to bioerosion—chewing coral rock and excreting it as sand. In captivity, it's admired for its beauty and ecosystem role (in large reef systems).

Importance
Highlights the relationship between fish and reef health. Offers ecological education value in public and advanced hobbyist tanks. Not practical for standard home aquariums.

Included Resources
Requires over 200 gallons of space, constant live rock grazing surfaces, pristine water quality, and a secure top (can jump). High-capacity skimming, strong flow, and supplemental macroalgae recommended.

Best Use Cases
Best for reef research tanks, public displays, and large custom aquariums aiming to replicate real reef ecology. Avoid in coral-heavy tanks, as feeding may damage soft coral.

Conservation Context
Some Pacific populations face overfishing for food and aquarium trade. Plays a vital reef role—removing excess algae and recycling coral sand. Supporting sustainable collection or avoiding wild-caught individuals is critical.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• Other large herbivorous tangs (Naso, Vlamingi)
• Wrasses and angelfish (in large tanks)
• Not reef-safe with corals
• Avoid smaller fish, which may be stressed by its activity

Region (A)
• Latitude: -9.4438° S
• Longitude: 147.1803° E
(Papua New Guinea — coral reef slopes)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -18.2871° S
• Longitude: 147.6992° E
(Great Barrier Reef, Australia — outer reef systems)