Saltwater Fish
Brown Scopas Tang.
A hardy, disc-shaped tang in shifting browns and gold — an active grazer that helps keep algae in check. Reef-safe and one of the easier tangs, but it needs swimming room; give it a 100-gallon-plus reef with rock to graze and open water.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Community
- Semi community
- Adult size
- 8"
- Min tank size
- 75–125 gal by age
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Scientific name
- Zebrasoma scopas
Grows into its tank
Juvenile (under 4 in)75 galAdult125 galGood tank mates
Compatible with most non-tang reef fish such as clownfish, wrasses, gobies, and angelfish, but like other Zebrasoma tangs it is territorial toward fish of similar shape, especially other tangs and particularly other scopas or yellow tangs. House it as the only tang unless your system is large with heavy rockwork and tangs are introduced together. It needs open swimming room, so it is better suited to larger reef tanks.
Good to know
The plain brown scopas tang is closely related to the bright yellow tang and can hybridize with it, and it carries the same sharp scalpel-like spine at the base of its tail.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Ultra Black Ice
Reef-safe and peaceful; occupies anemone territory and mid-column niche that does not overlap with the Scopas Tang's open-water algae grazing. Multiple sources confirm clownfish as compatible tankmates for Zebrasoma scopas with no documented aggression in either direction. Diet overlap is negligible — carnivore vs. strict herbivore.
Royal Gramma
Confirmed compatible by multiple Scopas Tang care profiles. Gramma loreto is a cavity dweller that retreats into rockwork and rarely ventures into the tang's open-water cruising lane. No diet or territory overlap. Scopas Tang aggression is overwhelmingly directed at fish of similar body shape, especially other Zebrasoma — not small, crevice-dwelling grammas.
Firefish Goby
Listed as a good tankmate for Scopas Tang in multiple species profiles. Firefish hover near rock openings in a completely different spatial niche from the tang's open-water territory, and the diet (zooplankton hover-feeding) does not compete with algae grazing. Scopas Tang aggression is primarily triggered by similar-shaped surgeonfishes, not small darting dartfish. Proper introduction order (firefish established before tang) reduces any stress risk.
Lyre-tail Anthias
Planktivore that feeds in the midwater column — zero diet or spatial competition with an herbivorous bottom-grazing tang. Confirmed compatible with tangs in a 125+ gallon tank with live rock structure. One male per group is required to prevent intraspecific male aggression, but no aggression is expected from or toward the Scopas Tang.
- F
Fairy Wrasse
Well-documented as compatible with semi-aggressive tangs in large reef systems. Fairy wrasses are peaceful, fully reef-safe, and actively cruise the upper water column — a spatial niche the Scopas Tang does not use. Scopas Tang aggression targets similarly shaped surgeonfishes, not slender active wrasses. Confirmed compatible in multiple Cirrhilabrus care guides and tank-mate pairing sources.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.