Saltwater Fish
Orange-spined Unicornfish.
A striking tang — sleek grey with bright orange spines and lips, and a yellow-edged face. Reef-safe and an active grazer, but it gets big and needs serious swimming room; give it a 180-gallon-plus tank with open water and rock to graze.
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
- 18"
- Min tank size
- 135–200 gal by age
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Scientific name
- Naso lituratus
Grows into its tank
Juvenile135 galAdult (to 18")200 galGood tank mates
A large, semi-aggressive tang best kept with other sturdy fish like big angels, larger wrasses, triggers, and groupers that can hold their own. It tends to be territorial toward other tangs and surgeonfish, especially others of its own kind or similar shape, so house only one per tank unless the system is very large. It is reef-safe with corals but its sheer adult size means it needs a big tank, not a small reef.
Good to know
Instead of a single forehead horn like some unicornfish, this species defends itself with a pair of fixed, bright orange bony blades on each side of its tail base.
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
Peaceful species that occupies anemone/lower territory, creating no competition or conflict with this large open-water swimmer.
Purple Tang
A compatible surgeonfish companion in tanks of 200+ gallons where ample space diffuses the Naso tang's mild aggression toward other surgeonfish. Purple Tang aggression is specifically intra-genus (directed at other Zebrasoma species only); Naso lituratus belongs to a different genus and is confirmed as a compatible pairing in large systems.
Sailfin Tang
Listed as a compatible tankmate in large aquariums; its distinct body shape and territory reduce the risk of surgeonfish-on-surgeonfish aggression compared to more similar species. Research confirms inter-genus combinations (Zebrasoma with Naso) generally succeed, and the Naso is the least aggressive tang genus, making this cross-genus pairing viable in adequately sized systems.
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Flame Angelfish
Dwarf angelfish that coexists peacefully with tangs in large saltwater aquariums, sharing neither territory nor diet. Flame Angel aggression is directed at other Centropyge species, not large tangs; research explicitly confirms Naso tangs as compatible companions.
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Neon Goby
Small, peaceful cleaner goby that actively removes parasites from the Naso tang's skin, providing a mutualistic benefit with no competitive dynamic. Herbivorous tangs do not prey on cleaner gobies, and the blue-stripe coloration signals cleaner status to larger fish, providing behavioral protection.
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Snowflake Moray Eel
Rockwork-dwelling eel that feeds on crustaceans rather than fish, posing no threat to the Naso tang while sharing the same large-tank saltwater environment. The Snowflake Moray has blunt, pebble-shaped teeth suited for crushing crustaceans, not catching fast-moving fish; tangs are explicitly listed as suitable companions in aquarium literature.
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.