Saltwater Fish
Purple Tang.
A jaw-dropping deep-purple tang with a yellow tail — one of the most sought-after reef fish. Reef-safe and an active algae grazer, but feisty toward other tangs; give it open swimming room and rock to graze in a 100-gallon-plus reef.
Live fish are priced per supplier batch — prices may vary. Call to confirm current pricing.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
Every animal is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it reaches the sales floor. This is a species we carry — it's most likely in the tanks around delivery days, but live stock changes daily. Please call (814) 456-9445 to confirm availability 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
- 10"
- Min tank size
- 100 gallons
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Scientific name
- Zebrasoma xanthurum
Good tank mates
The purple tang is reef-safe and does well with most peaceful and semi-aggressive community fish like clownfish, grammas, wrasses, and angelfish in a large tank. It is aggressive toward other tangs and similar-shaped fish, so avoid adding a second Zebrasoma or another surgeonfish unless the tank is very large and they are introduced together; provide lots of swimming room and rockwork to break up sightlines.
Good to know
Like all tangs, it carries a sharp, scalpel-like spine at the base of its tail that it can flick out to slash rivals, which is where the family name surgeonfish comes from.
Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice before you buy.
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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.