Saltwater Fish
Sailfin Tang.
The sailfin tang (Zebrasoma veliferum) is a big, banded algae grazer that raises its tall sail-like fins to look even larger — about 15 inches full-grown. Reef-safe and a workhorse against algae, but an active swimmer; give it a 100-gallon-plus reef with open water and rock to graze.
In-store purchase only. Live fish, coral, and invertebrates are sold at our Erie store only. They cannot be bought online, and we do not ship live animals under any circumstances.
Live fish are priced per supplier batch — prices may vary. Call to confirm current pricing.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
Live animals are sold in store only — we do not ship fish, coral, or invertebrates. 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
- 15"
- Min tank size
- 75–180 gal by age
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Scientific name
- Zebrasoma veliferum
Grows into its tank
Juvenile75 galAdult (15 in.)180 galGood tank mates
Works in larger fish-only and reef communities with peaceful to semi-aggressive species like wrasses, clownfish, anthias, and angelfish, and it is reef-safe with most corals. It can be territorial toward other tangs, especially other Zebrasoma or similar body shapes, so add it last and avoid crowding multiple tangs into a small space. Give it a big tank with lots of open swimming room and rockwork to defuse aggression.
Good to know
When threatened the sailfin tang erects its huge dorsal and anal fins to look dramatically larger, which is also where it gets its name.
Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice before you buy.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 to confirm before you buy.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Ultra Black Ice
Peaceful, stays near its host anemone, and does not compete with the Sailfin Tang for open-water swimming space or algae-based food.
Green Chromis
Peaceful, open-water schooling fish that occupy the mid-water column without competing for the tang's rock-grazing territory.
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Reef-safe invertebrate that provides parasite-removal cleaning services to the tang without any competition or aggression.
Firefish Goby
Shy, non-aggressive reef fish that shelters in rock crevices and occupies a completely different ecological niche from the open-swimming tang. The Sailfin Tang is an herbivore with no predatory or fin-nipping behavior toward small gobies; in the large systems (180+ gal) this tang requires, the Firefish has ample bolt-holes and is not exposed to aggression.
- N
Neon Goby
Tiny, non-territorial cleaner fish that actively removes parasites from the Sailfin Tang's skin and poses no threat to the tang's territory.
- F
Fairy Wrasse
Reef-safe, peaceful wrasse that occupies mid-water and does not challenge the tang's rock-grazing territory or compete for algae.
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.