The Sailfin tang is a large, striking Zebrasoma with tall dorsal and anal fins and bold vertical banding that it flares to look bigger. It is one of the hardier, more forgiving large tangs, making it a good choice for keepers with a suitably big reef tank. Its impressive size and sail-like profile make it a centerpiece grazer.
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Up to 40 cm (16 in) in the wild; commonly 25-30 cm in aquaria.
Lifespan
10–25 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Indo-Pacific
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
🌊 Marine
Family
Acanthuridae
Genus
Zebrasoma
Part of the Tangs
Tangs and surgeonfish are active, algae-grazing reef fish prized for bold color and constant motion. Most need large tanks with open swimming room, good flow, and a steady supply of marine algae to graze.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Large reef
125 gal / 470 L reef (≥6 ft)
Zebrasoma veliferum reaches 40 cm and is one of the larger sailfins. 6-ft+ entry with strong flow, constant nori, and stable params. One Zebrasoma per tank.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger long reef
180 gal / 680 L+ reef
8-ft reef with cross-flow, oversized skimmer, and refugium-grown algae supplement. Pairs only in very large tanks added simultaneously as juveniles.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Public-display-scale reef
300 gal+ / 1100 L+ display
Very long display with adult-scale swim range and abundant grazing. Full sail-fin extension display and natural cruising visible.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
Because of its eventual size, provide at least 570 L (150 gal) with a length of 1.8 m (6 ft) of open swimming room and substantial live rock. Keep temperature 24-27 C (75-81 F), pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.026, and alkalinity 8-12 dKH, with low nitrate. Moderate to strong flow and bright reef lighting support its algae grazing.
Substrate
Fine aragonite sand with generous live rock gives grazing surfaces and shelter, while leaving an open channel for its large body to cruise.
Equipment & setup
Run strong biological filtration, an oversized protein skimmer, and circulation pumps producing moderate-to-strong flow. A reliable heater and reef-grade lighting complete the setup.
Diet
Primarily herbivorous; offer nori or dried marine algae daily plus herbivore/spirulina pellets and frozen foods, with occasional meaty supplements. Constant grazing material keeps this big-appetite fish healthy and reduces aggression and HLLE risk.
Behavior & temperament
Reef-safe and relatively peaceful for its size, though territorial toward other tangs and especially other Zebrasoma. Keep one per tank unless the system is very large. Its scalpel spine can wound rivals; pair with robust community fish, wrasses, and clownfish.
Health
Susceptible to marine ich and velvet, though somewhat hardier than many tangs. HLLE can appear with poor diet, aged carbon, or stress. Quarantine new fish and keep water parameters stable.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Drip-acclimate and quarantine for several weeks. Buy juveniles and grow them out, accounting for their substantial adult size when planning the tank. Keep nori clipped in the water column to satisfy near-constant grazing and curb fin-nipping aggression.
