Orange Shoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceus)

The Orange Shoulder Tang is named for the distinctive elongated orange patch behind the eye that develops in adult fish, contrasting with their olive-gray adult body. Juveniles are entirely bright yellow, making both juvenile and adult phases highly desirable. A less aggressive tang species compared to many of its relatives, it adapts well to life in spacious reef or FOWLR aquariums and is generally considered more manageable in mixed tang collections.

House in a very large aquarium with vigorous flow and open swimming space. Provide daily nori, dried macroalgae, and spirulina-enriched frozen foods. Introduce singly or alongside unrelated species; may show initial aggression toward similar-shaped tangs. Monitor for HLLE (head and lateral line erosion) in stressed individuals.