The Paracanthurus hepatus has poisonous flesh. Eating it may cause ciguatera, a foodborne illness passed on by certain reef fish that have toxins in its flesh. If you happened to accidentally ingest one, it probably wouldn’t kill you—but you’d likely come down with a bad case of diarrhea.
Full Answer
Are Paracanthurus hepatus edible?
This fish may cause ciguatera poisoning if consumed by humans.
Are blue tangs good eating?
The fish then whip their bodies from side to side, threatening to stab predators with their toxin-tipped stingers. Additionally, people who eat blue tangs have been known to develop a serious foodborne illness called ciguatera poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Are blue tangs poisonous to humans?
Blue tangs are poison. Blue tangs often carry a toxin called ciguatera. Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning are usually limited to vomiting and diarrhea, but may also include more serious symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, and even hallucinations and heart and breathing problems.
Is Blue Tang reef safe?
Blue tangs are reef safe saltwater fish. They will generally live peacefully with corals, shrimp, clams, crabs and other reef invertebrates.
Can you eat clown fish?
So, are clownfish edible at all? The answer is no. Like many animals, their bright orange color signifies more than just beauty. It's a sign for predators to stay away.
Is Dory a blue tang or a surgeonfish?
On coral reefs, “Dory,” the small vibrant blue fish with black stripes and a yellow tail, is known by several other names: Hippo Tang, Royal Blue Tang, Regal Tang, Palette Surgeonfish and by the scientific name Paracanthurus hepatus.
What is the rarest Tang?
We've been following Anubis, the one-off purple scopas tang hybrid, for almost a year now. Despite its radical juvenile appearance, we initially thought that the Purple X Scopas tang would lose its appeal as it grows.
Is a hippo tang poisonous?
Fun Facts about the Hippo Tang (Blue Tang) Juvenile tangs are bright yellow. These fish can make themselves semi-transparent to evade predators. Their coloring is a warning to predators that they are poisonous.
Can you touch a blue tang?
The spines are so sharp that blue tangs belong to a group called surgeonfish. These spines also can get caught in nets or cut your hand open. "Not wise for a touch tank," said Gordon.
Are Unicorn tangs reef safe?
Reef Tank Compatible? : This saltwater fish should do fine in a large reef aquarium.
Which tang is reef safe?
Yellow tangs feed on marine-based algae and seaweed as the majority of their diet, though they may also accept meaty foods as well as fresh veggies. If you are looking for a hardy species of tang for your reef tank, the yellow tang is a great option to consider.
Can clownfish live with blue tangs?
Clownfish can be kept alone in a standard-sized tank. One may even be enticed to attempt a few beginner corals such as mushrooms and button polyps. For a larger tank (I would recommend the investment if this is truly something you're interested in), blue tangs, yellow tangs, and clownfish can live together.
Are blue tangs good for beginners?
Made popular by the films Finding Nemo & Finding Dory, the Blue Tang is now a household name. These beautiful Surgeonfish may be popular, but they are not really suitable for a beginner aquarist.
Are blue tangs difficult to keep?
Ever since the movie Finding Nemo came out, everyone wants to try keeping a Royal Blue “Dory fish.” But Royal Blue Tangs are not very easy to keep. Like other surgeonfish, they are a little sensitive to poor water conditions.
Are blue tang and surgeonfish the same?
The Blue Tang is one of 75 species in the Surgeonfish family. This family, Acanthuridae, of fishes is called surgeonfish because of their very sharp, mobile spines on either side of their tail that favors surgeons' scalpels.
How many blue tangs are in a tank?
Two blue tangsThey are generally compatible with most other aquarium fish, but be very careful with keeping more than one. Two blue tangs in a single reef tank will often show aggression except in very large tanks.
Where can I find common surgeon fish?
Common surgeon are strictly marine and can be found in tropical and sub-tropical coastal regions where temperatures are between 24 and 26 °C. They congregate near Pocillopora eydouxi, a type of coral with branching extensions, which serve as a protective hiding place when threatened. Reefs provide plant material, such as algae, necessary as food for common surgeon. Common surgeon remain at epipelagic depths between 2 and 40 m. ( "Palette surgeonfish", 2009; Froese and Pauly, 1991; Myers, 1991)
Why do surgeonfish eat algae?
Due to the small shape of their mouth, surgeonfish can easily pick and remove algae from uneven surfaces. Aggregations of common surgeon eat the fast growing algae from sponges in their habitat. This benefits the sponges and indirectly preserves habitat for species dependent on the steady growth of sponges.
Where do surgeon fish live?
Common surgeon, Paracanthurus hepatus, are strictly marine fish that typically inhabit tropical coral reefs in waters with a strong current. They may move seasonally, occurring at higher latitudes when water temperatures allow. Generally, common surgeon range between 30° north and south latitude and 32° east to 170° west longitude in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Individuals found in other areas are presumed to have been released from aquaria. ( "Palette surgeonfish", 2009; Froese and Pauly, 1991; Myers, 1991; "Blue Tang", 1999)
Can you put multiple species of acanthus in the same aquarium?
If multiple aggressive species are added to the same aquarium, one runs the risk of one of them dying due to stress. One must therefore be cautious about adding multiple Acanthurus species or Zebrasoma xanthurum into the same aquarium. A combination of the different genera will normally get along well, although the more aggressive species can still be challenging.
Do surgeonfish irritate corals?
When in the aquarium, they will spend most of their time swimming around and nibbling the algae from the stones. Surgeonfish will rarely irritate corals or invertebrates. Large Palettes/Blue tangs can be an exception.
Meet the Real-Life "Dory"
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Appearance
Surprisingly, the blue tang isn't always blue. An adult regal blue tang is a flat-bodied, round-shaped fish with a royal blue body, black "palette" design, and a yellow tail. It reaches 30 cm (12 inches) in length and weighs around 600 g (1.3 lbs), with males typically growing larger than females.
Diet and Reproduction
Juvenile blue tangs eat plankton. Adults are omnivorous, feeding on some plankton as well as algae. Blue tangs are important for reef health because they eat the algae that could otherwise cover the coral.
Sword Fights and Playing Dead
Blue tang fins contain spines sharp enough to be comparable to a surgeon's scalpel. There are nine dorsal spines, 26 to 28 soft dorsal rays, three anal spines, and 24 to 26 soft anal rays. Humans or predators foolish enough to grab a regal blue tang can expect a painful and sometimes venomous stab .
Ciguatera Poisoning Risk
Eating a blue tang or any reef fish carries the risk of ciguatera poisoning. Ciguatera is a type of food poisoning caused by ciguatoxin and maitotoxin. The toxins are produced by a small organism, Gambierdiscus toxicus, which is eaten by herbivorous and omnivorous fish (such as tangs), which in turn may be eaten by carnivorous fish.
Conservation Status
The regal blue tang is not endangered, classified as "least concern" by the IUCN. However, the species faces serious threats from habitat destruction of coral reefs, exploitation for the aquarium trade, and use as bait for fishing. To catch fish for aquaria, the fish are stunned with cyanide, which also damages the reef.
Sources
Debelius, Helmut (1993). Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide: Maledives [i.e. Maldives], Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Madagascar, East Africa, Seychelles, Arabian Sea, Red Sea. Aquaprint. ISBN 3-927991-01-5.
What is the name of the species of Paracanthurus hepatus?
Paracanthurus. Bleeker, 1863. Species: P. hepatus. Binomial name. Paracanthurus hepatus. ( Linnaeus, 1766) Paracanthurus hepatus is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus.
What happens when a fish thrashs its tail?
The quick, thrashing sideways motion of the tail can produce deep wounds that result in swelling and discoloration, posing a risk of infection.
Why is the squid a threat?
The species is classified as Least concern by the IUCN, however it is threatened by overexploitation (mostly for the aquarium trade) and destructive fishing practices. Since it is dependent on fragile coral reef habitats, habitat destruction also constitutes a pressure in parts of its range.
Origin and descriptions
The Pacific blue tang is a fish in the genus Paracanthurus and the family Acanthuridae. It was first described by French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1831 and named after his older brother: Emperor Napoleon I of France (1769-1821).
Species profile
The Pacific blue tang is the most common of the surgeonfish family. It has a deep blue body with yellow accents on its tail, head, and dorsal fins. This species can be found in tropical reef areas throughout the world including Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, Tahiti, and Western Africa.
Pacific blue tang care
The Pacific blue tang is one of the most popular saltwater aquarium fish. They are bright and colorful, and they grow to a large size. Because they are so popular, they can be expensive to buy from a pet store.
Conclusion
The Pacific blue tang is a beautiful and interesting fish that can be found in the wild in many tropical areas.
How long do plankton eggs live in a soup?
The fertilized eggs are cast adrift and become part of the plankton "soup," according to the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA). About 26 hours after fertilization, the eggs hatch and live in the soup until it is time to metamorphose into juveniles.
Is Paracanthurus hepatus endangered?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Paracanthurus hepatus are not endangered and are listed as least concern. Their populations are widespread and it is believed that the population is not declining.
Appearance
Diet and Reproduction
- Juvenile blue tangs eat plankton. Adults are omnivorous, feeding on some plankton as well as algae. Blue tangs are important for reef health because they eat the algae that could otherwise cover the coral. During spawning, mature blue tangs form a school. The fish suddenly swim upward, with females expelling eggs above the coral while males release...
Sword Fights and Playing Dead
- Blue tang fins contain spines sharp enough to be comparable to a surgeon's scalpel. There are nine dorsal spines, 26 to 28 soft dorsal rays, three anal spines, and 24 to 26 soft anal rays. Humans or predators foolish enough to grab a regal blue tang can expect a painful and sometimes venomous stab. Male blue tangs establish dominance by "fencing" with their caudal …
Ciguatera Poisoning Risk
- Eating a blue tang or any reef fish carries the risk of ciguatera poisoning. Ciguatera is a type of food poisoning caused by ciguatoxin and maitotoxin. The toxins are produced by a small organism, Gambierdiscus toxicus, which is eaten by herbivorousand omnivorous fish (such as tangs), which in turn may be eaten by carnivorous fish. Symptoms may appear anywhere from a …
Conservation Status
- The regal blue tang is not endangered, classified as "least concern" by the IUCN. However, the species faces serious threats from habitat destruction of coral reefs, exploitation for the aquarium trade, and use as bait for fishing. To catch fish for aquaria, the fish are stunned with cyanide, which also damages the reef. In 2016, researchers at the University of Florida bred blue tangs in …
Sources
- Debelius, Helmut (1993). Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide: Maledives [i.e. Maldives], Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Madagascar, East Africa, Seychelles, Arabian Sea, Red Sea. Aquaprint. ISBN 3-927991-01-5.
- Lee, Jane L. (July 18, 2014). "Do You Know Where Your Aquarium Fish Come From?" National Geographic.
- Debelius, Helmut (1993). Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide: Maledives [i.e. Maldives], Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Madagascar, East Africa, Seychelles, Arabian Sea, Red Sea. Aquaprint. ISBN 3-927991-01-5.
- Lee, Jane L. (July 18, 2014). "Do You Know Where Your Aquarium Fish Come From?" National Geographic.
- McIlwain, J., Choat, J.H., Abesamis, R., Clements, K.D., Myers, R., Nanola, C., Rocha, L.A., Russell, B. & Stockwell, B. (2012). "Paracanthurus hepatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN.
