All fish / Acanthuridae

Desjardin's Sailfin Tang

Zebrasoma desjardinii

Also known as red sea sailfin tang, indian sailfin tang, desjardini tang, sailfin tang, desjardin tang, sailfin surgeonfish, yes, ゴマハギ, 德氏高鳍刺尾鱼, 红海大帆倒吊

A large, tall-bodied tang with very high dorsal and anal fins, marked with vertical bars and fine yellow and white spots and lines. It is kept for its striking sail-like fins, hardiness and the way it grazes nuisance algae in big reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Singly, or one per large tank

Diet

Herbivore: nori, marine algae, spirulina-based flakes and pellets, plus some mysis

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indian Ocean and Red Sea, east to Indonesia

Breeding

It spawns in open water as pairs or groups, releasing tiny pelagic eggs. It has not been bred in home aquariums, and almost all fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Grows to around 40 cm in the wild and needs a very large, long tank with plenty of swimming space. It can be aggressive towards other tangs, especially Zebrasoma species, and the name 'Yes' is not a recognised trade name.