One of the Most Popular Marine Fish, and Not Because of Finding Nemo

The blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) is a popular salt water fish in its own right because of its intense cobalt blue color lined with a black pattern that reaches up to the edges of its yellow tail.
A member of the surgeon fish family, this fish has that lethal tail fin that is as sharp as a surgeon's blade.
Being a peaceful type of fish, the blade is normally tucked flat on the fish's body, and comes out only when the fish is in danger.
Because of this, the fish can get easily stuck inside a net and can be quite hard to remove.
During transfer, you must softly and carefully move the net back and forth.
Eventually, the BT will calm itself down and retract its tale blade, allowing it to swim free from the net.
Also called blue barber, blue doctor, yellow barber, yellow doctor fish, blue tang surgeon fish, this fish would start young with bright yellow coloring speckled with blue spots just near the eyes.
As they grow old, the color changes to electric or cobalt blue.
The tale, however, keeps its yellow color.
As peaceful creatures, they would need a rock or two to rest or hide in.
Nevertheless, they are active swimmers, and one fish would require about 75 gallons of water per fish to swim through.
As a schooling fish, it would do well to be with other blue tangs in the tank.
But be careful in introducing them.
It is advisable that they be introduced in the tank at the same time for they are also quite territorial fish and can be aggressive to other blue tangs in your aquarium.
Before adding the fish to the tank, make sure that your tank has completed its nitrogen cycle.
It does not do well in newly set-up aquaria, but will be quite hardy once it as acclimatized itself in the tank.
It feeds mainly on marine algae, so give your tang plenty of grazing area by giving your tank some large rocks for algae to grow.
You may want to give your fish some supplement for it not to lose color, but lettuce is not among them.
Nori would be preferable as a supplement for your fish.
BT's costs around 25 when young, and around 75-80 when fully grown.
You may want to quarantine your marine fish for around 2 weeks before adding them in your set for they are highly susceptible to disease such as marine itch.