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The Mata Tang is a large and impressive marine fish admired for its sleek body shape, subtle blue-grey colouration, and distinctive yellow markings around the eye. Scientifically known as Acanthurus mata, it is also commonly called the Elongate Surgeonfish, Pale Surgeonfish, or Yellowmask Surgeonfish.
Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific, the Mata Tang is found around coral and rocky reefs, steep reef slopes, and areas with strong water movement. Unlike many smaller tang species, it grows to a substantial adult size and requires a very large aquarium with plenty of swimming space.
Mata Tangs are active and powerful swimmers that can become impressive feature fish in large, mature marine aquariums. Their relatively peaceful nature toward unrelated fish makes them attractive to experienced marine aquarists, although their size and space requirements mean they are not suitable for smaller aquariums.
Common Name: Mata Tang
Scientific Name: Acanthurus mata
Other Names: Elongate Surgeonfish, Pale Surgeonfish, Yellowmask Surgeonfish
Family: Acanthuridae
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Minimum Tank Size: 800 litres
Adult Size: Up to 50 cm
Lifespan: Up to approximately 20+ years
Reef Compatible: Generally Yes
The Mata Tang has a streamlined, moderately elongated body designed for efficient swimming in open reef environments. Adults are generally blue-grey to brownish in colour and display numerous fine horizontal blue lines across the head and body.
One of its most distinctive features is the yellow marking surrounding the eye. Yellow bands extend forward from the eye, creating the characteristic appearance that gives rise to the name Yellowmask Surgeonfish.
The body colour can vary considerably depending on mood and surroundings, with individuals capable of changing from darker brownish tones to much paler blue-grey colouration.
Like other surgeonfish, the Mata Tang possesses a sharp, scalpel-like spine on each side of the caudal peduncle near the tail. This spine can be used defensively, so care should always be taken when handling or working inside an aquarium containing a large specimen.
Mata Tangs can reach approximately 50 cm in total length, making them one of the larger species commonly encountered in the aquarium trade.
Mata Tangs are generally peaceful toward fish that do not resemble them but can become territorial toward other surgeonfish and similarly shaped species.
They are active swimmers and require considerable open space. Providing extensive rockwork alongside large unobstructed swimming areas allows them to establish territories while still having room to cruise naturally around the aquarium.
They are best maintained as a single specimen unless kept in a very large public-aquarium-style system with appropriate planning.
Suitable tank mates include:
Avoid keeping them with:
A very large, mature marine aquarium is essential for keeping a Mata Tang successfully. Although some retailers may list smaller minimum tank sizes, the species can grow to around 50 cm and is an extremely active swimmer, so a substantially larger aquarium is preferable for adult specimens.
An aquarium of at least 800 litres should be considered a starting point, with larger systems strongly recommended for long-term housing.
Provide plenty of live rock and established surfaces for grazing while maintaining a large open swimming area. Strong, well-distributed water movement is beneficial because the species naturally inhabits reef environments where water movement can be significant.
A mature aquarium is strongly recommended. Stable biological filtration, efficient protein skimming, and regular maintenance will help manage the substantial waste production of a large active fish.
Temperature: 24–27°C
Specific Gravity: 1.023–1.026
pH: 8.0–8.4
KH: 8–12 dKH
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: Ideally below 10–20 ppm
Maintaining stable salinity and excellent water quality is particularly important with large surgeonfish. Sudden changes in water chemistry should be avoided.
Mata Tangs are omnivorous and have a varied natural diet. Although they consume algae and other plant material, they also feed on zooplankton in the water column.
In the aquarium they should be offered a varied diet containing both vegetable and protein-rich foods.
Recommended foods include:
Provide regular access to marine algae, particularly if the aquarium does not contain sufficient natural algae growth.
Feeding several smaller meals throughout the day can be beneficial for this highly active species. A varied diet will help maintain healthy body condition, immune function, and natural colouration.
Mata Tangs are active, confident, and constantly moving fish. They spend much of their day swimming through the open water and grazing or searching for food.
In a sufficiently large aquarium they will explore the entire system and can quickly become one of the dominant visual features of the display.
They may become territorial when established, particularly toward other surgeonfish. Their behaviour is generally more manageable when they have abundant swimming space and clearly defined areas within the rockwork.
Their sharp caudal spine should also be respected. Large specimens can cause painful cuts if they become trapped or frightened while an aquarist is working inside the aquarium.
Mata Tangs are known to form spawning aggregations in the wild, sometimes gathering in large numbers during reproductive events.
Breeding in the home aquarium is extremely difficult and is not normally attempted by hobbyists. Their large adult size, swimming requirements, spawning behaviour, and larval development make successful captive breeding a specialised undertaking.
Commercial-scale marine breeding facilities may have the equipment and space necessary to study or reproduce surgeonfish, but routine home breeding should not be expected.
Mata Tangs are generally considered reef compatible and can be kept with corals and many ornamental invertebrates.
They do not normally eat healthy corals and can be excellent inhabitants of large reef displays. Their large size and active swimming behaviour should nevertheless be considered when designing the aquarium.
Large individuals can accidentally knock loose corals or other decorations if rockwork and coral colonies are not securely positioned.
Keeping plenty of natural algae growth and providing supplemental marine algae can also help satisfy their grazing instincts.
The most important consideration when keeping a Mata Tang is providing enough space. This is a large, powerful, and highly active surgeonfish that should not be housed in a small aquarium simply because a juvenile specimen may initially appear comfortable.
Provide a mature aquarium of at least 800 litres, with substantially larger systems preferred for adult fish. Include extensive live rock for grazing and shelter while retaining large areas of open swimming space.
Offer a varied diet containing marine algae, nori, spirulina, quality prepared foods, and meaty frozen foods. Feeding regularly will help prevent the fish from becoming underweight and may also reduce unwanted grazing behaviour.
Avoid keeping multiple Mata Tangs together and exercise caution when combining them with other large surgeonfish. Introduce compatible tank mates carefully and provide excellent filtration and strong, well-distributed water movement.
Always take care when handling or maintaining the aquarium around an adult specimen because of the sharp caudal spines.
With the correct environment, diet, and water quality, the Mata Tang can become an impressive long-term feature fish for a very large marine aquarium. However, its potential adult size of around 50 cm means it is best suited to experienced aquarists with the space and equipment required to accommodate a full-grown surgeonfish.
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