{"id":1747,"date":"2021-01-13T11:28:29","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T11:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/bpa\/animal\/regal-tang\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T09:23:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T08:23:11","slug":"regal-tang","status":"publish","type":"animal","link":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/bpa\/discover\/animals\/regal-tang\/","title":{"rendered":"Regal Tang"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Does the regal tang look familiar? There\u2019s every chance you\u2019ve seen this beautiful fish before, even if it was on a TV screen\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right, you found Dory! The regal tang, or blue tang as it\u2019s also known, has always been a much-loved tropical fish, but its appearance in Disney Pixar\u2019s Finding Nemo cemented it as one of the most popular animals here at Blue Planet Aquarium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there\u2019s a lot more to know about the regal tang than its Hollywood affiliations. These brightly coloured tropical fish are a member of the surgeonfish family, meaning they have a sharp spine and a solid defence mechanism. So, unlike Dory, you won\u2019t forget them in a hurry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Features<\/h3>\n
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Regal tangs are medium-sized tropical reef fish that belong to the surgeonfish species. Thanks to their exquisite colours and markings, they\u2019re always easy to spot, so you should have no problem picking them out amid the other animals of our Coral Cave exhibit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Although the world\u2019s favourite blue tang Dory was known for her kind heart and forgetful nature, these fish aren\u2019t always the cuddly characters they appear. They swing their sharp spine to ward off predators, keeping themselves safe from bigger fish!<\/p>\n

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Diet<\/h3>\n
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Regal tangs are omnivores, meaning they tuck into everything from plankton, brine shrimp and seaweed to krill and other microorganisms. Much of their diet, however, comes from algae, which they eat by the bucketload, scraping the organisms from coral reefs with their small, sharp teeth.<\/p>\n

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The algae-munching nature of blue tangs is such that the fish provides an invaluable service to the coral reef systems in which they live. Without this particular species, algae would easily suffocate and kill coral reefs, with the potential to send the local marine ecosystem into total chaos. Well done, Dory!<\/p>\n

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Habitat<\/h3>\n
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You\u2019ll need to venture to tropical waters to catch Dory in her natural habitat. Regal tangs are found all over the Indo-Pacific, though their numbers are sadly in decline due to habitat loss, with the fish now appearing on the IUCN\u2019s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.<\/p>\n

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Like clownfish<\/a> (aka, Nemo), blue tangs prefer to stay close to coral reefs<\/a>, with \u201ccauliflower\u201d reefs being among their favourite places to take shelter in the deep blue. They play an important role in maintaining the health and integrity of their coral reef home, eating algae that would otherwise suffocate the reef bed.<\/p>\n

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Although regal tangs do an excellent job of defending themselves, they are preyed upon by large carnivorous fish, including groupers, bar jacks, and tuna.<\/p>\n

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Discover<\/h3>\n
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The iconic regal tang is on display at the Coral Cave exhibit here at Blue Planet Aquarium, along with plenty of other spectacular tropical species. Just look for that recognisable swish of blue and that unmistakable yellow tail.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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Factfile<\/h3>\n
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The next time you\u2019re watching Finding Nemo, break out these fascinating blue tang facts to impress your friends with your knowledge of the film\u2019s lovable sidekick\u2026<\/p>\n

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Did you know? Regal tangs often play dead when predators pass by<\/strong><\/h6>\n

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That\u2019s right, just like in Finding Dory, regal tangs can play dead when they feel in danger. And if that doesn\u2019t work, it\u2019s time to break out that deadly tail swish\u2026<\/p>\n

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Did you know? Male regal tangs are super aggressive to one another<\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Males are often aggressive towards each other, with the more dominant male gaining larger breeding areas. It\u2019s thought they use their sharp caudal fins to have \u201csword fights\u201d\u00a0\u2013 yikes!<\/p>\n

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How long does the regal tang live?<\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Get this: regal tangs can live up to 30 years! That\u2019s an impressive lifespan for a tropical fish.<\/p>\n

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Are regal tangs poisonous?<\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Not quite. Regal tang fin spines are tipped with venomous barbs capable of debilitating predators.<\/p>\n

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Did you know? Regal tangs go by many names<\/strong><\/h6>\n

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We\u2019re not sure why, but regal tangs have a confusing number of different names, including blue tangs, hippo tangs, royal blue tangs, Pacific blue tangs, blue surgeonfish, flagtail surgeonfish, and palette surgeonfish.<\/p>\n

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Come meet our beautiful blue tangs for yourself at Blue Planet Aquarium\u2019s Coral Cave exhibit. <\/strong>Tap here to book your tickets today<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Does the regal tang look familiar? There\u2019s every chance you\u2019ve seen this beautiful fish before, even if it was on a TV screen\u2026 That\u2019s right, you found Dory! The regal tang, or blue tang as it\u2019s also known, has always been a much-loved tropical fish, but its appearance in Disney Pixar\u2019s Finding Nemo cemented it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2604,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true},"animal_type":[9],"class_list":["post-1747","animal","type-animal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","animal_type-fish"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRegal Tang - Blue Planet Aquarium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn all about Regal Tang with Blue Planet Aquarium. 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