Acanthurus mata

Identification	Blue-gray body with faint horizontal lines along the lower body. A distinctive yellow bar runs from the eye to just behind the pectoral fin. Adults can develop a bluish facial mask.
Maximum Length	Up to 20 inches (50 cm)
Origin	Indo-Pacific — East Africa to Line Islands
Minimum Tank Size	250 gallons
Reef Compatible	Yes

Behavior

A large, open-water tang that naturally aggregates in large schools over reef slopes. Peaceful and fast-swimming, the Mata Tang is best suited to a very large aquarium. It is more demanding than smaller tangs but rewarding when given appropriate conditions.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore. Naturally grazes on zooplankton and algae. Offer dried seaweed, algae-based pellets, and occasional meaty foods like mysis shrimp.

Cautions

Needs very large swimming space. Not suited to typical home aquariums. Best for public or very large private systems.