Bignose Unicornfish

Naso vlamingii is a tropical fish with common names Vlamingii tang and Bignose unicornfish.

Appearance

They are relatively large fish in comparison to other fish in the Acanthuridae family easily reaching 23.62 in (60 cm). As a juvenile its coloration is a dingy green with blue spots and lips later changing to a bluer fish with purple markings. While the fish sleeps or when it is frightened it turns a muddy brown as camouflage.

Diet

The Vlamingii tang is mostly herbivorous but will eat small crustaceans such as copepods, brine shrimp and mysid shrimp. Most of their natural diet is comprised of algae.

Range

The Vlamingii tang is found in the Indo-Pacific oceans off the coasts of East Africa, on the islands of Marquesas and Tuamotu, southern Japan and southern areas of the Great Barrier Reef. The Vlamingii tang is most often found in association with reefs and coastal lagoons sometimes in small schools.

Economic value

The Naso vlamingii has little to no value to commercial fishers but is occasionally available in the marine aquarium industry as a higher priced, rarer fish than most tangs available to aquarists.