Paracanthurus hepatus
Did you see a flash of electric blue followed by a wisp of yellow? That was probably our Hippo Tang. His native area is in the Indo-Pacific region. He has a pointed snout and a flat body, and his electric blue, yellow and black pattern is strikingly beautiful.
The Hippo Tang has a very sharp caudal spine that can cause bad cuts if these fish are not handled properly, but are used by the fish to protect itself from predators.
Hippo Tangs are omnivores, meaning they will eat both plants and animals. Plankton and algae are their main diet. They help our reef stay healthy by eating the algae that might otherwise harm other inhabitants.