Naso Tang (Naso Lituratus)

Also Known As: Orangespine Unicornfish, Naso Surgeonfish, Lipstick Tang

Compatibility and Behavior
Among the surgeonfish, the Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) is the diplomat. It tends to be one of the more peaceful tangs in the trade, noticeably less combative than many of its Acanthurus relatives, particularly when it has room to swim and gets introduced to a tank thoughtfully. It is a genuine open-water centerpiece, too: an elongated, torpedo-shaped body in soft gray-brown with a lighter belly, dressed up with a dark facial mask, vivid orange lips, and a bold yellow band along the dorsal. The caudal peduncle carries paired orange spines, and on XL show-size specimens the tail can develop a lyre or streamered shape that pushes the whole look toward regal. It is reef safe in practice, browsing film and macroalgae off rock and hard surfaces rather than picking at corals or inverts. The peaceful streak does have limits, though. Cramped or underfed, a Naso can turn more assertive toward other tangs and similarly shaped fish, so in most cases it shows its best temperament alongside calm tankmates in a spacious, stable setup.

Aquarium Requirements
Plan for the adult, not the fish in the bag. Nasos grow, and they do best in spacious systems with long, open swimming lanes that let them cruise the way they want to. For small specimens, a tank in the 100-gallon range or larger with a lengthy footprint is the right starting target, with considerably more room preferred as the fish fills out. Aquascape for a balance of open water and solid structure, giving it mature live rock to graze along with a few secure caves or ledges to settle into at night. Strong, turbulent flow and efficient filtration cover its oxygen and water-quality needs. Feed a varied, algae-rich diet with plenty of nori and herbivore foods several times a day, and it pays off in better color, calmer behavior, and overall robust condition.

Specifications
Approximate Size: Sm: 2–2.5", Smd: 2.5–3", Md: 3–3.5", Mlg: 3.5–4", Lg: 4–5", XL: 5–6"
Diet: Primarily herbivorous. Marine algae, nori, and spirulina-based foods, with supplemental frozen mysis shrimp
Origin: Indo-Pacific, including Hawaii, Micronesia, and many Pacific reef systems
Care Level: Intermediate
Reef Safe: Generally reef safe; focuses on algae and biofilm rather than coral polyps
Temperament: Peaceful to semi-aggressive; large Nasos may show dominance toward other tangs in confined spaces
Minimum Tank Size: Smaller specimens (Sm/Smd) can start around 100–125 gallons, but plan to scale up to 180 gallons or more as they grow