The Blonde Naso Tang (Naso elegans), also known as the elegant unicornfish or orange-spine unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae. It is found in the Indian Ocean and is closely related to the Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) of the Pacific.

Physical Description

The Blonde Naso Tang has an elongated oval body with a pointed snout. Adults develop a short horn-like projection on the forehead. The body coloration is greyish-brown with a yellow dorsal fin, orange anal and pelvic fins, and distinctive orange lips. The caudal fin has a yellow margin with elongated filaments in mature males. The dorsal fin has 5-6 spines and 28-31 soft rays while the anal fin has 2 spines and 28-31 soft rays. This species reaches a maximum total length of 45 cm (17.7 in).

Distribution and Habitat

The Blonde Naso Tang is found in the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Andaman Sea and Indonesia. It inhabits shallow coral reefs and seaward reef slopes at depths between 2 and 30 meters.

Diet and Feeding

The Blonde Naso Tang is primarily herbivorous, feeding on benthic algae and leafy macroalgae. In captivity, it should be offered a varied diet including marine algae, spirulina, and high-quality vegetable-based preparations.

Aquarium Care

The Blonde Naso Tang requires a spacious aquarium of at least 200 gallons with excellent water quality and strong water flow. It is generally peaceful and can be kept with a variety of tankmates. Generally considered reef-safe.

Conservation Status

Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.