Acanthurus Sohal

The sohal surgeonfish or sohal tang can grow up to 16 inches in the wild. Its striking blue and white horizontal stripes have made it what many consider the ‘poster fish’ for the Red Sea reef environment. Like other tangs, the sohal tang is compressed laterally, making it extremely maneuverable and fast along the reef. It has a horizontal, blade-like spine along the base of its tail on both sides, which folds into the fish, pointing anteriorly towards the head. During defense and aggression, tangs flick the spine at other fish or intruders, causing physical harm, but are non-venomous. The surgeonfish are named for this scalpel-like spine. They are vulnerable to parasites. This fish has been known to live up to 10 - 15 years.