Gem Tang / Zebrasoma gemmatum

RandysReef · Dec 30, 2012

Gem Tang / Zebrasoma gemmatum

SCIENTIFIC NAME - Zebrasoma gemmatum

COMMON NAME - Gem tang

SIZE - 8" (20 cm)

MIN. AQUARIUM SIZE - 125 US Gal. ( 473 L)

FOODS AND FEEDINGS - Most marine frozen foods (cyclop-eeze, mysis, krill, etc.), Enriched brine shrimp, Algae sheets, Pellets, Flakes.
Feed atleast 2 times a day

REEF COMPATIBILITY - If under fed may nip at stony corals and soft corals.

CAPTIVE CARE - Moderate, Semi- aggressive- will stand up for itself. May keep with other Tangs and Surgeonfishes except for its kind. May be aggressive towards the Purple Tang because of similar appearances. Individual species of Zebrasoma can display a wide range of behavioral differences in the aquarium, with some being downright nasty, and other mixing in well. The key to this is likely related to tank size and having a sufficient rock structure to break up territory.

Reefing8EZ · Dec 30, 2012

Really awesome fish!

RandysReef · Dec 30, 2012

Reefing8EZ said:
Really awesome fish!

Thanks man! Definitely one of my fav fish in the tank. Hopefully this gets into the Database tangs sticky so more people can learn about this fish. There seems to be barely any info on this fish, or pics except on live aquaria diversden.

Thanks again!

Theclutziestspazzofaninja · Jan 2, 2013

BEAUTIFUL fish! I'm curious as to where you got this guy?

They don't seem to come around too often.

revhtree · Jan 2, 2013

Glad you added this!

SeymourDuncan · Jan 2, 2013

thats a bad case of ich!!! lol just kidding. are these the ones that cost more than my car?

hectorevalero · Jan 2, 2013

Most likely on LA Divers Den section

RandysReef · Jan 2, 2013

Theclutziestspazzofaninja said:
BEAUTIFUL fish! I'm curious as to where you got this guy?
They don't seem to come around too often.

If you've ever heard of Roggers Reef Food, i bought it from him when he was breaking down his tank.

Theclutziestspazzofaninja · Jan 2, 2013

RandysReef said:
If you've ever heard of Roggers Reef Food, i bought it from him when he was breaking down his tank.

Lucky you! That's awesome you had the chance to get an acclimated gem you knew was eating! I'm on the hunt for a small black longnose ATM, but they're pretty rare I'm noticing... :squigglemouth:

RandysReef · Jan 2, 2013

Theclutziestspazzofaninja said:
Lucky you! That's awesome you had the chance to get an acclimated gem you knew was eating! I'm on the hunt for a small black longnose ATM, but they're pretty rare I'm noticing... :squigglemouth:

Thank you!
Yea, he has been in Roggers tank since he was 1" big. He is around 4 inches now and a few years old. I have been looking for a black tang myself aswell. It is really hard to find a small sized one (2"- 4") that is healthy and eating well.

Theclutziestspazzofaninja · Jan 3, 2013

RandysReef said:
Thank you!
Yea, he has been in Roggers tank since he was 1" big. He is around 4 inches now and a few years old. I have been looking for a black tang myself aswell. It is really hard to find a small sized one (2"- 4") that is healthy and eating well.

How much bigger is the gem going to get?
IKR! I can only seem to find 6-7" black longnoses, and although they are beautiful I'd much rather start out with a younger fish than the adult.

RandysReef · Jan 3, 2013

Theclutziestspazzofaninja said:
How much bigger is the gem going to get?
IKR! I can only seem to find 6-7" black longnoses, and although they are beautiful I'd much rather start out with a younger fish than the adult.

Gems will get probably around 8", maybe more maybe less. But that will be years down the road.

I can easily get one from my lfs (WWC) that is small, but will only sell it to me if i take it right when it gets there. They are very hard to keep alive once they come from the ocean. Most lfs dont order them because there is a high chance of the fish dying and losing their money.

Theclutziestspazzofaninja · Jan 3, 2013

RandysReef said:
Gems will get probably around 8", maybe more maybe less. But that will be years down the road.

I can easily get one from my lfs (WWC) that is small, but will only sell it to me if i take it right when it gets there. They are very hard to keep alive once they come from the ocean. Most lfs dont order them because there is a high chance of the fish dying and losing their money.

I haven't talked to my lfs about selling me one since I just sort of assumed it'd be better to buy from an online vendor...I'll have to do that next time I'm in there now