How related are they?
Same family, Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes and tangs): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Powder Blue Tang belongs to Acanthurus (Acanthurus surgeonfishes), the Blue Hippo Tang to Paracanthurus (Palette tangs).
Find the Powder Blue Tang on the tree · Find the Blue Hippo Tang on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Powder Blue Tang | Blue Hippo Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Acanthuriformes Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin | |
| Family | Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes and tangs | |
| Genus split | Acanthurus Acanthurus surgeonfishes | Paracanthurus Palette tangs |
| Species | Acanthurus leucosternon Powder Blue Tang | Paracanthurus hepatus Blue Hippo Tang |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Powder Blue Tang | Blue Hippo Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Tang | Fish · Tang |
| Care level | Expert | Moderate |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Herbivore | Omnivore |
| Favorite foods | Dried marine algae sheets (nori, red and green seaweed) on a clip, Frozen herbivore formulas, Spirulina and algae-based flakes and pellets | Frozen mysis shrimp and other plankton-type frozen foods, Dried marine seaweed sheets (nori, red and green algae) on a clip, Spirulina and algae-based pellets and flakes |
| Max size | 9 in (23 cm) | 12 in (31 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 180 gal | 180 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–30 ppm | 0–30 ppm |
| Lifespan | Poorly documented. Many wild-caught fish die within weeks of import from disease and shipping stress; fish that settle in commonly live about 7-10 years or more according to hobby care guides. No published age study for this species was found. | More than 30 years in the wild. In aquariums usually 8-20 years, with an average of about 12-14 years according to Animal Diversity Web; disease shortens many captive lives. |
| Breeding | Not achieved | Very hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |