The Convict tang
(Acanthurus triostegus) is a
fantastic fish to add to your
reef tank.  Its silverish white
with black stripes adds good
contrast to Miniature Coral
Reefs.  This fish isn't only a
good looking fish, but a hard
worker too.  He spends his
day nibbling on all sorts of
algae in the reef tank.  The
Convict tang is the captain of
my algae cleaning team.
There isn't any algae in my reef
tank and that is mostly thanks to
the Convict tang.  I supplement
his diet with dried seaweed and
brine shrimp to keep him healthy.
Some fellow aquarists have
mention that they have had
difficulties getting their Convict
tangs to eat, however, I've never
had those difficulties in my reef
tanks.  He gets along pretty well
with the other tangs in the reef
tank, however, don't place two of
the same in the reef tank.  They
will continue to fight until one kills
the other.  The only way you can
keep more than one is if you add
a small school of Convict Tangs.  
You would have to put them all in
at the same time and this
requires a large aquarium.
Convict tangs don't bother corals,
although, mine seems to like
nibbling on the Pumping Xenia.  I
have so much Xenia in my reef tank
that it doesn't bother me.  The work
that my Convict tang puts into my
reef tank is worth the occasional
harassment of the coral.  I would
suggest keeping all tangs well fed
to avoid the occasional nipping at
your valuable corals and
invertebrates.   
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