The family includes about 86 extant species of marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs.

These fishes may grow quickly in aquaria, so average growth size and suitability should be checked before adding them to any marine aquarium.

It is mostly transparent and tends to have a pelagic lifestyle, living in open water for an extended period of time before settling on the ocean bottom near the shore, where it develops into the juvenile and ultimately the adult form.

Many also suggest adding aggressive tangs to the aquarium last as they are territorial and may fight and possibly kill other fish.

Tangs primarily graze on macroalgae from genera such as Caulerpa and Gracilaria, although they have been observed in an aquarium setting to eat meat-based fish foods.