Acanthurus nigricauda

Duncker & Mohr, 1929

Epaulette Tang/Surgeonfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 16 inches (40 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 6 - 50 feet (2 - 15 m) where it feeds mainly on algal film covering the sand and rocks.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes and having a greyish-brown body with white on the front portion of the tail.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having wide-open swimming areas and turbulent, well-oxygenated water flow.

Requires a varied vegetable diet, including fresh macroalgae, Spirulina, zucchini, broccoli, dried seaweed (Nori), and enriched vegetable flakes, and requires two or three feedings per day. Will browse on filamentous and microalgae, and consume meaty foods such as pieces of fish flesh and mussel meat.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Acanthuroidei

Family: Acanthuridae

Genus: Acanthurus

FYI: One per tank.

Has a sharp forward pointing spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, which folds into a groove. Erected when excited. Handle with care!

Can be quite aggressive towards others in the family.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Herbivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5