Acanthurus nigrofuscus

(Forsskal, 1775)

Brown Tang

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to South Africa, east to Hawaiian and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia and Rapa Islands.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoons and seaward reefs, often in surge zones and usually found at depths between 6 - 200 feet (2 - 60 m) where it feeds mainly on filamentous algae.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes and having a greyish body with numerous very narrow brown horizontal lines and some blue in the anal and tail fins, and light tan to orange in the dorsal.

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.

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, yet peaceful with other tankmates.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Herbivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5