Acanthurus xanthopterus

Valenciennes, 1835

Yellowfin Tang/Surgeonfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific Ocean: Lower Gulf of California and Clipperton Island and the Galapagos Islands.

Size: 20 inches (50 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow protected bays and lagoons and usually found at depths between 15 - 300 feet (5 - 90 m) where it feeds on filamentous algae, diatoms, and detritus.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes and having a purplish brown body with juveniles having yellow fins, with fins becoming yellowish grey when becoming an adult, and also a dull yellow bar over the snout connecting both eyes.

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 aggressive towards others in the family.

A much better public aquarium fish than a hobbyist specimen.

Experience Level: Expert

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: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 400 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5