Acanthurus lineatus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Clown or Lined Tang

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, Southern Japan, Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia.

Size: 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and lagoons, often in surge zones and usually found at depths between 3 - 50 feet (1 - 15 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 yellow to orange body with numerous horizontal blue lines.

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, especially as it ages 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