Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
Site Supported in Part by:
Orphek 

Acanthurus

Acanthurus maculiceps

(Ahl, 1923)

White-freckled Tang/Surgeonfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives, Andaman Sea, Christmas Islands, Philippines, north to Southern Japan, and south to Line Islands and Samoa.

Size: 16 inches (40 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef flats and seaward slopes and usually found at depths between 10 - 50 feet (3 - 15 m) where it feeds mainly on algae.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes with it having a greyish body with numerous white spots on the face.

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.

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

 Acanthurus maculiceps (White-freckled Tang/Surgeonfish)
Photo © John Randall
Site Supported in Part by:
Orphek