Acanthurus pyroferus

Kittlitz, 1834

Chocolate Tang/Surgeonfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Seychelles to Marquesan and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Size: 11 inches (27 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 30 - 150 feet (10 - 45 m) where it feeds on algae.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes with the body a pale yellowish/brown with a dark vertical bar aft of the eyes, and yellow edging on a dark brown tail. Juveniles are yellow overall.

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: 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: 180 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5