Acanthurus nigrofuscus
| Identification | A modest surgeonfish that is brown at a glance but flushes lavender-purple in good light, with fine orange spots on the head and small black spots on the dorsal and anal fins. Also called the Brown or Spot-cheeked Tang. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | about 8″ |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific |
| Minimum Tank Size | 100 Gal. |
| Reef Compatibility | Reef safe |
Behavior
A hardy, tireless grazing tang and one of the great algae-control workhorses, constantly picking film and hair algae from the rocks. Reef safe and active; it can be feisty toward other tangs, so introduce tangs together or add it last.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily herbivore. Provide dried algae/nori and marine algae preparations as the staple, supplemented with some meaty foods and quality pellets.
Cautions
Territorial toward other surgeonfish, especially similar shapes — plan tang additions carefully. Needs open swimming room and algae to graze. The scalpel at the tail base is sharp; handle with care.