Bad Acanthurus 2

This Article Began as Part 1: Tangs of the Genus Acanthurus

/The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

The "Bad", Unknown and Just Too Dang Big Tangs, Surgeons, Doctorfishes, of the Genus Acanthurus, Part 2 of 3

Bad Acanthurus and Unknowns: Part 1, Part 3,
Good to Medium Acanthurus: Part 1, Part 2

By Bob Fenner

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Acanthurus leucosternon Bennett 1832, the Powder Blue Tang. I can hear some of you screaming, "this isn't a difficult fish!" "I've known people to keep the Powder Blue for years!" Most specimens don't make it even through capture and shipping. Those that are well received and cared for sometimes do live for a good long time. Two maxims for success: One to a tank, and lots of live rock with algae. Link to Bigger Pix

Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus 1758), the Striped, Pajama/Pyjama, Clown Surgeonfish. Indo-Pacific; with exception of Red Sea (replaced by similar Sohal). An aggressive species that causes trouble often with growth in aquariums. To fifteen inches in length. Lives along reef edges of high water movement, and oxygen concentration. At right: in Nuka Hiva, Marquesas, Polynesia. Below: Specimens from the Seychelles, Maldives, Australia, and Fiji.

Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size.

Acanthurus nigricans (Linnaeus 1758) Whitecheek to science, Powder Brown Surgeonfish to aquarists. Formerly mis-identified as A. glaucopareius. Pan Pacific. To about eight inches maximum length. See article on this and the very similar, but more pet-fish-appropriate A. japonicus. At right in Nuka Hiva, Marquesas, Polynesia. Specimens below from Australia, the Cooks (Roratonga) and Baja, Mexico. Link to Bigger Pix

Acanthurus olivaceus Forster & Schneider 1801, the Orange Spot/Shoulder Tang. A hardy fish out of Hawaii and elsewhere, but unfortunately, a behavioral terror in the ranks of A. lineatus. This is an active fish that grows to more than a foot in length. Place only with MEAN tankmates. A juvenile, sub-adult and adult pictured, Fiji, Hawai'i and Hawai'i respectively.

Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size.

Verticals (Full/Cover Page Sizes Available)

Bad Acanthurus and Unknowns: Part 1, Part 3,
Good to Medium Acanthurus: Part 1, Part 2

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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