Acanthuridae
From The Aquarium Wiki
Acanthuridae ("thorn tail") is the family of Surgeonfish, Tangs, and Unicornfish. They belong to the order Perciformes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and extremely popular for aquaria.
| Common name | Difficulty | Maximum Size | Minimum Tank Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthurus achilles | Achilles Surgeonfish Achilles Tang Red-Tailed Surgeonfish Redspot Surgeonfish |
Difficult | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Acanthurus bariene | Black-Spot Surgeonfish Bariene Surgeonfish Roundspot Surgeonfish Eye-Spot Surgeonfish Black Spot Tang Black Spot Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 19.68503937007919.685 in50 cm | 200200 gal757.082 liters 757,082.356 mL |
| Acanthurus blochii | Blochii Tang Ringtail Surgeonfish Dark Surgeonfish Tailring Surgeonfish Whitetail Lancet Ringtail Tang |
Moderate | 17.71653543307117.717 in45 cm | 150150 gal567.812 liters 567,811.767 mL |
| Acanthurus coeruleus | Atlantic Blue Tang Blue Tang Surgeonfish Blue Tang Blue Doctorfish Blur Tang |
Challenging | 1010 in25.4 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
| Acanthurus dussumieri | Eyestripe Surgeonfish Dussumieri Tang Pencilled Surgeonfish Ornate Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 21.25984251968521.26 in54 cm | 150150 gal567.812 liters 567,811.767 mL |
| Acanthurus fowleri | Fowleri Tang Blackspine Surgeonfish Fowlers Surgeonfish Horseshoe Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 21.25984251968521.26 in54 cm | 150150 gal567.812 liters 567,811.767 mL |
| Acanthurus japonicus | Japan Surgeonfish White-Faced Surgeonfish White-Nose Surgeonfish |
Challenging | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Acanthurus leucosternon | Powder Blue Tang Powderblue Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 21.25984251968521.26 in54 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
| Acanthurus lineatus | Lined Surgeonfish Clown Tang Clown Surgeonfish Blue-banded Surgeonfish Striped Surgeonfish |
Challenging | 14.9606299212614.961 in38 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
| Acanthurus nigrofuscus | Brown Surgeonfish Lavender Tang Spot-Cheeked Surgeonfish Dusky Surgeonfish Blackspot Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 88 in20.32 cm | 5050 gal189.271 liters 189,270.589 mL |
| Acanthurus olivaceus | Orangespot Surgeonfish Orangeshoulder Tang Orangeband Surgeonfish Orange Blotch Surgeonfish Orange Spot Tang |
Challenging | 13.77952755905513.78 in35 cm | 200200 gal757.082 liters 757,082.356 mL |
| Acanthurus pyroferus | Chocolate Surgeonfish Pacific Mimic Surgeon Orange-Gilled Surgeonfish Mimic Surgeonfish Mimic Lemon Peel Tang |
Challenging | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Acanthurus sohal | Sohal Tang Red Sea Surgeonfish Red Sea Clown Surgeon Majestic Tang Majestic Surgeon Arabian Tang |
Challenging | 15.74803149606315.748 in40 cm | 150150 gal567.812 liters 567,811.767 mL |
| Acanthurus triostegus | Convict Tang Convict Surgeonfish Manini |
Moderate | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis | Chevron Tang | Moderate | 1212 in30.48 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Ctenochaetus strigosus | Spotted Surgeonfish Kole Tang Yellow-Eyed Tang Goldring Surgeonfish Spotted Bristletooth Slender-Toothed Surgeonfish Bristletoothed Surgeonfish Yelloweye Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 5.7480314960635.748 in14.6 cm | 6565 gal246.052 liters 246,051.766 mL |
| Ctenochaetus tominiensis | Tomini Surgeonfish Tomini Bristletooth Yellow-Tip Bristle-tooth Orangetip Bristletooth Bristletooth Tomini Tang |
Challenging | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Naso annulatus | Whitemargin Unicornfish Bluefin Unicornfish Ringtail Unicornfish |
Challenging | 4040 in101.6 cm | 200200 gal757.082 liters 757,082.356 mL |
| Naso elegans | Blonde Orangespine Unicornfish Blonde Naso Tang Elegant Unicornfish Indian Orangespine Unicornfish |
Challenging | 18.11023622047218.11 in46 cm | 150150 gal567.812 liters 567,811.767 mL |
| Naso lituratus | Orangespine Unicornfish Lipstick Tang Naso Tang Clown Surgeonfish Liturate Surgeonfish Masked Unicornfish |
Challenging | 18.11023622047218.11 in46 cm | 250250 gal946.353 liters 946,352.945 mL |
| Naso unicornis | Unicorn Surgeonfish Bluespine Unicornfish Unicorn Tang |
Challenging | 2424 in60.96 cm | 300300 gal1,135.624 liters 1,135,623.534 mL |
| Naso vlamingii | Vlamingii Tang Bignose Unicornfish |
Challenging | 2424 in60.96 cm | 300300 gal1,135.624 liters 1,135,623.534 mL |
| Paracanthurus hepatus | Regal Tang Blue Tang Pacific Blue Tang Hippo Tang Palette Surgeonfish Yellowtail Tang Dory |
Moderate | 1212 in30.48 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Zebrasoma desjardinii | Sailfin Desjardinii Tang Sailfin Desjardni Tang Red Sea Sailfin Tang Dejardin's Sailfin Tang Indian Sailfin Surgeonfish |
Challenging | 1616 in40.64 cm | 140140 gal529.958 liters 529,957.649 mL |
| Zebrasoma flavescens | Yellow Tang Yellow Hawaiian Tang Yellow Sailfin Tang Lemon Surgeonfish |
Moderate | 88 in20.32 cm | 7575 gal283.906 liters 283,905.884 mL |
| Zebrasoma scopas | Scopas Tang Brown scopas tang Twotone Tang Brown Sailfin Tang Blue-Lined Tang Two-Tone Surgeonfish |
Challenging | 1212 in30.48 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
| Zebrasoma velifer | Sailfin Tang Ringed Tang |
Challenging | 15.74803149606315.748 in40 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
| Zebrasoma xanthurum | Yellowtail Tang Yellowtail Sailfin Tang Blue Surgeonfish Yellowtail Surgeonfish Purple Tang |
Challenging | 1010 in25.4 cm | 100100 gal378.541 liters 378,541.178 mL |
