Japanese surgeonfish - Acanthurus japonicu

Species Name: Acanthurus japonicus

Synonyms: Hepatus aliala japonicus, Acanthurus japonicus

Common Names: Japanese surgeonfish

Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)

Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)

Max.Size: 21.0 cm / 8.3 inches

Environment: Marine reef

Origin: Northwest and Western Central Pacific

Temperament: Harmless

Company: Acanthurus japonicus (Japanese surgeonfish) should never be kept together with similar species, lionfish or groupers.

Aquarium Setup: Acanthurus japonicus (Japanese surgeonfish) need plenty of room to do well, at least 50 gallon for every adult specimen. Aeration and water movements should be vigorious. Japanese surgeonfish also need a stable environment, so keep the chemical, physical and social variations to a minimum. pH should be buffered and stay between 8.0 and 8.4. Oranic levels have to be low or non-existant and the amount of nitrate should never be allowed to reach above 25 ppm.

Food: Acanthurus japonicus (Japanese surgeonfish) eat plants and algae, particularly benthic algae. They need to be fed frequently, preferably many small servings spread out over the whole day. An automatic feeder or an algae rock can make this easier to achieve.

Breeding: There is no available information regardning the spawning of Acanthurus japonicus (Japanese surgeonfish) in aquariums.