The Doctor Fish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus), also called the Surgeonfish, is a robust species native to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. It gets its name from the sharp “scalpels” near the base of its tail, which it can use defensively. Typically growing to around 12 inches, it has a gray to brown body with faint vertical striping and a bluish hue along the edges of its fins. Active and constantly grazing, this tang needs a large aquarium (at least 125 gallons) with ample swimming room and rockwork for algae growth. Semi-aggressive by nature, it may show territorial behavior toward other tangs, especially those of similar shape. With a diet focused on marine algae, nori, and plant-based foods, the Doctor Fish Tang is both hardy and beneficial for controlling algae in spacious reef or fish-only systems.
The Doctor Fish Tang (Acanthurus chirurgus), also called the Surgeonfish, is a robust species native to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. It gets its name from the sharp “scalpels” near the base of its tail, which it can use defensively. Typically growing to around 12 inches, it has a gray to brown body with faint vertical striping and a bluish hue along the edges of its fins. Active and constantly grazing, this tang needs a large aquarium (at least 125 gallons) with ample swimming room and rockwork for algae growth. Semi-aggressive by nature, it may show territorial behavior toward other tangs, especially those of similar shape. With a diet focused on marine algae, nori, and plant-based foods, the Doctor Fish Tang is both hardy and beneficial for controlling algae in spacious reef or fish-only systems.
