Saltwater
Brown surgeonfish
Acanthurus nigrofuscus
Acanthuridae, Acanthurinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 21 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 222 liters
- Diet
- Missing
Know what is missing? Suggest it in the app.
Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in American Samoa, Australia, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Comoros, Cook Islands, Egypt, and 44 more countries.
Videos
Brown surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) dusky surgeon, lavender tang in 4K
Red Sea BitJul 25, 2025
Brown surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) breeding in Eilat Israel 19.06.13
shespasJun 23, 2013
Acanthurus nigrofuscus
Nika ŚląskApr 24, 2018
More about the species
Description
Found on hard substrates of shallow lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of more than 15 m. Benthopelagic. Feed on filamentous algae. Form spawning aggregations. Adults usually in small groups, but form large schools in some oceanic locations. Juveniles are often seen in mixed species aggregations. Species at the bottom of the 'pecking order' among surgeon fishes, and as a result employs the strategy of feeding in large schools that overwhelm the territorial defenses of other herbivores. Caught with nets. Can be eaten both raw and cooked. Maximum depth reported at 25m
Other names
Other scientific names
- Acanthurus bipunctatus
- Acanthurus elongatus
- Acanthurus flavoguttatus
- Acanthurus fuliginosus
- Acanthurus gahm
- Acanthurus lineolatus
In other languages
- Brun kirurgfisk
- Blackspot surgeonfish, Brown surgeon, Dusky surgeon, Dusky surgeonfish, Lavender tang, Spot-cheeked surgeonfish, Surgeonfish
Articles
All articles
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
From freshwater to saltwater3 min read
What is different in a saltwater aquarium: salt, refractometer, live rock and corals. An introduction for anyone thinking of giving it a try.