Saltwater
Whitecheek surgeonfish
Acanthurus nigricans
Acanthuridae, Acanthurinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 36 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 1,113 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in American Samoa, Australia, Brunei, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Cook Islands, and 30 more countries.
Videos
Acanthurus Nigricans
Current Tides AquariumsNov 14, 2025
Acanthurus nigricans 😎
Korale.plJan 7, 2021
More about the species
Description
Adults inhabit hard substrate areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to at least 67 m and feeds on filamentous algae. Solitary or in groups. Monogamous. Benthopelagic. Small juveniles shy among large corals. Territorial species. Common throughout Micronesia and hybridizes with the rare A. achilles. Size of metamorphosis from the postlarva stage to juvenile is 5.5 to 6 cm. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Acanthurus aliala
- Acanthurus glaucoparecius
- Acanthurus glaucopareius
- Acanthurus japonicus
- Chaetodon nigricans
In other languages
- Filippinsk Kirurgfisk
- Hvidhovedet kirurgfisk
- Samettivälskäri
- Black surgeonfish, Blackear surgeonfish, Gold-rim tang, Gold-rimmed surgeonfish, Golden Rim Surgeonfish, Golden rimmed surgeonfish, Goldrim surgeonfish, Gray surgeonfish, Surgeonfish, Velvet surgeon, Velvet surgeonfish, White-cheeked surgeonfish, Whiteface surgeonfish, Whitetail surgeonfish, Yellow spotted surgeonfish, Yellow-banded surgeonfish, Yellowfin tang, Yellowrimmed 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.