Orangespot Surgeonfish
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Orangespot Surgeonfish
Orange Shoulder Tang ~ Orangeband Surgeonfish ~ Orange-epaulette Surgeonfish
Family: Acanthuridae
Acanthurus olivaceusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg RothschildLatest Reader Comment - See More
I have a beautiful tang! It skims bubbles off the surface and passes them through his gills. He is kept and has been kept with a sailfin tang in my 135 gal for two... (more) BARRY GALLIVAN
The Orangespot Surgeonfish is fairly hardy, has a very interesting color pattern, but is not always as available as some of the other commonly kept tangs.
Contents
- Habitat: Natural geographic location:
- Maintenance difficulty:
- Maintenance:
- Foods:
- Social Behaviors:
- Sexual differences:
- Light: Recommended light levels:
- Breeding/Reproduction:
- Temperature:
- Length/Diameter of fish:
- Minimum Tank Length/Size:
- Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
- Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
- Availability:
The Orangespot Surgeonfish is also known as the Orange Shoulder Tang, Orangeband Surgeonfish, and Orange-epaulette Surgeonfish. Each of these names point to the distinct and interesting feature that makes this species stand out, the bright orange horizontal band with a broad blue edge on its side.
Not only is this fish quickly recognized by its orange spot or band, but it also goes through a fascinating color change as it matures. As a juvenile is solid yellow with just the slightest hint of blue edging the anal and dorsal fins. The adult looks quite different. The front half of a mature specimen is a light gray and the back half is a dark gray-blue, and its caudal fin becomes lyre shaped. In each case it still retains its shoulder marking, but the orange spot does becomes more brilliant with age.
For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium
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Habitat: Natural geographic location:
Orange-epaulette Surgeonfish, Orange Shoulder Tang or Orangeband Surgeonfish are found in the Indo-Pacific from the eastern Indian Ocean to Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas Islands at depths of 4 to 45 meters.
The Orangespot Surgeonfish is moderately easy to keep once it becomes acclimated.
It is important that you feed Tangs a good variety of live, frozen, and prepared formula foods with emphasis in vegetable and spirulina. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.
Mainly found grazing on diatoms (brown algae), detritus, and filamentous algae.
Can get territorial especially if another tang is added to a tank with an already established tang.
Unknown.
Light: Recommended light levels:
No special requirements.
Probably will not be accomplished in captivity. See the description in the Breeding Marine Fish page.
No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 75 and 79 degrees.
Orange-epaulette Surgeonfish, Orange Shoulder Tang or Orangeband Surgeonfish adults can grow to 25 cm (10 inches).
A minimum 100 gallon aquarium is recommended.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
No special requirements.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
Swims all over the aquarium. 
This fish is occasionally available at retailers and is fairly inexpensive. They are priced about $30.00 USD and up.
| Orange Shoulder Tang Acanthurus Olivaceus Small Adult Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $62.99  |
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