Epaulette Surgeon Med

About this fish

Epaulette Surgeon Med is a home saltwater aquarium tang, identified as Acanthurus nigricauda. It’s an active, reef-style grazer that helps keep algae under control in a display tank while adding bold presence and constant movement. In practice, this means planning for steady, daily feeding of algae-based foods and providing open swimming room so the fish can forage comfortably.

Features:

• Active, fast-swimming tang that grazes algae throughout the day
• Bold, reef-appropriate look that brings energy to the aquarium
• Best kept with plenty of open swimming space in a longer tank
• Feed algae sheets and seaweed daily, plus a mix of frozen and pellet foods
• Has a sharp spine near the tail and can be territorial toward other tangs—choose tankmates thoughtfully
• Most tangs are considered reef safe with corals

Specifications:

• Scientific name: Acanthurus nigricauda
• Care level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Active; can be territorial, especially toward other tangs
• Diet: Algae sheets/seaweed; also frozen and pellet foods
• Temperature: About 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Salinity: Marine reef range (typically 1.020–1.026 specific gravity)
• pH: About 8.1–8.4
• Alkalinity / Calcium / Magnesium: Maintain typical reef aquarium targets