Tangs & Surgeonfish
Epaulette Surgeon
Contact us for price and availability
Live animal: Overnight delivery, Tuesday–Friday (Saturday $25 extra, arranged by phone or email). Covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.We ship daily. Prices and availability may change. Images are for illustration only and may vary from the actual product. Stock is subject to change.
- Packed to order with heat or cold packs for the season
- Eating and settled in our systems before it ships
- Questions? Ask a reef keeper
Share
About this fish
About this fish
The Epaulette Surgeon (Acanthurus nigricauda) is a saltwater tang designed for the home reef aquarium. As an active algae grazer, it helps keep the glass and rock looking cleaner while adding bold presence to a tank with plenty of open swimming space. This species is typically kept in community reef setups where its feeding habits and swimming behavior can be supported with regular algae-based foods and appropriate tank planning.
Features:
- Active, fast-moving swimmer that benefits from a long tank with open swimming room
- Naturally grazes algae throughout the day, making it well-suited to tanks with established algae growth
- Feed a mix of algae sheets and seaweed plus frozen and/or pellet foods to support consistent grazing behavior
- Has a sharp spine near the tail and may be territorial toward other tangs, so careful planning matters
- Most individuals are considered reef safe with corals, though tankmate compatibility should still be considered
Specifications:
- Scientific name: Acanthurus nigricauda
- Category: Tangs & Surgeonfish
- Available sizes (as stocked): Small, Medium, Medium-Large, Large, Large-XLarge, X-Large, XXLarge
- Feeding (general guidance): Algae sheets and seaweed daily; also offer frozen and pellet foods
- Temperament (general guidance): Can be territorial toward other tangs
- Reef compatibility (general guidance): Most are reef safe with corals
- Arrival acclimation: Acclimate slowly and allow a quiet spot for settling
