Orange-Socket Surgeonfish
1 Orange-Socket Surgeonfish Introduction
The Orange-Socket Surgeonfish is a tropical ornamental fish reaching up to 35 cm, found on shallow outer reefs at 3-20 m depth. Adults live in groups and are algae-eating tropical fish.
Chinese name: Orange-Socket Surgeonfish
English name: Orange-Socket Surgeonfish
Binomial: Acanthurus auranticavus
Distribution: Found in the coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific, including the Seychelles, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef. Recent reports also place it in the Maldives, Malaysia, and the Samoa Islands (Samoa, South Pacific).
Climate zone: Tropical
Conservation status: Not in the IUCN Red List
Breeding: Group spawner
2 Physical Characteristics
The dorsal fin has 9 spines and 25-26 soft rays; the anal fin has 3 spines and 23-24 soft rays. Adults reach up to 35 cm; they can spawn about once a month, though individual timing varies.
Adults are oval and laterally compressed with a small head whose top profile bulges with growth. The mouth is small and terminal; both jaws have a row of flat, fixed teeth with notched edges. Dorsal and anal spines are sharp and not elongated; the pectoral fin is near-triangular; the caudal fin is lunate and elongates with age. The body is brown-black with an orange spot before and after the pupil, and orange-brown below the pectoral base. The tail spine is bright orange, giving the name ‘Orange-Socket Surgeonfish’. The caudal fin is black with white bands near the peduncle and along the lobe edges.
3 Aquarium Conditions
As a tropical fish, providing a near-natural environment matters. Care difficulty is moderate. How to set up a suitable habitat?
Suitable water: pH 8.1-8.4; specific gravity 1.020-1.025; temperature 24-27°C. It likes shallow lagoons and outer reefs at 3-20 m; adults live in groups, juveniles usually alone in soft-coral lagoons around 2 m.
4 Feeding Guidelines
Although, like many tangs, it can take animal foods, in captivity ensure enough seaweed and marine plants.
Plant foods boost immunity, reduce aggression, and improve overall health. You can tie dried seaweed to rocks and feed 3 times daily, or use prepared plant foods for convenience. It lives on shallow reefs at 3-20 m; adults in groups, juveniles alone in soft-coral lagoons around 2 m; it feeds mainly on algae.