Whitefreckled Tang Care Guide

Acanthurus maculiceps is an Indo-Pacific surgeonfish with a dark body finely speckled on the head, grazing algae and detritus and reaching about 40 cm.

Overview

Acanthurus maculiceps, the white-freckled surgeonfish, has an oval, laterally compressed body of the family Acanthuridae, marked by pale spots on the head, fine lines along the flanks, a yellow patch beneath the mouth and a dark blotch behind each eye. Its colour ranges from light yellow to dark brown and can change rapidly. FishBase records a maximum standard length of 40 cm.

Taxonomy

Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
Scientific name: Acanthurus maculiceps
Described by: Ahl, 1923

Habitat

The species is marine and reef-associated throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Maldives through the Andaman Sea and Christmas Island to the Philippines and Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Samoa and the Great Barrier Reef. It inhabits clear waters of outer reef flats and seaward reefs, with FishBase recording depths of 1-15 m, usually 3-15 m.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 700 L (185 gal)
Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
pH: 8.1-8.4
Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
Strong water flow
Lifespan: 10-25 years

Diet

Acanthurus maculiceps grazes on algae and detritus, usually in mixed-species schools when feeding. Aquarium specimens require frequent offerings of marine algae and dried seaweed.

Compatibility

A semi-aggressive, diurnal mid-water swimmer, the species is found solitarily or in small groups, with males developing brighter colours during spawning. Wrasses, clownfish, angelfish and sturdy triggerfish make suitable tankmates, while other tangs of similar shape should be avoided in smaller systems.

Reef compatibility

The species does not consume coral and is considered reef-safe, helping graze nuisance algae. Maintain carbonate hardness of 8-12 dKH and specific gravity of 1.024-1.026.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2010 via FishBase.