Powder Black Tang Care Guide
Acanthurus nigricans is an Indo-Pacific surgeonfish with a bluish-black body and white cheek patch, feeding on filamentous algae and reaching about 36 cm.
Overview
Acanthurus nigricans, the whitecheek surgeonfish, is an oval-bodied member of the family Acanthuridae. It is overall bluish-black with a white patch below the eye, yellow bands at the dorsal and anal fin bases, a yellow ring around the caudal spine and a white caudal fin with a yellow submarginal band. FishBase records a maximum fork length of 36 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Acanthurus
- Scientific name: Acanthurus nigricans
- Described by: Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
The species is marine, reef-associated and non-migratory, occurring in the eastern Indian Ocean (Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands) and across the Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands and Great Barrier Reef to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, as well as the Revillagigedo, Cocos and Galapagos islands and the Mexican coast. It inhabits hard-substrate areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs, with FishBase recording depths from 0 to 67 m, usually 2-67 m. Juveniles shelter among large corals.
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 nigricans is a herbivore that feeds on filamentous algae in the wild. In aquaria it should be offered marine algae and dried seaweed multiple times daily to support its constant grazing.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive, diurnal mid-water swimmer, the species is monogamous and territorial in the wild, occurring solitarily or in groups. Wrasses, clownfish, angelfish and sturdy triggerfish make suitable tankmates, while other tangs of similar shape should be avoided in smaller systems. FishBase notes it can live up to 34 years.
Reef compatibility
The species does not eat coral and is considered reef-safe, grazing nuisance algae from rock. Maintain carbonate hardness of 8-12 dKH and specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 for corals and invertebrates.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2010 via FishBase.