Lopez's Unicornfish Care Guide
Naso lopezi is a slender Western Pacific unicornfish without a horn, densely spotted above and white below, feeding on zooplankton and reaching about 60 cm.
Overview
Naso lopezi, the elongate or Lopez’s unicornfish of the family Acanthuridae, has a slender, elongate body that is greyish with dense black spotting on the upper body and tail and white ventrally. It is one of the Naso species that lacks a bony forehead horn. FishBase records a maximum standard length of 60 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Naso
- Scientific name: Naso lopezi
- Described by: Herre, 1927
Habitat
The species is marine and reef-associated in the Western Pacific, from southern Honshu, Japan, to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, with records from the Similan Islands and Andaman Sea, Guam and Tonga. It inhabits steep outer reef slopes with strong currents, usually deeper than 6 m, with FishBase recording depths of 20-50 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L (396 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
According to FishBase, Naso lopezi is planktivorous, feeding on zooplankton. Wikipedia adds it also takes ctenophores, crustaceans, algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates and molluscs. In aquaria it benefits from frequent meaty planktonic foods alongside marine algae.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive, diurnal mid-water swimmer described as a generally uncommon species, solitary or in groups and sometimes in large schools. It needs ample open swimming space. 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 eat coral and is considered reef-safe, though its size and need for open water demand a very spacious reef. 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.