Razorback Tang Care Guide
Prionurus laticlavius is a large Eastern Pacific surgeonfish with bony caudal plates and a yellow tail, feeding on algae in shallow reefs.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Prionurus laticlavius, the razor surgeonfish, is a large Acanthuridae species with an oval compressed body, grey coloration and a yellow caudal fin; dark bars cross the eye and rear of the head. Three bony plates line each side of the caudal peduncle. FishBase reports a maximum total length of 60 cm, with 25 cm more typical.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Prionurus
- Scientific name: Prionurus laticlavius
Habitat
Found in the Eastern Central Pacific along the coasts of Central and South America from Costa Rica to Colombia, including Cocos, Malpelo, Revillagigedo and the Galapagos Islands. It lives in small groups on shallow reefs at depths of about 3-30 m. FishBase records a broad temperature range of roughly 15.9-28.9 °C, reflecting its subtropical range.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- dKH: 8-12
- Adult size: 50-60 cm
- Lifespan: 10-25 years
Diet
Herbivorous; in the wild it feeds in schools on algae attached to rocks and corals. In captivity it requires copious algal grazing supplemented with marine seaweed and herbivore preparations to meet its high intake.
Reef compatibility
Grazes algae and generally ignores corals, but its large adult size and high bioload demand a very large system. Maintain specific gravity 1.024-1.026 and dKH 8-12. Strong flow and high oxygenation suit this active swimmer.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive, especially toward other tangs of similar shape. Given its adult length it needs ample swimming space and is best kept with wrasses, clownfish, angelfish and sturdy triggerfish in spacious tanks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010).
Razorback Tang (Prionurus laticlavius) Breeding Guide
Overview
The razorback tang, Prionurus laticlavius, is a sawtail surgeonfish endemic to the eastern Pacific. The genus Prionurus is named for the three to seven bony, sharp-keeled plates on each side of the caudal peduncle, which are immobile unlike the single mobile spine of most surgeonfishes. As an acanthurid it is a large pelagic free-spawner, so it is not reproduced in home aquaria.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Surgeonfishes spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column, frequently forming aggregations on the reef and timing spawning to lunar and tidal cycles. Such open-water spawning cannot be staged in an aquarium.
Egg & Fry Care
Fertilised eggs are pelagic and develop into the transparent acronurus larva characteristic of surgeonfishes, which drifts in the plankton before settling nearshore and metamorphosing. The fragility and micro-prey demands of this larva place rearing beyond home capability.
Common Challenges
No documented home breeding of this sawtail tang exists. The pelagic spawning mode, the long-lived planktonic acronurus and the adult's large size confine any reproduction attempt to research-scale marine aquaculture.