Monrovia Doctorfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Eastern Atlantic Ocean, primarily along the coast of West Africa, from Morocco to Angola, and occasionally in the Mediterranean Sea. Inhabits rocky reef areas.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Acanthuridae family, genus Acanthurus. Reaches 45 cm (18 inches). Oval and laterally compressed body, dark coloration, marked by a bright yellow-orange patch at the tail base.

Social Behavior: Large diurnal, active swimmer. Constantly scrapes rocks to consume algae and organic detritus. Actively defends its feeding territory.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dark purple-brown or slate gray body with a bright yellow-orange patch surrounding the erectile caudal spine. No obvious sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a giant marine aquarium of at least 1300 liters. Leave ample open space for swimming. Include live rock to support daily grazing activities.

Diet and Feeding: Primarily herbivorous. Requires constant amounts of nori sheets, spirulina-enriched veggie pellets, and blanched vegetables. Accepts frozen meaty foods.

Water Quality: Stable temperature between 22°C and 27°C, pH between 8.0 and 8.5, salinity 1.020-1.025, KH 8-12, GH 15-25. Heavy biological filtration is needed to handle organic load.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Semi-aggressive. Strong territorial behavior toward other surgeonfish, especially Acanthurus species. Best kept as a single specimen.

Aquarium Reproduction: Not reproduced in captivity due to space limitations. In the wild, they release pelagic eggs that drift in the water column.

Risks and Diseases: Highly susceptible to Cryptocaryon irritans (ich) if stressed or kept in small tanks. Pay close attention to its sharp tail spine during handling.