Mimic Surgeonfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Tropical Indo-Pacific. Inhabits mixed coral reefs and clear reef slopes down to depths of 60 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Acanthuridae. Reaches about 25 cm. Laterally compressed oval body with a sharp bony spine at the caudal base.

Social Behavior: Active and semi-aggressive swimmer. Juveniles mimic the appearance of dwarf angelfish Centropyge (e.g. Centropyge vrolikii or Centropyge heraldi) to escape predation.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Remarkable color variation. Juveniles mimic Centropyge (yellow or gray/orange). Adults are dark chocolate brown with a black band above the gill and a blue tail. No sexual dimorphism.

Aquarium Setup: Needs a spacious aquarium of at least 470 liters (125 gallons) with strong water movement and ample open areas for fast swimming.

Diet and Feeding: Herbivore. In the aquarium, it must be fed abundantly with nori seaweed, spirulina, veggie pellets, and plant-based frozen foods.

Water Quality: Temperature 22-28°C (72-82°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025. Demands powerful skimming to keep oxygen levels high.

Compatibility and Tankmates: 100% reef-safe. Does not damage corals but can compete aggressively for food with other similarly shaped surgeonfish.

Aquarium Reproduction: Reproduction in the hobby is not successfully documented due to the complex pelagic larval phase.

Risks and Diseases: Equipped with a sharp, retractable caudal spine on the sides of the tail base. Exercise caution during handling. Highly sensitive to skin diseases.