Bluespine Unicornfish

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and southern Japan. Prefers deep lagoon and seaward reefs.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Acanthuridae. Features an elongated, compressed body. Reaches a maximum standard length of 70 cm. Revelops a bony horn on the forehead as it matures.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and highly active swimmer. Inhabits open water zones above coral reefs. Requires strong water current to maintain proper oxygen levels.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Uniform grey-olive to brownish coloration. Decorated with two sharp, bright blue spines on each side of the tail base. Tail fin ends in long filaments.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a massive aquarium of at least 1500 liters with extensive open swimming areas and a secure lid to prevent jumping.

Diet and Feeding: Herbivorous. Feeds mainly on brown macroalgae. Provide high-quality dried seaweed (Nori), vegetable-based flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like mysis.

Water Quality: Maintain stable marine parameters: temperature 24-28 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025, and high oxygenation via powerful pumps.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Generally peaceful toward community reef fish. May show territorial aggression toward other large surgeonfishes of similar shape.

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding in captivity has not been achieved. In nature, they spawn in groups, releasing pelagic eggs into ocean currents.

Risks and Diseases: Highly susceptible to skin parasites such as Marine Ich and velvet if stressed. Keeping water quality pristine is crucial for its longevity.