![fish cplot size surgeonfish fish cplot size surgeonfish](https://www.buildyouraquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Acanthurus-achilles.jpg)
If a fish is persistent, this can actually lead to reduced heath of the clam, or even death. The problem is that the clam will usually jerk in its mantle and pull the shell closed in reaction to being slurped on, which can wear out and stress it severely if it does it over and over. They don’t actually bite the clam, but they can kill it nonetheless. Apparently, an occasional surgeon will become fond of slurping mucous from the fleshy, extended mantle tissue of a giant clam. Still, there are a couple of things to bring up.įirst, while working on my book about giant clams, I came across a few stories concerning surgeons and tridacnids. After running an aquarium maintenance business for 5 years and being in the hobby for almost twenty, I can recall only a single one of these fishes becoming a problem for corals/reef aquarium critters (see the specifics for clown tangs below). Surgeons are also about as invertebrate-safe as a family of fishes can be. Many of them really do remind me of little aquatic dogs with their attitudes and antics. To tell the truth, if I’ve ever seen a fish look genuinely happy to see me, it would have to be a surgeon. Like dogs that become obviously excited to see their human come home, various surgeons are often the first fishes to dart to the front pane of glass and dance around when you enter the room, even when many other fishes seem oblivious to your presence. However, many surgeons stand apart from other fishes because of their personalities, which is one of the things I’ve always liked most about them. The pictures make that easy to see, of course, but being pretty is nothing particularly special when it comes to marine fishes.
![fish cplot size surgeonfish fish cplot size surgeonfish](https://wxqurc.majlen.pl/templates/f16dc396e088c7c707eabe9d7479e7a2/img/ce0eec3d60708e7db292151db1d01ac7.jpg)
Surgeonfishes are a good-looking bunch for the most part, with only a few species that aren’t nicely colored or at least covered with some sort of neat patterning. I’ll fill you in on the group as a whole, and then give a bit of specific info about each of the species you’re most likely to see offered for sale to help make things easier if you’re thinking about getting one. Thus, it’s important to know a little about any particular species of surgeonfish before making a decision to take one home. However, when it comes to hardiness they’re oftentimes sub-par, some can be quite aggressive, and some get too big for any but the largest home aquariums.
![fish cplot size surgeonfish fish cplot size surgeonfish](https://petkeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Powder-Blue-Tang-768x514.jpg)
Commonly known as tangs, many are very attractive, have unique personalities, and will also help keep your tank clean. Some of the most popular fishes in the marine aquarium hobby are the surgeonfishes, all of which are in the Family Acanthuridae. It’s big enough to get away with keeping a mix of just about everything, and the most impressive indoor reef I’ve ever seen. If you want to see a whole lot of surgeonfishes in one tank stop by Atlantis Aquarium on Long Island and see Joe Yaiullo’s gigantic reef.