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Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus)

Find Doctorfish across reef-livestock retailers on ReefDock. Compare sources, check known pricing where available, and review care information before you buy.

Doctorfish
Photo: Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 2.0
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Where to buy Doctorfish

ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.

  • Saltwaterfish

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    Search Saltwaterfish
  • Amazon

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    Search Amazon
  • Petco

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    Search Petco

About Doctorfish

The doctorfish is a small, laterally compressed tang with a predominantly gray or blue-gray body. It has a yellow or orange stripe running horizontally along the body, and a distinctive sharp, venomous spine (scalpel) on each side of the caudal peduncle. The dorsal and anal fins are edged in yellow or orange.

Key facts

Care Requirements
• Minimum 75 gallon tank with strong water circulation and plenty of open swimming space • Temperature range 72–82°F; maintain salinity 1.020–1.025 and pH 8.1–8.3 • Herbivorous diet: feed high-quality marine algae sheets, spirulina, and vegetable matter 2–3 times daily; occasional small meaty foods acceptable • Provide live rock for grazing and hiding; avoid sharp decorations that may damage the body • Generally peaceful but can become territorial with other tangs; may nip at some corals and sessile inverts
Feeding Schedule
2-3 times daily
Max Size
9
Aka
Cirujano Rayado
Diet
herbivore
Water Parameters
Temperature: 72-82°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.025
Care Level
Moderate
Family
Acanthuridae
Min tank size
75 gallons
Difficulty Level
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Temperament
Peaceful
Appearance
The doctorfish is a small, laterally compressed tang with a predominantly gray or blue-gray body. It has a yellow or orange stripe running horizontally along the body, and a distinctive sharp, venomous spine (scalpel) on each side of the caudal peduncle. The dorsal and anal fins are edged in yellow or orange.

Research before you buy

ReefDock is the sister app to Reef Trak. Use Reef Trak to research and log fish, keep tank parameters organized, and maintain a complete livestock history. Log this fish on Reef Trak.

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