Information You Didn't Know About Orange Band Surgeonfish

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Information You Didn't Know About Orange Band Surgeonfish

Orange Shoulder Tang (Orange band Surgeonfish)

Orange Shoulder Tang (Orange band Surgeonfish)

The distinctive bright orange shoulder-tang fish is a neglected fish. It is an extremely beautiful fish that is ideal for an aquarium. It could be a perfect fish to put in a large coral reef aquarium. It dramatically alters its appearance as it develops (in an excellent way).

A juvenile orange shoulder tang can be considered to be one of the surgeonfish that is a more friendly species and generally displays less aggression towards other fish. If you plan to house more than one of them in one aquarium, you must acquire juveniles and then introduce them all simultaneously.

Breed Overview


  • Common names: Orangeshoulder surgeonfish, orange band, or the orange-epaulet surgeonfish
  • SCIENTIFIC NAME: Canthurus olivaceus
  • ADULT SIZE Size: Up to 14 inches
  • LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 - 7 years

Origin and Distribution

The range for this species is extensive from Hawaii southwards up to Central Polynesia and westward across Micronesia, Melanesia, the Philippines along with Micronesia, Melanesia, and the Philippines. It is also found in East Indies.

As they mature in size, the orange shoulder tang will eventually migrate to the highly oxygenated waters close to the areas of the reef's surge and will remain there throughout its existence unless it is forced through forces like an extreme storm that renders the reef's waters inaccessible.

Markings and colors

At first glance, it appears that the colors of the shoulder tang may not seem very attractive, but after a close examination of the fish, you will notice the two-tone brownish-olive coloration, which is accentuated by the vibrant orange bars that are located on its shoulder.

Because of its potential larger size, The shoulder tang in orange is often seen in larger public aquariums, as opposed to smaller aquariums for the hobby. The body of the fish in its juvenile phase is bright yellow with a tiny glimpse of blue in the dorsal and the anal fins. Young fish lack spots of orange or even slash that is visible on the shoulder that develops when it matures.

Its "sword" (also known as "scalpel" located at the bottom on the back of a shouldered tang in orange is not as huge or as dangerous as it is in other surgeonfish like the naso tang (Naso lituratus) or the Achilles tang (Acanthurus Achilles) but they are strong sufficient and sharp enough cause severe wounds and cause serious injury, so be careful when dealing with this fish. While the scalpel is able to cause severe cuts however the most significant risk is a bacterial infection that results which could be severe.

Tankmates

In the event that the aquarium is big enough, a young and an adult can be kept in the same tank. It's generally accepted with tank mates that are not aggressive However, if the intention is for keeping this fish alongside others, it's suggested to introduce this fish first or, if they are it is identical species add them in the same aquarium in the same aquarium.

The maximum size for a shouldered tang can be about 14 inches.

Habitat and Care

Due to its size and continual wandering nature, the recommended aquarium size recommended for this species should be at least 135gallons and lots of open swimming space.

It is a reef-safe species, provided it is fed. An orange shoulder tang that is hungry can nip on corals, but it will generally not cause harm to invertebrates. The shoulder tang of orange will require some suitable hiding places so that they can claim it as their own in case they get scared or scared. 

A good supply of living rocks in the tank can not only aid to keep good water parameters, but it will also create an environment that is more natural for the shoulder tang that is orange as they love to eat algae that grow on your live rock.

Diet

As an omnivore, the fish eats the filamentous algae diatoms and also detritus that is deposited on sandy bottom substrates when it is in its natural habitat. It should be kept in an aquarium that has an open bottom and plenty of algae growth to graze.

In aquariums, the fish is best provided with a variety of food items, which includes marine algae (dried seaweed) and also tasty food items. 

The hanging of dried Nori seaweed in a vegetable clip on the tank is a great method of feeding this fish. This Orange Shoulder will take mysis shrimp, which are an ideal source of protein and is suitable for this and other fish. Feed small quantities three times a day. Also, you can feed broccoli, cucumber, and lettuce and accept frozen meaty foods.

Sexual Disparities

For shoulder tangs in orange, The sexes are still separate that is there isn't any gender switch in this species. This species does not appear to have distinct distinguishing characteristics among males and females. Males tend to have more vibrant colors for courtship during mating.

Breeding

So far the shoulder tang of orange is not yet successfully breeding in the wild.

Wild, the species, as well as other surgeonfish is a "free one-time spawner" or otherwise, it is an egg scatterer, with females ejecting their eggs close to on the top of the ocean and the male fertilizing eggs as they migrate to the surface.

 Once fertilized eggs have reached the surface, they are swept away by the current of the ocean in the plankton layer in the ocean. The eggs develop and the fry hatch but are floating in the current. The fry feeds off algae, larvae, and other microorganisms within the plankton layer. If the plankton and fry are near enough to land the fry sink towards the depths. Usually, they are in calmer waters, away from the surge zones along the reef, and in harbors and bays.

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