Convict surgeonfish

The convict surgeonfish is a schooling tang of the family Acanthuridae, widespread across the Indo-Pacific. It has an oval silvery-white body marked with several narrow black vertical bars, resembling a convict's stripes, and the scalpel-like spine at the tail base typical of surgeonfish. It is a peaceful, highly social fish that forms large aggregations in the wild and is best kept in groups or with other calm tankmates. It is far less aggressive than many tangs. A large reef or fish-only aquarium with open swimming room and live rock for grazing suits it. It is primarily herbivorous, feeding on filamentous algae, and should be given plenty of dried seaweed and vegetable-based foods to supplement tank algae. Providing swimming space and stable water quality is key to keeping this active grazer healthy.