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Introduction

The Acanthurus guttatus, also sold as the Mustard Tang, is a marine surgeonfish from the family Acanthuridae. It is recognized by its body marked with dark bands and white spots and occurs on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific, especially in areas exposed to moving water. This active grazer spends much of the day searching for algae on rocks. Its availability remains moderate in the aquarium trade. Specimens offered for sale may be collected from the wild, so they require careful acclimation and a mature, spacious marine aquarium.

General species description

The Acanthurus guttatus is a reef-dwelling surgeonfish belonging to the family Acanthuridae. It mainly inhabits reef flats, reef slopes and areas with strong water movement. Its activity is primarily diurnal: it constantly moves between rocks and corals while grazing on attached algae. Like other surgeonfish, it has a caudal scalpel that can inflict a painful wound, so a rigid container is safer than a net when handling it. This is an active species that needs plenty of swimming space and is better suited to a mature reef aquarium than to a newly established setup.

Geographical origin and biotope

The Acanthurus guttatus is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa to French Polynesia, extending north to southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef. It inhabits shallow coral reefs, reef flats and wave-exposed areas where the water remains highly oxygenated. The bottom is generally made up of rock, dead coral and short algal growth. Its surrounding vegetation is marine rather than riparian, consisting of filamentous algae, algal mats and coral communities. Reference countries and territories include Australia, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, French Polynesia and several regions of the Indian Ocean.

Precise location and local name

Within its range, the Acanthurus guttatus is found on exposed reef flats, lagoon edges and shallow outer reef slopes. It is not associated with freshwater rivers, but with reefs and islands throughout the Indo-Pacific. The English trade name Mustard Tang refers to its yellowish coloration, while White-spotted surgeonfish describes its pale spots. In the aquarium hobby, it may also be called a white-spotted surgeonfish or mustard tang. Common names can vary between countries, wholesalers and import catalogues.

Appearance and physical characteristics

The body of the Acanthurus guttatus is laterally compressed and oval-shaped, as is typical of surgeonfish. Its coloration combines grayish to olive-brown tones with vertical black bands and numerous white or pale blue spots, especially visible along the flanks and rear portion of the body. The dorsal and anal fins may show yellow to orange shades. Its small mouth is adapted for grazing hard surfaces. The caudal peduncle bears the characteristic defensive scalpel of the genus Acanthurus. The reported maximum size is approximately 26 cm total length, although specimens available in the trade are often smaller.

General diet

The Acanthurus guttatus is primarily herbivorous and feeds on algae attached to rocks and reef surfaces. In an aquarium, its diet should include a daily supply of marine algae, nori sheets and suitable vegetable-based foods for marine fish. Pellets or frozen foods may supplement the diet, but should not replace the vegetable component. Frequent feeding supports its high metabolism and helps prevent weight loss, a common issue in newly imported surgeonfish. A well-established aquarium with abundant biofilm and natural algal growth also encourages grazing behavior and supports acclimation.

Essential data

• Name of the river of origin: marine reef habitat, with no river of origin
• Local name used: Mustard Tang; White-spotted surgeonfish
• Origin of the scientific name: genus Acanthurus and species epithet guttatus
• Etymology of the complete name: Acanthurus comes from the Greek akantha, thorn, and oura, tail; guttatus means spotted
• Common/vernacular names: Mustard Tang; White-spotted surgeonfish
• Family: Acanthuridae
• Subfamily: Acanthurinae
• Name pronunciation: a-kan-THU-rus - gut-TAH-tus
• Discovery: Johann Reinhold Forster, 1801
• Maximum adult size: approximately 26 cm
• Water temperature and pH: 24 to 28 °C; marine pH around 8.1 to 8.4
• Appearance of the watercourse and surrounding vegetation: coral reefs, rocky reef flats, dead coral and marine algal mats
• Typical tankmates: Acanthurus triostegus, Acanthurus japonicus, Labroides dimidiatus, Chromis xanthura
• Temperament and behavior: active, territorial toward similarly shaped surgeonfish, generally peaceful with other reef inhabitants
• Water depth: mainly from 1 to 50 m
• Sexual dimorphism: difficult to identify visually; external differences between the sexes are subtle
• Bottom configuration and flow: rocky and coral substrate, with moderate to strong current and highly oxygenated water

In your aquarium

To successfully keep the Acanthurus guttatus, provide a spacious marine aquarium with a long swimming area, stable live rock and efficient filtration. Warm, alkaline and highly oxygenated water is essential. Because this species is often collected from the wild, acclimation, body condition and willingness to feed should be monitored closely. Offer algae every day and avoid keeping it with overly similar surgeonfish in a limited volume. A peaceful community, mature aquascape and consistent water quality are the keys to long-term success.