Orange-spine Unicornfish

Naso lituratus

FishMarine

The body is elongated and compressed, gray-blue with yellow highlights. A frontal horn is present in adults. The caudal spines are bright orange. The caudal fin is crescent-shaped. Juveniles lack the horn. It is a powerful and active swimmer. In the aquarium, it can become territorial and requires a lot of space. It feeds on algae and plankton.

Recommended parameters

ParameterRecommended range
Temperature24–28
pH8.1–8.4
GH8–12
KH8–12
NO₃≤ 20
PO₄≤ 0.1

Care

Difficulty3/5
Dietherbivore
Min. tank600 L
Min. group1
Adult size45 cm
Lifespan10 ans
TemperamentSemi-aggressive

Care notes

Temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025. A minimum 600-liter aquarium is essential. Herbivorous diet with algae, nori, spirulina, and plankton supplements. Be careful with other surgeonfish: it can be aggressive. Provide a large swimming area and rocks for hiding. Strong filtration and high flow are necessary. Nitrates <20 mg/L, phosphates <0.1 mg/L.