Torsten Schmidt, Deutschland
Info
Acanthurus sohal (Forsskål, 1775)
The Arabian surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal), also known as the Sohal surgeonfish, is a species of the surgeonfish family (Acanthuridae). It is mainly found at the surface of the water and is only very rarely observed at depths of less than 10 meters.
The fish has a very pronounced need to swim. It should therefore be kept in a very large tank where it can really swim a lot. Keeping them in pairs is out of the question here. It is also not a calm fish, but is constantly and restlessly on the move.
Not so easy to acclimatize, also very aggressive towards other Doctors.
Two doctors of this species in one tank must be avoided, otherwise they will fight each other.
Needs a lot of swimming space, and even there it is always aggressive towards other fish once it has reached a certain size.
Feeding is often not a problem.
The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
Synonyms:
Acanthurus carinatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Aspisurus sohar (Forsskål, 1775)
Chaetodon sohal Forsskål, 1775
Chaetodon sohar (Forsskål, 1775)
Choetodon sohab (Forsskål, 1775)
Ctenodon ruppelii Swainson, 1839
The Arabian surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal), also known as the Sohal surgeonfish, is a species of the surgeonfish family (Acanthuridae). It is mainly found at the surface of the water and is only very rarely observed at depths of less than 10 meters.
The fish has a very pronounced need to swim. It should therefore be kept in a very large tank where it can really swim a lot. Keeping them in pairs is out of the question here. It is also not a calm fish, but is constantly and restlessly on the move.
Not so easy to acclimatize, also very aggressive towards other Doctors.
Two doctors of this species in one tank must be avoided, otherwise they will fight each other.
Needs a lot of swimming space, and even there it is always aggressive towards other fish once it has reached a certain size.
Feeding is often not a problem.
The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
Synonyms:
Acanthurus carinatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Aspisurus sohar (Forsskål, 1775)
Chaetodon sohal Forsskål, 1775
Chaetodon sohar (Forsskål, 1775)
Choetodon sohab (Forsskål, 1775)
Ctenodon ruppelii Swainson, 1839
