Sleek unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus)

Scientific name: Naso hexacanthus Bleeker, 1855

The Sleek unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 25–28°C (77–82°F).

Sleek unicornfish care at a glance

Temperature: 25–28°C (77–82°F)

Biology

Inhabits clear lagoon and seaward reef slopes. Benthopelagic. Forms shoals. Mainly diurnal, it feeds on zooplankton such as crab larvae, arrow worms, pelagic tunicates, and occasionally filamentous red algae. The species is never poisonous.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Naso hexacanthus
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 75.0
Common length: 50.0
Depth range: 6–150 m (20–492 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 150 m, usually 10 - 137 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7; K=0.221; Tmax=44;)