Striated surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus)

Scientific name: Ctenochaetus striatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825

The Striated surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) is a marine fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–28°C (75–82°F).

Striated surgeonfish care at a glance

Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-31; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 28. Body dark olive-brown. Orange spots on head. Pectoral fin yellowish, caudal and ventral fins brown, anterior part of caudal fin pale. Each side of caudal peduncle with sharp, forward-pointing erectile spine which folds down into a horizontal groove. Scales minute. Juveniles with 8 - 12 pale stipes inclining downward and backwards on body. Teeth movable, slender, tips incurved and expanded; upper jaw 5-6 denticulations, lower only 3-4. Gill rakers 27-36 in anterior row, 29-42 in posterior row.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Ctenochaetus striatus
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 26.0
Common length: 18.0
Depth range: 3–30 m (10–98 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m, usually 6 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: throughout the region excluding the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Easter islands. Record from Baker Island (US Minor Islands) based on a photograph. Absent from Malden and Jarvis islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.87)