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View Full Version : acanthurus bahianus or chirurgus?


menace
12/02/2004, 03:30 PM
Last week I was at my lfs and purchased a doctorfish?. He is about
1 inch maybe 1.25 inch. I was told he came in as a bahianus/doctorfish. While searching around I have found that bahianus has common name of ocean surgeon and chirurgus has common name of doctorfish. Im not sure which one it is. I can get a pic later tonight when I get home. Both are similar looking. I think it looks more like chirurgus, but being small I dont know that the colors are fully developed. He is mostly lighter and darker grey, has black mark near tail and tail is white. He does have fine dark lines on the sides. Top and bottom fins have blue edging.

Currently he is in my 20 long with a mandarin and pj cardinal along with various corals. I know this is not the tank for this fish. I plan on getting a bigger tank in the begining of january. I was planning on a 90gal, but now Im not sure if the 90 will be good either.? I've read they can get 12-14 inch. lfs told me he would probably be good in the 20 for about a year?

AquaticFins
12/02/2004, 11:27 PM
A. chirurgus should have around ten vertical bars on the body.

A. bahianus has fine horizontal striping.

Both fish get very large - over a foot in length - and grow rapidly, like all surgeons. They might do okay in a 20 for a few weeks, at best. Neither of these fish belong in a home aquarium. A ninety isn't really going to help you much...it'll just turn a few weeks into a few months.

Jeffie
12/03/2004, 01:32 PM
I agree with AquaticFins. They get very big, very fast.

menace
12/06/2004, 05:45 PM
Thanks for the info. Looks like A. Chirurgus to me.

I have a pic in my gallery of this fish.

AquaticFins
12/06/2004, 05:51 PM
Yup, he is indeed A chirurgus. :)