Scietific Name:
Acanthurus achilles x Acanthurus nigricans.
Other Common Names:
None known.
Distribution:
Restricted to Hawaiian waters. It is a quark of nature where an Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles) and a Goldrim Tang (Acanthurus nigricans) have merged together during conception. It is one of the few reef fishes in Hawaiian waters known to hybridize. The Goldrim Tang is not common in Hawaiian waters and the Achilles is endemic to them. The odds of getting nature to create this fish elsewhere, much less in Hawaii, is truly remarkable!
Identification:
The head and mid-body is like that of the
Achilles Tang, the posterior half of the body is like the that of a
Goldrim Tang, and the tail is similar to an Achilles, but the orange bar is pale.
Maximum Size:
To about 12".
Characteristics & Compatiability:
In the wild, both the Achilles and Goldrim Tangs prefer the highly oxygenated waters of the surge zone on top of the reef. They also prefer a habitat with plenty of hiding places. As with other Surgeonfish, they will tolerate other Tangs, but prefer to be with their own species.
Diet & Feeding:
This Surgeonfish is a herbivore and should be fed forms of algae (seaweed), supplemented with protein sources such as Brine Shrimp or other meaty foods, twice daily.
Minimum Tank Size:
Due to the size to which this fish will reach as an adult, a 100 gallon tank is recommended.
Reef Tank Suitable:
Yes.
Guide Notes:
We give the Hybrid Goldrim-Achilles a
Four Star Fish Care Rating Level. Because of the rarity of this fish and its delicate nature, this is a fish that we would only recommend for the advanced aquarists.
