Marine ich
Watch for: White spots, scratching, rapid breathing, hiding or reduced appetite.
First response: Confirm in a quarantine setting and seek a marine-safe treatment plan; do not medicate a display reef blindly.
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Ctenochaetus striatus
Striated Surgeonfish
saltwater
Bioload 0.5
Expert care
Acanthuridae
Your complete care profile
Striated Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) is a saltwater fish associated with Indo-Pacific, with a recorded adult length of up to 26 cm. This source-backed catalogue profile brings its essential aquarium planning information together on one page.
Temperature
24–28°C
pH range
8.1–8.4
Minimum tank
400 litres
Typical lifespan
36 years
Diet
Herbivore
Origin
Indo-Pacific
Adult size
Up to 26 cm
Care level
Expert
Care level recorded in the source-backed catalogue profile.
Aquarium context
saltwater system
Present in the aquarium trade
Planning to add Striated Surgeonfish?
Check it against your aquarium before purchase, then use the complete preparation checklist below.
Check compatibilitySpecies identity
Know the fish
Common name
Striated Surgeonfish
Scientific name
Ctenochaetus striatus
Family
Acanthuridae
Family group
Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes
Water type
saltwater
Native range
Indo-Pacific
Social planning
Individual assessment
Conservation
Least concern (LC)
Aquarium setup
Build the right system
A mature marine aquarium with stable salinity, strong gas exchange and no detectable ammonia or nitrite. Measure salinity rather than estimating it.
Use 400 litres as the minimum planning baseline before allowing extra space for a group, tank mates, decor and swimming behaviour.
Hold temperature at 24–28°C and pH at 8.1–8.4; stability matters more than chasing a single number.
Design the aquarium around the recorded adult length of 26 cm, not the juvenile size seen at purchase.
Provide retreat areas and visual breaks while preserving enough unobstructed space for normal movement and feeding.
Filtration & waste
Moderate waste load (0.5 index): allow spare biological capacity and service mechanical media before flow is restricted.
Feeding
Herbivore diet
Base the diet on species-appropriate algae and plant-rich foods, with variety for micronutrients. Do not assume natural tank algae is a complete diet.
Observe
Confirm every fish reaches food and swallows it.
Control
Stop before leftovers can decay in the aquarium.
Review
Track body condition, waste and feeding response over time.
Behaviour & tank mates
Community planning
Treat temperament as an individual assessment. Observe feeding and territorial behaviour, and keep a safe separation plan available.
No simple community match is approved in this profile. Plan species-only housing or obtain a specialist compatibility assessment before adding tank mates.
No pre-approved tank mate is listed. That is a safety signal, not a claim that every pairing will fail.
Health watch
Recognise warning signs early
These are risks to monitor, not diagnoses. Test the aquarium first and seek an aquatic vet or experienced specialist for severe, fast-moving or uncertain symptoms.
Environmental stress
Watch for: Hiding, faded colour, clamped fins, glass surfing, rapid breathing or appetite loss.
First response: Test water, review temperature and tank mates, reduce disturbance and correct problems gradually.
Handling injury
Watch for: Missing scales, abrasions, bent fins, poor balance or rapid breathing after capture or transfer.
First response: Dim the lights, minimise further handling and provide clean, highly oxygenated, stable water.
Before bringing one home
Five-point readiness check
The established aquarium is at least 400 litres and matches the required saltwater system.
Temperature and pH overlap the full 24–28°C and 8.1–8.4 ranges.
A suitable herbivore food is available and the seller can demonstrate that the fish is feeding.
Ammonia and nitrite test at zero, acclimation is planned and a quarantine or observation option is ready.
Every proposed tank mate has been screened for adult size, behaviour, feeding competition and water compatibility.
Data & source notes
Transparent, in-app data
IUCN LC
Catalogue source
FishBase · release 26.07
Species record
FishBase SpecCode 1262
Aquarium context
Present in the aquarium trade
Temperature basis
FishBase stock temperature range
pH basis
FishSnap marine planning baseline
Tank basis
FishSnap conservative planning baseline derived from adult size, water type, social ecology and family
Lifespan basis
FishBase wild longevity record
Photo credit
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
FishBase remains an editorial reference, but the useful species and care information is interpreted here so you do not have to leave FishSnap. Conservative planning baselines are labelled as guidance, not guarantees.