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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Run compatibility check
Acanthurus nigricans
Whitecheek Surgeonfish
saltwater
Bioload 0.6
Expert care
Acanthuridae
Your complete care profile
Whitecheek Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) is a saltwater fish associated with Global aquarium trade, with a recorded adult length of up to 36 cm. This source-backed catalogue profile brings its essential aquarium planning information together on one page.
Temperature
21–29°C
pH range
8.1–8.4
Minimum tank
600 litres
Typical lifespan
34 years
Diet
Herbivore
Origin
Global aquarium trade
Adult size
Up to 36 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 Whitecheek Surgeonfish?
Check it against your aquarium before purchase, then use the complete preparation checklist below.
Check compatibilitySpecies identity
Know the fish
Common name
Whitecheek Surgeonfish
Scientific name
Acanthurus nigricans
Family
Acanthuridae
Family group
Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes
Water type
saltwater
Native range
Global aquarium trade
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 600 litres as the minimum planning baseline before allowing extra space for a group, tank mates, decor and swimming behaviour.
Hold temperature at 21–29°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 36 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 (0.6 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.
Before bringing one home
Five-point readiness check
The established aquarium is at least 600 litres and matches the required saltwater system.
Temperature and pH overlap the full 21–29°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 6011
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
Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0
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.