Bluespine unicornfish
Naso unicornis
Also known as Bluespine Unicorn Tang, Bluespine Surgeonfish, Blue-spined Unicornfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 23.6 in
- 60 cm
- Minimum tank
- 396 gal
- 1,500 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, on outer reef slopes and channels with steady current.
Overview
The bluespine unicornfish is a very large surgeonfish that keeps growing for years. It belongs in a very large custom system or a public aquarium, and it is for experienced keepers.
Did you know
The horn that gives the bluespine unicornfish its name has no known function. It grows more prominent in older adults.
Caring for the bluespine unicornfish
A bluespine unicornfish outgrows almost every home tank. Plan on at least 396 gal (1,500 L), with wide open swimming room for a strong swimmer.
Hold the temperature at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and the pH at 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a heavily plant-based diet of nori, macroalgae and spirulina, with occasional meaty foods.
Keep only one bluespine unicornfish per tank. It is mostly peaceful and safe with community tank mates. It also ignores corals and most invertebrates, so the limit is space, not reef safety.
Good to know
Naso unicornis grows a blunt horn on its forehead with age, and the horn does not regenerate if it breaks. Adults carry two fixed blue blades on each side of the tail. Unlike the folding blades of Acanthurus, these paired Naso tail spines stay fixed.
In the wild
Bluespine unicornfish range from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii. They graze leafy macroalgae on outer reef slopes and channels with steady current, often in loose groups. They cover a lot of ground while feeding.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The bluespine unicornfish is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Blue hippo tang
Paracanthurus hepatus
Saltwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Majestic angelfish
Pomacanthus navarchus
Saltwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 145 gal (550 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Striped eel catfish
Plotosus lineatus
Saltwater12.6 in (32 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sunburst anthias
Serranocirrhitus latus
Saltwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a bluespine unicornfish need?
A bluespine unicornfish needs at least 396 gal (1,500 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a bluespine unicornfish need?
A bluespine unicornfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a bluespine unicornfish eat?
A bluespine unicornfish eats a heavily plant-based diet of nori, macroalgae and spirulina. Give it occasional meaty foods as well.
How big does a bluespine unicornfish get?
An adult bluespine unicornfish reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).
Related species
23.6 in (60 cm)359 gal (1,360 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Vlamingi tang
Naso vlamingii
23.6 in (60 cm) · 359 gal (1,360 L)
21.7 in (55 cm)343 gal (1,300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Spotted unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
21.7 in (55 cm) · 343 gal (1,300 L)
17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blonde naso tang
Naso elegans
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17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Naso tang
Naso lituratus
17.7 in (45 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Red Sea sailfin tang
Zebrasoma desjardinii
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13.8 in (35 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Atlantic blue tang
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