Spotted unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
Also known as Palefin Unicornfish, Shortnose Unicornfish, Brown Unicornfish, Spotted Unicorn Tang
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 21.7 in
- 55 cm
- Minimum tank
- 343 gal
- 1,300 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 French Polynesia, feeding in mid-water over outer reef slopes.
Overview
The spotted unicornfish is a very large, mostly peaceful tang that swims in mid-water. It is a fish for experienced keepers with very big reef systems.
Caring for the spotted unicornfish
Keep the spotted unicornfish only in a show-sized system of at least 343 gal (1,300 L), with plenty of open room. It is a large, active swimmer that spends its time in mid-water. Give it steady flow and water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Feed a mix of nori and macroalgae plus meaty foods such as mysis, to match its planktivorous adult diet. It can turn sensitive if its space or diet is not right.
Keep one spotted unicornfish per tank. It is mostly peaceful, safe with community fish, and ignores corals and invertebrates.
Good to know
The spotted unicornfish is a Naso tang in the surgeonfish family Acanthuridae, also sold as the palefin, shortnose or brown unicornfish. Adults grow a forward-pointing horn on the forehead as they mature. It can change body color quickly, shifting between brown, gray and blue with its mood, a common trait among Naso species.
In the wild
The spotted unicornfish ranges across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia. Adults hang in mid-water above the outer reef slope, unlike the bottom-grazing habits of many tangs.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted 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)
Skilletfish
Gobiesox strumosus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (76 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted unicornfish need?
A spotted unicornfish needs at least 343 gal (1,300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a spotted unicornfish need?
A spotted unicornfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a spotted unicornfish eat?
A spotted unicornfish eats a mix of nori and macroalgae along with meaty foods such as mysis. The meaty part matches its planktivorous adult diet.
How big does a spotted unicornfish get?
An adult spotted unicornfish reaches about 21.7 in (55 cm).
Related species
23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Bluespine unicornfish
Naso unicornis
23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
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)
17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blonde naso tang
Naso elegans
17.7 in (45 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
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
15.7 in (40 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Atlantic blue tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)