Dr. John Ernest (Jack) Randall (†), Hawaii
Info
The Lopez’s Unicornfish seems to be rather common in the marine ornamental fish trade. However, most of the specimen found at local fish stores or in marine online shops are indeed specimen of the Bignose Unicornfish - Naso Vlamingii.
Due their close resemblance as juveniles it is rather difficult to tell them apart.
As adults Lopez’s or Elongate Unicornfish have a noticeably more slender body shape than most of the other Naso species. Moreover, though it is a “Unicornfish” neither the female nor the male will grow a horn. It reaches a size of 23, 6 inches (60 cm). Being an active and energetic swimmer it requires a really large tank with lots of room to swim.
As all the other members of the Acanthuridae family unicornfish are continuous feeders and primarily herbivores. A proper diet especially for juvenile Lopez’s unicornfish should consist mainly of different sorts of macro algae, prepared frozen fare containing algae or spirulina, freeze dried plankton which should be supplemented by vitamins occasionally. They also greatly appreciate live rocks with micro and macro organisms.
Synonym: Naso lopezii Herre, 1927
The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
Due their close resemblance as juveniles it is rather difficult to tell them apart.
As adults Lopez’s or Elongate Unicornfish have a noticeably more slender body shape than most of the other Naso species. Moreover, though it is a “Unicornfish” neither the female nor the male will grow a horn. It reaches a size of 23, 6 inches (60 cm). Being an active and energetic swimmer it requires a really large tank with lots of room to swim.
As all the other members of the Acanthuridae family unicornfish are continuous feeders and primarily herbivores. A proper diet especially for juvenile Lopez’s unicornfish should consist mainly of different sorts of macro algae, prepared frozen fare containing algae or spirulina, freeze dried plankton which should be supplemented by vitamins occasionally. They also greatly appreciate live rocks with micro and macro organisms.
Synonym: Naso lopezii Herre, 1927
The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
