Coral Reef
Tang / Surgeonfish
More details
Orange Spine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
Pro
Pro
Description
A striking reef grazer with vivid orange highlights and stream-lined horns in mature males. Revered for its elegance and utility in controlling algae, this fish brings motion and energy to large reef tanks.
Difficulty Level
Intermediate Care
Region
Orange Spine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Needs space to swim, high oxygenation, and a varied herbivorous diet. Sensitive to poor water conditions.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Wild-caught for export from Indo-Pacific reefs. Moderate sustainability when responsibly sourced.
Origin
Native to the Indo-Pacific, especially coral-rich regions of Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef, and Micronesia.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Sleek body with a deep gray base color, bold yellow facial markings, and vibrant orange spines at the base of the tail. Mature males develop a prominent horn-like protuberance. Constant, graceful swimming behavior adds dynamic movement to aquascapes.
Purpose
Functions as an effective grazer for macroalgae and film algae. Adds bold visual interest and natural reef-like behavior.
Importance
Highly active and peaceful, especially in large tanks. Brings utility and visual energy without disrupting coral or inverts.
Included Resources
Requires high flow, open swimming areas, and stable reef-grade parameters. Benefits from live rock with algae and structured aquascape for pacing.
Best Use Cases
Large reef tanks (180+ gallons), peaceful mixed reefs, and Indo-Pacific biotope layouts. Useful in algae-heavy setups or systems needing visual depth.
Conservation Context
Often wild-caught. Hawaiian populations were subject to collection bans, leading to improved reef resilience. Choose suppliers practicing ethical harvest.
Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Wrasses (fairy, flasher)
• Reef-safe angelfish
• Anthias, chromis, and cardinals
• Cleaner shrimp, snails, and tang-safe inverts
Region (A)
• Latitude: 19.8968° N
• Longitude: -155.5828° W
(Hawaiian Islands reef slope zones)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -9.4438° S
• Longitude: 147.1803° E
(Papua New Guinea outer reef crests)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Orange Spine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Needs space to swim, high oxygenation, and a varied herbivorous diet. Sensitive to poor water conditions.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Wild-caught for export from Indo-Pacific reefs. Moderate sustainability when responsibly sourced.
Origin
Native to the Indo-Pacific, especially coral-rich regions of Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef, and Micronesia.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Sleek body with a deep gray base color, bold yellow facial markings, and vibrant orange spines at the base of the tail. Mature males develop a prominent horn-like protuberance. Constant, graceful swimming behavior adds dynamic movement to aquascapes.
Purpose
Functions as an effective grazer for macroalgae and film algae. Adds bold visual interest and natural reef-like behavior.
Importance
Highly active and peaceful, especially in large tanks. Brings utility and visual energy without disrupting coral or inverts.
Included Resources
Requires high flow, open swimming areas, and stable reef-grade parameters. Benefits from live rock with algae and structured aquascape for pacing.
Best Use Cases
Large reef tanks (180+ gallons), peaceful mixed reefs, and Indo-Pacific biotope layouts. Useful in algae-heavy setups or systems needing visual depth.
Conservation Context
Often wild-caught. Hawaiian populations were subject to collection bans, leading to improved reef resilience. Choose suppliers practicing ethical harvest.
Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Wrasses (fairy, flasher)
• Reef-safe angelfish
• Anthias, chromis, and cardinals
• Cleaner shrimp, snails, and tang-safe inverts
Region (A)
• Latitude: 19.8968° N
• Longitude: -155.5828° W
(Hawaiian Islands reef slope zones)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -9.4438° S
• Longitude: 147.1803° E
(Papua New Guinea outer reef crests)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Orange Spine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Needs space to swim, high oxygenation, and a varied herbivorous diet. Sensitive to poor water conditions.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Wild-caught for export from Indo-Pacific reefs. Moderate sustainability when responsibly sourced.
Origin
Native to the Indo-Pacific, especially coral-rich regions of Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef, and Micronesia.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Sleek body with a deep gray base color, bold yellow facial markings, and vibrant orange spines at the base of the tail. Mature males develop a prominent horn-like protuberance. Constant, graceful swimming behavior adds dynamic movement to aquascapes.
Purpose
Functions as an effective grazer for macroalgae and film algae. Adds bold visual interest and natural reef-like behavior.
Importance
Highly active and peaceful, especially in large tanks. Brings utility and visual energy without disrupting coral or inverts.
Included Resources
Requires high flow, open swimming areas, and stable reef-grade parameters. Benefits from live rock with algae and structured aquascape for pacing.
Best Use Cases
Large reef tanks (180+ gallons), peaceful mixed reefs, and Indo-Pacific biotope layouts. Useful in algae-heavy setups or systems needing visual depth.
Conservation Context
Often wild-caught. Hawaiian populations were subject to collection bans, leading to improved reef resilience. Choose suppliers practicing ethical harvest.
Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Wrasses (fairy, flasher)
• Reef-safe angelfish
• Anthias, chromis, and cardinals
• Cleaner shrimp, snails, and tang-safe inverts
Region (A)
• Latitude: 19.8968° N
• Longitude: -155.5828° W
(Hawaiian Islands reef slope zones)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -9.4438° S
• Longitude: 147.1803° E
(Papua New Guinea outer reef crests)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Orange Spine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
Region
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