Chronixis Surgeonfish

About

The Chronixis Surgeonfish (Acanthurus chronixis) is one of the more obscure members of the surgeonfish family, with a natural range so narrow it may be found nowhere else but Kapingamarangi Atoll in the Caroline Islands. That extreme rarity means it rarely turns up in the hobby, and many reported sightings elsewhere have turned out to be juvenile Acanthurus pyroferus, which apparently mimics this species closely enough to fool even experienced eyes. In the wild, adults patrol shallow coral and sand habitats in clear-water channels, grazing on filamentous algae in the shallows. Like other surgeonfishes, this species is diurnal, spending daylight hours actively foraging and retreating into reef crevices to rest after dark. In an aquarium it tends to be peaceful toward tankmates and adapts reasonably well to prepared foods, which makes it a manageable fish for someone with a suitably large system and prior experience keeping tangs. It will spend most of its waking hours cruising rockwork and grazing surfaces clean. That said, the sharp spine at the base of the tail is no decoration. It can inflict a real cut during handling or if the fish feels cornered, so take care whenever you need to net or move it.