Hello,
Not to correct every one but it doesn't seem they read the question.
andestang asked about a Dussumieri Tang (Acanthurus dussumieri), NOT
Zebrasoma desjardinii. I don't mean to be rude or offend, I just think it's important to give correct answers. otherwise time , money, and the life of a fish may be wasted. Thank you Andestang for researching first. So many people buy and only sometimes think later! Well I don't know the size of your tank or any details, so I will generalize.
The Dussumier's Tang-described 1835
10m-130m
also Pencilled Surgeon,Eye stripe Surgeon
Acanthurus dussumieri
Widespread Indo Pacific, Africa to Hawaii, Line islands,Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, (Baensch says absent in central Pacific)
It reaches 50cm (some list 40 cm but most say 50-54cm) so I recommend you only proceed if you are willing to provide a large tank with lots of swimming space. The large surgeons are excellent swimmers and need lots of room to swim. They are a hardy species and generally easy to keep (Mine is in a 400 gallon and seems a bit cramped so I may give him to a friend with a 700). Adult coloration is very nice although the body goes a blue hue instead of the juvenile yellow.
Feeding: In the wild they eat benthic algae,diatoms, blue green algae covering the sand bed. It will also scrape from rocks. In captivity I suggest a diet of Enriched brine shrimp, Nori (seaweed), Caulerpa, Spirulina, Formula two, and live rock or sand with algae growth. Mine seems to do well on a mixture of brine,formula two,nori, and peas.
On the downside, large Acanthurus generally become increasingly agressive as they age. This combined with their tail spine can cause serious damage to other tankmates.
They are also very similiar to Acanthurus bariene,as well as A. blochii, A.xanthopterus
Anyways I hope that helps with your decision.
