Acanthurus pyroferus
Mimic surgeonfish
The mimic surgeonfish, known in Italian as pesce chirurgo mimetico del Pacifico 8, is a surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) 1 of about 25 cm, brown with an orange patch above the pectoral fin and a yellow edge on the tail. 3 5 It is famous for its juveniles, which imitate small angelfish of the genus Centropyge in a remarkable way. 3 6
At a glance
Data from the scientific sources listed at the bottom.
Depth in the wild
5–40 m
Size
up to 25 cm
maximum total length according to FAO and Reef Life Survey, commonly up to 18 cm; FishBase gives 29 cm
Temperature in the wild
23.1–31.4 °C
Where it lives
Western Pacific from southern Honshu to New South Wales, and east throughout Oceania, except Hawaii, Pitcairn and Easter Island. 3 FishBase gives it from the Seychelles to the Marquesas and the Tuamotus, with Acanthurus tristis replacing it from the Maldives and Chagos to Bali. 2 In Australia it lives on the reefs of the north-west and Queensland and at the Cocos and Christmas Islands; juveniles reach as far as Montague Island. 4
How to recognise it
Tap a number on the photo: the key explains what to look for.
Life in the wild
Where it is found
Lagoons and the outer side of reefs, especially where coral, rock and sand mix at the base of the reef or of ledges; also on reefs with fine sediment. 2 It usually lives at 5-40 m; FishBase gives an overall range of 0-60 m. 2 In Reef Life Survey counts it was observed in the sea between 23.1 and 31.4 °C. 5
What it eats
According to FAO and FishBase it feeds on algae, especially bottom-growing filamentous algae. 2 3 Fishes of Australia, however, describes it as a detritus and sediment feeder, and a study of juveniles in Papua New Guinea found mainly detritus and sediment with little algae. 4 6 Its stomach is round and gizzard-like. 3
Behaviour
Usually solitary. 2 As a juvenile it has a rounded tail and imitates Centropyge in both colour and shape: in eastern Oceania it resembles Centropyge flavissima, further west Centropyge vrolikii and in New South Wales Centropyge bicolor. 3 The most likely advantage is that predators learn that these small Centropyge are difficult prey, because they stay close to shelter and flee at once; so the young surgeonfish can feed in the open with less risk. 3 6
In the aquarium
From the experience of the BallingMania community.
A fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, native to the Indian Ocean and the central-western Pacific. A hardy fish with a peaceful temperament, but it cannot live with others of its kind or other Acanthurids, especially Acanthurus japonicus and leucosternon. In the wild it can be seen grazing on algae in the shallow waters of lagoon areas or close to the reef cliff. The adult livery is light brown, fading to yellow towards the head; the gills have a black or brown spot; the pectoral fins are brown with a yellow end. Like all surgeonfish, on the caudal fin it has the classic "scalpels", very sharp bony structures used to defend itself from rivals or natural predators.
To keep it in a tank, excellent water quality is needed; in optimal conditions it is an animal resistant to disease; it suffers from low pH and excessive concentrations of nitrate and phosphate; it loves a strong flow, preferably alternating and intermittent. When stressed it is prone to attacks of Oodinium and to fungal skin infections.
Given its size, it must be kept in large tanks from 500 litres upwards, essential to have adequate room for swimming, with crevices among the rocks to take refuge in. Once introduced, during acclimatisation, it accepts food with difficulty, but it will be seen grazing on the algae on the rocks in the tank. Once settled in it is omnivorous; it can be given frozen food, Artemia, chironomus, mysis, dry foods and sheets of Nori seaweed. It does not refuse vegetables such as lettuce or boiled spinach.
Species sheet by Massimo Ramognino and photo by Carmelo Attardo
Did you know?
Sources
- Froese R., Pauly D. (eds.), via WoRMS (2026). Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz, 1834. World Register of Marine Species.
- Froese R., Pauly D. (eds.) (2026). Acanthurus pyroferus, Mimic surgeonfish. FishBase.
- Randall J.E., in Carpenter K.E., Niem V.H. (eds.) (2001). Acanthuridae. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific, vol. 6. FAO.
- Bray D.J. (2022). Acanthurus pyroferus in Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria.
- Reef Life Survey (2026). Acanthurus pyroferus, Mimic surgeonfish. Reef Life Survey.
- Randall J.E. (2005). A review of mimicry in marine fishes. Zoological Studies 44(3): 299-328.
- GBIF Secretariat (2026). Acanthurus pyroferus, IUCN Red List category. GBIF.
- GBIF Secretariat, da Catalogue of Life (2026). Acanthurus pyroferus, nomi comuni. GBIF.
- UNEP-WCMC, Segretariato CITES (2026). Search for Acanthurus pyroferus in the CITES lists. Species+.
Sources checked on 5 November 2026. Community texts and ratings are kept separate from the scientific data.
