Acanthurus sohal
Sohal surgeonfish
A pale grey surgeonfish with black stripes, up to 40 cm long, that lives from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf. 1 2 5 It is common on reef edges exposed to the surge, where it defends a territory and feeds on algae. 2 In Italian it is also called pesce chirurgo arabo or zebrato. 10
At a glance
Data from the scientific sources listed at the bottom.
Depth in the wild
0–20 m
Size
up to 40 cm
maximum total length (males or unsexed specimens)
Temperature in the wild
24–30 °C
Where it lives
North-western Indian Ocean: FishBase gives the area from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, the FAO guide from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman. 2 5 In a shallow-water survey (2-10 m) from Jordan to Djibouti, in Saudi Arabia at 22° north it was the second most abundant of the 50 ornamental species considered, with 12.4% of specimens. 6
How to recognise it
Tap a number on the photo: the key explains what to look for.
- 1Black stripes on the flank about 15, below the lateral line, on a pale grey background 5
- 2Orange patch in the area of the pectoral fin 5
- 3Black-edged pectoral fin the dark margin of the fin 5
- 4Tail spine sheath and socket are orange 5
- 5Blue-edged fins dorsal, anal and tail fins blackish, edged with blue 5
Life in the wild
Where it is found
Coral reefs, especially the edges facing the open sea and exposed to the surge. 2
Behaviour
Described as aggressive and territorial. 2
Reproduction
FishBase classes it among fish that scatter their eggs without parental care. 4 No open-access data specific to spawning, eggs or larvae of this species were found.
In the aquarium
From the experience of the BallingMania community.
Like all Acanthurids it feeds mainly on algae, although it does not refuse mixed dry foods. It is one of the hardest Acanthurids to acclimatise, but once that is done it is easy to manage; it needs large volumes, from 500 litres upwards, and plenty of room to move; its swimming is the characteristic jerky swimming of most fish in its family, and it too has two spines at the end of the tail, which it uses only in extreme cases to defend itself; it is a reef safe fish and does not bother other fish. As with all Acanthurids, it likes to be alone or accompanied by at least 4 specimens. Although its livery is very distinctive, since it lacks bright colours it is usually not bothered by other fish. It lives at medium to shallow depths; it is a fish not to be recommended to beginners.
Description by: Giampietro Portinari - photo by: J. De Lange
Did you know?
Sources
- WoRMS Editorial Board (2026). Acanthurus sohal (Forsskål, 1775). World Register of Marine Species.
- Froese R., Pauly D. (eds.) (2026). Acanthurus sohal, Sohal surgeonfish. FishBase.
- Froese R., Pauly D. (eds.) (2026). Food items reported for Acanthurus sohal. FishBase.
- Froese R., Pauly D. (eds.) (2026). Reproduction of Acanthurus sohal. FishBase.
- FAO (1983). Acanthurus lineatus, with a comparison with Acanthurus sohal. FAO species identification sheets, Fishing Area 51. Food and Agriculture Organization.
- Khalaf M.A., Abdallah M. (2014). Spatial distribution of fifty ornamental fish species on coral reefs in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. ZooKeys.
- Miyake S., Ngugi D.K., Stingl U. (2016). Phylogenetic Diversity, Distribution, and Cophylogeny of Giant Bacteria (Epulopiscium) with their Surgeonfish Hosts in the Red Sea. Frontiers in Microbiology.
- Al Solami L., Korish M. (2024). Proximate composition, fatty acid characteristics, amino acid profile and mineral content of fish Acanthurus sohal. Heliyon.
- GBIF Secretariat (2026). Acanthurus sohal, IUCN Red List category. GBIF.
- GBIF Secretariat (2026). Acanthurus sohal, nomi comuni. GBIF.
- UNEP-WCMC (2026). Search for Acanthurus sohal in the CITES lists. Species+.
Sources checked on 5 November 2026. Community texts and ratings are kept separate from the scientific data.