About Bluespine Unicornfish
Bluespine unicornfish — a giant tang that reaches over two feet in adulthood. Reef-safe and personable, but needs a tank of 240 gallons or more long-term. Not a fish you grow out of an 80-gallon and "rehome."
The bluespine unicornfish, also known as the short-nose unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 70 cm in length. It is called kala ('thorn') in Hawaii, dawa in New Caledonia, and ta or tā in Fiji. However the name kala refers to all three species of horned unicornfish found around Hawaii.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Large surgeonfish reaching over 2 feet in adulthood. Develops the namesake "horn" on the forehead as adults. Mostly tan-to-grey body with subtle markings.
In your tank. Reef-safe and personable. This is not a fish you grow out of an 80-gallon and rehome. Adult tank requirement is 240+ gallons with substantial open swimming room. Plan the system around the fish or skip the species.
Care notes. Generally peaceful for a large tang, but space is non-negotiable long-term. Powerful swimmers that need turbulent flow.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; mid-priced for size ($80–200). Herbivore — nori sheets daily, prepared herbivore foods, occasional meaty supplementation.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 219668).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Mike Bowie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).