Naso vlamingii
Naso vlamingii, Bignose unicornfish, is a very popular surgeonfish. Under natural conditions, this fish inhabits the Indo-Pacific region, from the east coast of Africa to the southern coast of Japan, as well as the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. The fish live at depths of 1 to 50 meters, singly, in pairs or in small groups, swimming in close proximity to coral reefs. The main food is zooplankton.
Naso vlamingii is a very large fish, reaching a length of 60-70 cm. Due to these sizes Naso vlamingii is an object of commercial fishing. Despite its name, the fish has no horn, only adults have a small growth on the forehead. But compared to their tribesmen of the family of surgeonfish in this species of rhinoceros more developed anal and dorsal plumage. The rays of the tail plumage are elongated thread-like, the tail with a pale yellowish fringe. The main body coloration is gray-brown with longitudinal lines of bluish color, in the upper part of the body and on the abdomen replaced by fine mottling of blue coloration. The head is yellowish, with a thick bluish band running from the eyes to the tip of the snout. Young fish have a paler coloration with a weakly expressed pattern. Sex differences are absent, adult males are slightly larger than females and they have a larger hump on the forehead. It should be noted that the fish are able to quickly and dramatically change their coloration, depending on the mood and environment, becoming then pale, then taking a bright or dark color.
Naso vlamingii, despite its large size, is a peaceful fish. When kept in a common aquarium, it will cause almost no discomfort to anyone. Rhinoceroses can be kept even with predatory fish. Also Naso vlamingii does not cause damage to corals and invertebrates, but sometimes still fish can damage corals quickly swim near them and as a result of some clumsiness hit them with their body.
Fish quickly adapt to life in captivity and almost immediately begins to feed on substitute foods. Being a very large fish, Naso vlamingii need to be kept in a very large aquarium, the volume of which per 1 individual should be at least 1 500 liters. Keep fish can be as singly, and a small group, if the volume of the aquarium allows you to do this.
Fish lead an active lifestyle almost all the time being in motion. In the aquarium at the bottom of the aquarium should be placed large stones and large corals with crevices in which the fish could swim freely.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, acidity pH 8,1-8,4. Requires increased filtration and aeration of water.
Reproduction
We have some information about successful spawning of Naso vlamingii in oceanariums, but these cases are isolated and we cannot say that it is possible to achieve spawning of these fish in the aquarium. All fish are supplied to the local commercial network from their natural habitat.
Naso vlamingii have a life expectancy of 20 years or more in aquarium conditions.
