Surgeonfish Cuts

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Medical Author:

Scott D. Fell, DO, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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• Surgeonfish Cuts Overview
• Surgeonfish Cuts Symptoms
• Surgeonfish Cuts Treatment
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor

Surgeonfish (also known as the doctorfish, or tang) is a tropical reef fish that has bladelike spines "knives" on their sides near the tail, which can inflict deep lacerations (cuts). These blades are retractable. There are approximately 75 species of surgeonfish, and are in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Red Sea. Surgeonfish tend to ignore divers and move away when approached. Their spines may cause deep penetrating wounds.

Surgeonfish do not have venom or toxin associated with them.

The laceration from a surgeonfish is immediately painful and usually deep. It will actively bleed. It is rare to have symptoms beyond the laceration but when it does happen there can be nausea, muscle aches, and anxiety.