Kole Tang
The kole tang belongs to the Acanthuridae, in the genus Ctenochaetus — the bristletooth surgeonfishes. Its oval, bronze-brown body carries fine bluish lines that break into speckles across the head, and the eye is ringed in bright yellow. A sharp, erectile blade sits on each side of the caudal peduncle, and it deserves respect when handling the fish. The species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, from one to a hundred and thirteen metres over coral, rock and rubble. It sweeps the substrate tirelessly with its comb-like teeth, gathering diatoms, algal film and detritus. Records from elsewhere in the Pacific in fact belong to closely related species. Keep a single specimen: it will not tolerate conspecifics or other tangs. Allow 300 litres and a 120 cm front, with live rock carrying plenty of biofilm, supplemented with nori and spirulina. Acclimatise slowly — stressed fish are prone to white spot. It has not been bred in captivity.
About the name : Described by Bennett in 1828 as Acanthurus strigosus and moved to Ctenochaetus by Gill in 1884; the trade binomial is unchanged. Long confounded with the Indian Ocean Ctenochaetus truncatus, separated only in 2001 by Randall and Clements: true C. strigosus is a strict Hawaiian endemic, so any source giving a broad Indo-Pacific range is describing a relative. Adults show bluish lines and a lunate tail with streamers; C. truncatus is blue-spotted with a straight-edged tail.
Water parameters
| Temperature | 23 – 26 °C |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.1 – 8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness (KH) | 8 – 12 °dKH |
| Salinity | 33 – 35 SG |
Tank & stocking
| Minimum tank volume | 300 L |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank length | 120 cm — this active swimmer needs distance, not just litres |
| Volume budget per individual | 100 L — adds up with tank-mates |
“Minimum tank volume” is a reasonable floor, not an absolute limit. The per-individual budget is used by the Aqua app to estimate how heavily a tank is stocked.
Frequently asked questions
What size aquarium does Kole Tang need?
Provide at least 300 litres to keep Kole Tang in good conditions.
What water parameters does Kole Tang need?
A temperature of 23–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, saltwater.
Is Kole Tang peaceful or aggressive?
Its temperament is semi-aggressive.
What does Kole Tang eat?
Its diet: herbivore.
How big does Kole Tang get?
Around 16 cm as an adult.
Is Kole Tang suitable for beginners?
Care level: intermediate.
Planning a tank with Kole Tang?
AquaTender turns these parameters into live advice: it checks whether your tank is big enough, how heavily it's stocked, and whether your fish are compatible — then tracks water tests, photos and maintenance for you.
Fish from the same biotope
Report an error on this page
Care data is community-assisted. Spotted something wrong? Let us know — it won't change the page instantly, but it goes to moderation.
Care data is generated and manually reviewed; always cross-check before major decisions. ← Back to the encyclopedia