Kole tang

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. Inhabits shallow coral and rocky reefs exposed to sunlight where film algae grows.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the Acanthuridae family. Possesses specialized, comb-like bristle teeth designed to scrape microalgae and detritus from rocks and glass. Grows to 18 cm (7 inches).

Social Behavior: Active and constantly on the move. Peaceful towards most tankmates, but will show territorial aggression towards other Ctenochaetus or similarly shaped fish.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Purplish-brown body with numerous fine pinkish-blue horizontal stripes. Distinguished by a bright yellow ring around the eye. No external sexual differences.

Aquarium Setup: Minimum tank volume of 250 liters (65 gallons). Requires established live rock with plenty of surface area for grazing. Ensure strong water movement.

Diet and Feeding: Primarily a detritivore and microalgae eater. Feeds on diatoms and organic film. Supplement with dried nori, spirulina flakes, and high-quality pellets.

Water Quality: Demands high oxygen levels and clean water: temperature 24-27°C (75-81°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.020-1.025, and KH 8-12.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal for reef aquariums. Do not house with other Ctenochaetus species. Peaceful with non-tangs and reef invertebrates.

Aquarium Reproduction: Unrecorded in captivity due to open-water spawning behavior and long pelagic larval stages.

Risks and Diseases: Prone to marine ich when first introduced. Needs a quiet tank and a diet enriched with vitamin C to maintain strong immunity.