Kole tang
Ctenochaetus strigosus
FishSaltwater
- Care level
- Moderate
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Reef safe
- Yes
- Recommended tank
- 300 L
- Maximum size
- 15 cm
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8–8.4
- Diet
- Herbivore
Care at a glance
The kole tang from Hawaii has bristle-like teeth with which it scrapes film algae, detritus and diatoms off rock, rather than biting off hair algae like most tangs. That makes it one of the most useful reef cleaners for maintaining your rockwork.
It stays smaller than most tangs, but still needs swimming space and plenty of grown-in rock. Supplement its diet with algae sheets, keep one specimen per tank and preferably add it to a mature system that already carries growth.
Good to know
Best not combined with
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.