{"product_id":"white-tail-kole-tang","title":"White Tail Kole Tang | Ctenochaetus flavicauda","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe White Tail Kole Tang is a hardy bristletooth tang prized as one of the best natural grazers for a reef aquarium. Its dark body contrasts with a crisp white tail, and it spends its day working over the rock removing film algae and detritus. Reaching around 15–18 cm, it is a practical, well-behaved tang for medium to large reef systems and a genuine asset for algae control.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCtenochaetus flavicauda comes from the central and south Pacific, living on reef flats and slopes where it uses fine, comb-like teeth to sweep algae, detritus and diatoms from hard surfaces. This grazing behaviour makes it valuable in the aquarium. It does best in a mature system with plenty of live rock, open swimming room and good flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is dark brown to near-black with fine lines and spotting, set off by a distinctly pale to white caudal fin that gives the fish its name. The eye is often ringed in yellow. As with all surgeonfish, a scalpel-like spine sits at the tail base. Healthy specimens are full through the body, alert and constantly grazing, without pinched bellies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful towards most tank mates but territorial towards other bristletooth and similar tangs, especially in smaller tanks. It generally coexists well in a mixed community. Keep only one bristletooth tang unless the system is large, and add it to an established aquarium with grazing surfaces already available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrimarily a grazing herbivore and detritivore. Offer dried marine algae (nori) on a clip and algae-based foods, and it will also harvest natural film algae from the rockwork. Occasional meaty foods such as mysis are accepted. A steady supply of vegetable matter keeps it healthy and well coloured.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of 280 L, with larger preferred for long-term stability and swimming room. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Provide good flow, mature live rock and stable water quality. As with all tangs, stable conditions and good nutrition help guard against marine ich.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding does not occur in the home aquarium. Surgeonfish are broadcast spawners with pelagic larvae requiring open-ocean conditions beyond home-aquarium capability.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCtenochaetus flavicauda\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhite Tail Kole Tang (Whitetail Bristletooth)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral and South Pacific reefs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–18 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10+ years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful; territorial to similar tangs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e280 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore\/detritivore; algae, nori and film algae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium to large reef systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include clownfish, wrasses, dwarf and larger angels, rabbitfish, gobies and other peaceful to robust reef fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with other bristletooth or similar-looking tangs in small tanks, and with very aggressive fish that may harass it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234132377891,"sku":null,"price":390.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234132410659,"sku":"AA2646","price":450.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234132443427,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/White-tailed_Kole_Tang_Ctenochaetus_flavicauda_67574000-480d-48e5-bfb3-05889cb2f848.png?v=1781681545","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/white-tail-kole-tang","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}