White Tail Bristletooth Tang

Overview

The White Tail Bristletooth Tang is a compact Ctenochaetus species with a dark brown-to-black body, fine light speckling, and a distinctive pale white tail that gives it its common name. Like other bristletooth tangs it uses fine, comb-like teeth to sift detritus and diatoms off rock and sand rather than grazing large algae leaves.

It's one of the hardier and more forgiving tangs available, tolerating a range of tank sizes better than many larger Acanthurus species, and is a solid clean-up contributor as well as an attractive display fish.

Given adequate space and an established tank, it's a low-maintenance, long-lived addition well suited to keepers wanting a manageable first tang.

Compatibility

White Tail Bristletooth Tangs can show territorial aggression toward other tangs, particularly similarly shaped species, so care with stocking order matters in tanks with multiple surgeonfish. They're generally peaceful with unrelated community fish.

This species is fully reef safe and won't bother corals, clams, or invertebrates.

Health & quarantine

As a Ctenochaetus species this is one of the hardier tangs, though it's still susceptible to marine ich like all surgeonfish, so a minimum four-week quarantine is recommended. Good water flow and a varied diet support long-term health and colour.