ReefPicker
← Livestock checker
Kole Tang
Tang

Kole Tang

Ctenochaetus strigosus

A modest brown disc lit by a bright yellow eye-ring, and the hobby's favourite "clean-up" tang — its comb-like teeth rasp film algae, diatoms, and detritus off rock better than any Zebrasoma. It is the smallest of the common tangs but still needs open swimming length, and it is peaceable with a community while intolerant of other tangs, so keep just one. A great algae workhorse for a mature reef, not a nano fish.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
5.9"
Min tank
70 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Herbivore
Zone
Rockwork, Mid-water
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
Something look wrong? Report an error

Tankmates

How Kole Tang gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Tomini TangKole Tang and Tomini Tang are the same genus (Ctenochaetus) and will fight — keep only one.Chevron TangKole Tang and Chevron Tang are the same genus (Ctenochaetus) and will fight — keep only one.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.Spanish HogfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Kole Tang.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Yasha GobyKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Sixline WrasseKole Tang and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseKole Tang and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishKole Tang and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Springer's DottybackKole Tang and Springer's Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackKole Tang and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Midas BlennyKole Tang and Midas Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow Clown GobyKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Clown Goby and may harass it.Green Clown GobyKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Clown Goby and may harass it.Neon GobyKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Neon Goby and may harass it.Longnose HawkfishKole Tang and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishKole Tang and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor BlennyKole Tang and Bicolor Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseKole Tang and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishKole Tang and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishKole Tang and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishKole Tang and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishKole Tang and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Starry BlennyKole Tang and Starry Blenny both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinKole Tang and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.