Ctenochaetus strigosus is known by many names including the Striped Bristletooth and Goldring Bristletooth. Both C. strigosus and the Spotted Bristletooth (C. striatus) are sometimes called Kole Yellow Eye Tang, Yellow Eye Tang, or Yelloweye Surgeonfish.
C. strigosus has an oval body shape with bold markings that change with maturity. As a juvenile, it has a yellow-gold to tan color combined with striping and spots. When matured, the body color darkens, ranging from blue to burgundy. Depending on what part of the world it is from, it can have either a majority of spots or stripes highlighting the body.
A 70 gallon or larger aquarium is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room. It is aggressive towards other Tangs, therefore, it is best to only keep one per tank. It will not harm sessile invertebrates in the reef tank environment.
Although Tangs will eat meaty foods along with the other fish in the aquarium, it is important that they are offered plenty of marine based seaweed and algae. This will strengthen their immune system, reduce aggression and improve their overall health. Offer dried seaweed tied to a rock or use a
veggie clip, and feed at least 3 times per week.
Sea Veggies,
Seaweed Salad and
Ocean Nutrition are all ideal products and are very easy to use.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"; Small/Medium: 2-1/2" to 3-1/4" Medium: 3-1/4" to 4-1/4"; Medium/Large: 4-1/4" to 5" Large: 5" to 6"
Testimonial By:
Testimonial:
Ginny B Orlando, FL
Great algae eater! It cleaned my tank in about 2 days of all green algae. It is a little tempermental when adding new fish to the established tank.
It starts out very shy, but now I must put a plastic bubble over some of the slower feeding corals, as this guy will steal their food. It really does not get along with the Lawnmower Blenny so avoid this combo, and showed agression towards a Blue Assessor who was new, but chilled after a few months. It doesn't eat hair algae or leafy algaes.
This is by far my favorite fish. Not only does it snack ALL DAY LONG on detritus and hair algaes, after if comes out of it's shy phase (could go from a few days to a month), it eats algae right off of the veggie clips. I currently feed mine the purple algae and nori and it LOVES It. This is truly a cleaner fish and is always "kissing" algae off of the glass and rocks. It is very particular and will be found doing a very steady routine, which I think is just awesome.
I have a 220G tank. I added my Yellow Eye Tang last. All was fine at first, but then I noticed 2 of my Cleaner Shrimp had their antenae munched off. I thought it was strange, and still can't prove it, but in the year I've had my tank going, nothing had munched them before. Then my Yellow Goby, and Banded Goby went into hiding. I figured it was because they were a little freaked, but then I actually saw my Yellow Eye Tang in the corner chewing on the side of my Lawnmower Blenny. I broke them up, but it seems my Yellow Eye has a bit of a nasty streak. I added him last. He gets along ok with my Blue Tang, Green Chromis, and Coral Beauty.
