KoleID

FAQs about Yellow-Eye, Kole Tangs, Identification

Related Articles: Kole Tangs, Ctenochaetus,

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Kole Yellow-Eye Tang ID Question 6/16/08 Hello Crew, I probably spent more time on your website than enjoying my tank while I was getting our tank established. <As long are both enjoyable, instructive...> I think I'm one of the lucky ones that found your website before making very expensive mistakes. <Heeee! Wish I had!> I've since moved the couch so I can watch the tank and browse your website at the same time. <Go ahead, you don't need that couch! In fact, how about that bed?! Think of the size system that space is needlessly taking up!> Thank you so much for all the information. Ok, enough sucking up (I am serious though). <Ok> I'm writing you because I recently purchased a Kole Yellow-Eye tang, C. strigosus, and I want to make sure that's actually what I have. The fish looks exactly like every other picture of them I've seen except that his tail is yellow, he basically looks like a C. flavicauda but with a yellow tail instead of white. There is a picture of a C. strigosus juvenile on fishbase.org and it has a yellow tail so I assume what I have is an intermediate stage but I was unable to find a photo or description to confirm this. <Ahhh!> If there is anyone in the vast expanse of the world wide web that can help me ID my fish it is someone on the WWM crew. Is my fish just an intermediate C. strigosus? If it would help I can provide you with pictures (My photography skills are iffy so I didn't want to spend half a day getting a decent picture if it wouldn't have helped). Thank you so much for all the help you have already given me and I hope my question wasn't a complete waste of your time. Tyler Newton <I wish there was an easy way... this may be coming up (with cloning...) to show you all my "misc." unid'ed Ctenochaetus tang pix... thank goodness John/Jack Randall recently revised (and added a few species to) this genus. I agree with you re there being many "intergradations", color/marking variations w/in and twixt the various Bristletooth Tangs... Yours may indeed be a cross... or some expression of genetic variance. Happily all members of the genus have similar temperaments, needs... Send a pic or two along if you can. Cheers! Bob Fenner>

Re: Kole Yellow-Eye Tang ID Question 6/16/08 Mr. Fenner (Dr. Fenner?), <Umm, just Bob please. I have no doctorate> Thank you for the reply. I would be thrilled if I acquired a freak of nature. I attached a photo of him (or her). He's actually rather photogenic. What do you think? Is there any hope he'll keep this coloration? <Does look like a C. strigosus... as you prev. stated, with retained juvenile coloration> On a quick side note. I think I have the perfect solution. An in wall tank between the bedroom and the living room with the viewing panel on the bedroom side made with that glass that can go from transparent to opaque. Man, I hope someone that can afford it is reading this. Thanks again, Tyler Newton <"I'll take the plasma rifle... with the..." "Hey Buddy, just what you see..." Heeee! Be chatting, BobF>

Not So Purple, Purple Tang... Perhaps Ctenochaetus flavicauda -- 09/14/07 Hi, I just purchased a "Purple Tang" from a local reefer who is switching gears from a reef to predator system. <OK.> They sold me what they called a Purple Tang, but in actuality it's a Black Tang with a white tail! <Oh! Very nice!> at first I assumed that the coloration was due to the fact that it may have been stressed, but it has maintained these colors throughout the day, only changing to a lighter grey at night. Have you ever heard of or seen a tang like this? <Yes. I saw a similar, solid black, Black Longnose Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma rostratum), which sold at a LFS I visited in South Carolina back in Feb. for the sum of.... drum roll please... Gulp! $400!!!!! Though I do not think this is the same species you have as the snout on your fish appears much shorter, however I actually think yours is even prettier! http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/fish/surgeonfishes/zebrasoma/Zrostratum.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm > Attached are two pictures that show the coloration. <Beautiful!> http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/CalebKruse_photos/P9100120.jpg And a picture of the white tail http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/CalebKruse_photos/P9100121.jpg Thanks, <Welcome!> Caleb Kruse <Michelle Lemech>

Are there two species of "Kole" tangs? one with yellow eyes and one without? <Hmm, nope, just the one, Ctenochaetus strigosus... sometimes C. striatus is mis-sold as the Kole or Yellow eye... article and pix of both at the site: www.wetwebmedia.com> The FSG at my LFS told me that they're the same fish -- when they grow older the yellow around their eyes turns brown? I thought they were two different fish, but of course, maturing color changes are pretty common... ?? <Hmm, to some degree... but age/time not as big a factor in eye color as environmental (foods, feeding, water quality, social issues... ) factors> Furthermore, now that the Kole (?) is established, I'm thinking of adding an Achilles. Comments? <Not a big fan of this species of Acanthurus Surgeons... soft-bodied, and prone to damage, easy susceptibility to disease high... most succumb within a few weeks of capture/shipping from (mainly HI) the wild.> And, here's another Q. Has anyone tried to keep more than one of the SAME species of Centropyge in a tank before? I've a Atlantic cherub pygmy angel in a 155, and I'm thinking of adding a 2nd. <Yep, a few, for ornament and in attempts at establishing breeding harem/communities... for small fishes need BIG spaces (100s of gallons), and a sharp-eyed concerned keeper to prevent world war X problems...> thanks, Paulo <My dos centavos, Bob Fenner>

Blue-eyed Kole Tang? Hi everyone at WWM, <Hello David> Love the site and recommend it to everyone I see or talk to for that matter. I have recently purchased a new tang. It was labeled to the LFS as Blue-eyed Kole tang. I have yet to find a picture of a juvenile that looks like it. Could you please look at the picture and tell me your opinion. It has the basic body structure of a Kole tang, with the same shape to it's jaw structure and eating habits seem to be similar (he is eating algae from the wall and rocks not food I am feeding) The colors are the main thing, He is brownish red with blue highlights (probably the lighting there ) but has a yellow tail and yellow lower fins. He does have the sturgeon spine on his tail and does seem to be timid as most do at first. I placed him and a Yellow-eyed Kole together in a 55 gallon frag tang to help control algae. The water parameters is Ph 8.0-8.1, Alk is 10 and Calcium is 400 ppm, 0 on nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia. All is good with the health of the animal but I was hoping to see what I could expect as a long term size and care requirement. I can move him to a 160 gallon that I already have running a reef if he grows very large. Thanking you in advance for all the help, You always are the first place I start and usually end up finding all my questions and answers. Thanks David <The genus Ctenochaetus has recently undergone renovation by Dr. John/Jack Randall... with the addition of species. I think what you have here is a C. binotatus, but do take a look on fishbase.org under the genus for your own comparison. Bob Fenner>

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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