Ctenochaetus striatus thread

[Gary Majchrzak]

The Striated Bristletooth Tang is highly variable in appearance and I initially had a very difficult time properly identifying this fish- it was totally white when I purchased it and there are very few good photos of this fish to be found anywhere.
This species is very popular in Europe but not so much in the USA.
It's resemblence to a Chevron Tang is obvious and it can also appear to resemble a Tomini Tang at times. (It's a fraction of the cost of either, too.)
This is a great workhorse fish that is vastly under appreciated by most hobbyists. You can see it's subtle beauty in these shots.

 

[St.james of reefdom]

Gary,
Great pics of your lavender tang. I agree they are a definite workhorse mine is constantly grazing the rocks and side of the tank. He vastly outperforms my naso and yellow.
It also loves the nori after the naso rips it apart and it is free floating.

 

[Henry Colf]

Nice pics Gary.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks, guys.
C. striatus is sometimes sold as a "Lavendar Tang", but the "true" Lavendar Tang is a different species of Tang from Hawai'i.

See here:

http://www.lucidnotion.com/scubahi2.html

http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/fish_of_month/past_fom/fom_05_03.htm

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/spe...&genusname=Acanthurus&speciesname=nigrofuscus

The misuse of the common name "Lavendar Tang" also aided in confusing me when trying to ID my fish.
Acanthurus nigrofuscus is a different fish entirely- and sometimes A. nigrofuscus is called the "Brown Tang", also adding to the confusion.

 

[Sherry34]

Man those are some really great photos!!! I love how close up you got in the photos.

 

[fishyz]

I have had my striped bristletooth tang for about 2 months now. "She" is the queen of the tank. I work at a lfs, and when a shipment came in, she was labled as a kole tang. Immediately, I knew that she was not a kole tang. That night, I did some research and found out that she was a Ctenochaetus striatus. I had never seen a fish like this before, and I knew I had to spring on this opportunity. Unfortunately, My tank was cycling at the time, but since I worked at the store, my boss let my put it on hold for 2 months. She was in very rough shape from shipping, so I put her in our 4' 55g coral selling tank. She recovered very nicely in that tank, and even accepted nori right out of my hands. When my tank was ready, I brought her home. She is now in my 90g reef, and does not like my twin spot goby at all. I feel though, that my 90 is not big enough for her. She is about 4 1/2" to 5". I do not want to have to find her a new home, and I am unable to upgrade. I have become so attached to "Poppy", almost like a dog. She is truly the best fish I have ever owned!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10344684#post10344684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sherry34
Man those are some really great photos!!! I love how close up you got in the photos.

Sherry- you're soon going to find out just how difficult it is to get a good picture of a Bristletooth Tang!

fishyz- almost all Bristletooth Tangs have a problem with Gobies because they're food competitors. I think C. striatus is a good candidate for 75 and 90 gallon reef aquariums.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

 

[Jacwil]

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

That fish is gorgeous! It's amazing it was all white when you purchased it!

 

[block head]

you should of said something before they drained the canal. i would have had the boy keep one for ya....

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

that's not right!

that's not right!

you don't fish the canal In Spencerport?

 

[block head]

mama

and the kids like the ducks. pintails are my favorite. jk about the tang, just don't want it to get a complex swimmin with all your eye candy gary

 

[aquadonkey]

The mouth is my favorite on this type of tang - all those little teeth!
It's nice to see the coloration so up-close! Love the spots

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks, Lizz.

Maybe it was the mouth that reminded blockhead of a carp.
Bristletooth Tangs and Carp eat a lot of stuff that other fishes won't touch.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

This thread makes me miss my C. strigosus. What great workhorse fish!

 

[GMaquarium]

one of the most underrated tangs.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

this Bristletooth snapped up a free floating Aiptasia tonight and ate it

 

[teamdulski]

So your saying it is now worth a few hundred?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

So your saying it is now worth a few hundred?

also eats algae and detritus so it's worth more than a few hundred

Have you ever heard of any Tang/Surgeonfish eating an Aiptasia, Adam?
I never have.......

 

[teamdulski]

Detritus, certainly. Never aiptasia though.