White Tail Tang

[HBtank]

So just when I decided I was done with tangs in my 80g, I see this awesome White Tail Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) in my LFS. First time I saw one... you can guess what happened.

I have had other Ctenochaetus, but I am curious what people's experience with it are? I know for certain it is a pretty fish!

 

[anthonys51]

What are you looking to learn. I have one. I find like all tangs it can be aggressive but imo not that aggressive. Mine was added in an 80 frag tank with a lieutenant tang , mata tank and fox face and all is well a year later. All there added at the same time They all showed no aggression when I added my 2 yellow wrasses


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[HBtank]

Nothing specific, just general impressions

How large is yours now? I have seen varying reports of maximum size, some saying it is the smallest Ctenochaetus at like 4.5" and others saying it is no different.

 

[SaltyMeloni]

Mine was extremely shy . Beautiful fish , between him and my algae scrubber I had absolutely no hair algae to be found. So when I cleaned my algae scrubber I would dry the algae and feed it back to him. Sadly he was one of two fish that I lost during a power outage during the winter. Good luck to you.

 

[Mknuwet]

Wait til it settles in. They can be quite mean

 

[anthonys51]

All tangs can be quite mean. Especially given the wrong tank size, wrong tank mates and incorrect stocking order.

In my main tank I have 11 wrasses , 15 anthias, 5 dwarf angels , 7 tangs , 2 clowns , hogfish , blue throat trigger , 3 bangaii cardinals, 2 barred rabbit fish and they all gotten along perfectly for last 18 months. Tank is only 22 months old Will say my powder blue was one of the last Fish added and I added a few wrasses after it and it has flipped out the first day but calms down shortly


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[mitchrapp]

Mine is the most aggressive fish in my tank. He bullies everyone, but is quite beautiful.

 

[Mknuwet]

All tangs can be quite mean. Especially given the wrong tank size, wrong tank mates and incorrect stocking order.

In my main tank I have 11 wrasses , 15 anthias, 5 dwarf angels , 7 tangs , 2 clowns , hogfish , blue throat trigger , 3 bangaii cardinals, 2 barred rabbit fish and they all gotten along perfectly for last 18 months. Tank is only 22 months old Will say my powder blue was one of the last Fish added and I added a few wrasses after it and it has flipped out the first day but calms down shortly


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Yes, however there are some (naso, fowleri, black) imo experience have been pretty docile.

Most acanthurus are brutal, followed by zebrasoma. But there are some exceptions as I stated above. I've kept these and many tangs in all size tanks numerous times

 

[anthonys51]

Yes I Argee with you. My blond Naso has never chased a fish in 2 years. My hippo tries to start a fight with him once a day but he just swims away indifferent


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[ca1ore]

Have had two white tails, smaller than the Chevie about the same size as the Kole. Temperamentally mine were feisty but not psycho. I generally prefer the Chevie, but whitetail a close second amongst the bristles.

 

[ca1ore]

Yes I Argee with you. My blond Naso has never chased a fish in 2 years. My hippo tries to start a fight with him once a day but he just swims away indifferent


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Likewise, have a lituratus and a Brevirostris and they're like cows. Eat and mind their own business.

 

[scooter31707]

IME, least aggressive tang. Very aggressive to Starry/Lawnmower Blennies (don't know why). Other than that mines ate everything under the sun. Mines is around 4 inches now. He was around 2.5 inches when I got him about 2.5 years. IMO, growth rate is slow.

 

[HBtank]

So far mine is doing well, and behaving much better than a two spot it replaced, which had decided to corner and whip my Anthia at sight. But the two spot was the largest fish and the white tail is in the middle; hoping relative size keeps it in check.

Eats everything now, and is a grazing champ like you would expect. I really love its eyes.

 

[Confuse]

IME, least aggressive tang. Very aggressive to Starry/Lawnmower Blennies (don't know why). Other than that mines ate everything under the sun. Mines is around 4 inches now. He was around 2.5 inches when I got him about 2.5 years. IMO, growth rate is slow.

My white tail is the same way!! He is such a jerk to my starry blenny! I have no idea why either. Interesting though...

 

[HBtank]

My white tail is the same way!! He is such a jerk to my starry blenny! I have no idea why either. Interesting though...

My guess is grazing, fish that fill the same feeding niches can often squabble more than others. Especially a specialized one like grazing on micro fauna/algae and bio-films.