All fish / Acanthuridae

Twospot Bristletooth Tang

Ctenochaetus binotatus

Also known as two spot bristletooth, twospot surgeonfish, yellow eye kole tang, two spot tang, bristletooth tang, binotatus tang, コクテンサザナミハギ, 双斑栉齿刺尾鱼

A brown surgeonfish covered in fine blue lines, with a yellow ring around the eye and a black spot at the base of the rear dorsal and anal fins. It is kept for its useful habit of combing film algae and detritus off live rock, and it is usually less aggressive than many other tangs.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

450 litres

Keep as

Single specimen; avoid other bristletooth tangs

Diet

Herbivore: grazes film algae and detritus from rock, plus nori, spirulina and herbivore pellets, with some mysis

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Tuamotus, north to southern Japan, south to Australia

Breeding

It spawns in pairs or groups in open water, releasing tiny pelagic eggs. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

Needs a mature reef with plenty of rock to graze and lots of swimming room, and is prone to marine white spot when stressed. Juveniles have a yellow tail and can be confused with the yellow-tail form of Ctenochaetus tominiensis.