Kole Tang

The Kole Tang, also known as the yellow-eyed tang or goldring bristletooth, is a small surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae) in the genus Ctenochaetus, native to the Indo-Pacific and especially common in Hawaiian waters. It is named for its fine, comb-like bristle teeth used to graze detritus and diatoms from rock surfaces. Compact and hardy, it is one of the most popular algae-eating tangs in the aquarium trade. Wild populations are abundant and stable, and the species is an important detritus and algae consumer on shallow reef habitats.

• Oval, moderately deep, laterally compressed body
• Base color olive-brown to grayish, overlaid with thin pale longitudinal stripes
• Distinctive golden-yellow ring encircling each eye
• Small, protrusible mouth with fine bristle-like teeth
• Slender orange scalpel spine at the base of the tail
• Reaches about 13-18 cm, smaller and stockier than related bristletooth species

Distinguished from other Ctenochaetus bristletooths by the combination of bright yellow eye-ring and closely spaced pale body stripes.

Kole Tangs inhabit shallow coral and rocky reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, with particularly dense populations around the Hawaiian Islands. They are typically found from the surface down to about 113 m, though most commonly in the upper 20 m, over algae-covered rock, rubble, and reef flats in clear tropical water. They tolerate a range of reef microhabitats, including surge zones and tide pools, and are frequently seen browsing exposed hard substrate during the day before retreating to reef crevices at night.

This species feeds primarily on detritus, diatoms, and fine algal film rather than fleshy macroalgae, using its bristle-like teeth to sweep organic material from rock surfaces. Kole Tangs are generally solitary or loosely social, sometimes forming small aggregations to feed, and can be territorial toward similarly patterned tangs while tolerating other reef species. They erect their caudal spine defensively when threatened. Spawning occurs in group broadcasts at dusk, with pelagic eggs and larvae dispersing before settling onto reef habitat as juveniles.