Ctenochaetus

Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

Randall, 1955

Chevron Tang

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Pacific Ocean: Throughout most Oceania, from Micronesia, Wake and Marcus Islands, to the Hawaiian Islands and Pitcairn Island.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits seaward rocky and coral reefs and usually found at depths between 15 - 130 feet (5 - 40 m) where it feeds on film algae.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes with juveniles quite beautiful with a blue variegated pattern over an orange background, with adults a deeper colored orange with darkish blue uneven thin horizontal lines.

Best maintained in well-established reef or fish-only aquariums having wide-open swimming areas and rocky crevices to seek shelter if needing to, and preferably with copious amounts of microalgae. Tankmates should be non-fin-nipping species and quite peaceful, as those in this family have large fins that make good targets for fin-nippers.

Requires a varied vegetable diet, including Spirulina, zucchini, broccoli, dried seaweed (Nori), and enriched vegetable flakes, and requires two or three feedings per day. Will not browse on filamentous algae, as it clogs its teeth, which are specialized to scrape particular matter off rock, dead coral and out of turf algae.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Acanthuroidei

Family: Acanthuridae

Genus: Ctenochaetus

FYI: One per tank.

Has a sharp forward pointing spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, which folds into a groove, yet they are poorly developed and therefore become dominated by others in other genera in this family, therefore, its best not to house with species from other genera. Yet if erected when excited, they can cause damage to the hands of its keeper if handled carelessly.

May quarrel with other species in its genus.

Usually, those seen on the market come from Hawaii.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Herbivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons