Ctenochaetus tominiensis

Randall, 1955

Tomini Tang/Surgeonfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, south to the northern Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands, Palau, Vanuatu and Fiji.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits steep coral rich drop-offs on protected reefs and usually found at depths between 10 - 65 feet (3 - 20 m) where it feeds mainly on algae.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes and having a pale tan body with yellow edging on the dorsal and anal fins and a white tail.

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 aquarium.

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.

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: 125 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.5