Eats like a Yellow, costs like a Kole?

[Tamberav]

I was watching some BRStv videos and they recommended, pretty strongly, getting a Yellow Tang shortly after completing a cycle. They recommended this before YT's became a $200 fish. So I am wondering are there any equivalent tangs out there that wont run $200?

It seems like good advice, get a YT just as the ugly stage is starting and let it mow the algae for you. But are there any tangs that have the same care level, eating habits, algae preferences, max size, and previous costs of a Yellow Tang? I guess it wouldn't need to look as pretty, but that would be bonus points! I've seen a Foxface recommended on other forums, but I'm a scaredy cat of them spines

I am confused. I don’t find YT to be very good algae eaters and they can be bullies. BRS is so full of bull sometimes lol

A foxface does a better job with less attitude if they were trying to recommend something for algae.

There are many tanks without tangs and no ugly algae. Definitely an optional fish.

CUC and good husbandry and patience will make a beautiful tank.

Buy the fish you actually like the behavior and looks of.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

My only problem with this is that they cost $99 via live aquaria and $79 via reef chasers. I like supporting the local store, but not for double the cost. Even those $25 gloves I got from amazon, they have them for $69 and they wont price match.

I need you wrong but I don't think live aquaria fluctuates their prices very quickly due to market demand. They buy and much larger quantity and can inferior get flatter pricing.

Individual stores that go to a distributor once a week are more subject to fluctuations in the supply demand cycle.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I am confused. I don’t find YT to be very good algae eaters and they can be bullies. BRS is so full of bull sometimes lol

A foxface does a better job with less attitude if they were trying to recommend something for algae.

There are many tanks without tangs and no ugly algae. Definitely an optional fish.

CUC and good husbandry and patience will make a beautiful tank.

I've always heard everybody speak so highly about fox faces.

Mine is a tool!!

Straight up leaves bite marks on other fish.

 

[ScottB]

I had planned on having a Square tail or two spot bristletooth in my tank. I'm thinking now I might lean more towards the foxface. My tank is a 75g with a sump 4' wide. Would that house a one spot foxface and a bristletooth long term?

Currently I have 2 clowns, a firefish, and a Yellow Watchman. Only other fish I want is a Dwarf Flame Angel.

I do have to rehome my fox face every 4 years or so from my 4 foot frag tanks. They do get pretty big, so that should be a consideration. My LFS will take mine in trade for a juvenile.

Kole tangs and tomini tangs won't outgrow it though.

 

[Tamberav]

I've always heard everybody speak so highly about fox faces.

Mine is a tool!!

Straight up leaves bite marks on other fish.

Haha what a rude fish!!

I opted for a Copperband butterfly as they are so amazing. He’s actually pretty spicy but settled down.

I never brought a fish specifically because it ate algae. Besides film there’s just nothing for them to eat anyways .

I tried two different koles because I thought they looked nice but they weee both huge mean jerks to everyone. Bye bye fishy.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Haha what a rude fish!!

I opted for a Copperband butterfly as they are so amazing. He’s actually pretty spicy but settled down.

I never brought a fish specifically because it ate algae. Besides film there’s just nothing for them to eat anyways .

I tried two different koles because I thought they looked nice but they weee both huge mean jerks to everyone. Bye bye fishy.

Crazy! My ye kole used to rub up on my hand while I was doing maintenance, current WT Bristletooth is the First one to come up and eat algea from my hands.

My qt is currently full, but seriously considering a cbb for the next run. My local shop has them often and I could ensure it was eating well before I brought it home.

My frag tank only keeps two fish in there. A Springari damsel currently and a lawn mower blenny will move in there once it's out of qt.

 

[vetteguy53081]

In a new tank, I personally would not place a tank util tank has reached 4-5 months of age and proven stable in parameters. Cheap option for algae is/are snails.
If you desire tang for algae-
Sailfin
Kole
Tomini
convict

 

[Big Smelly fish]

Scopus tang are excellent tangs, my favorite . spend all day grazing on the live rock. I also have a mimic tang that good at grazing all day.

 

[kamehameha]

In a new tank, I personally would not place a tank util tank has reached 4-5 months of age and proven stable in parameters. Cheap option for algae is/are snails.
If you desire tang for algae-
Sailfin
Kole
Tomini
convict

Extra context here, my tank is new, but only partially i.e. ~1/4 of the rock is from my previous setup so it has some algae growth and bac on it. The rest is all new rock. New sand as well.

I am kind of leaning toward a foxface now, maybe one spot, maybe not...but those convict tangs look down right nifty!

 

[vetteguy53081]

And on Yellow tang. . . I have 6 of them and although they peck on rocks and glass all day, they are not my best algae eaters. However when it comes to algae sheets- No mercy on the sheets

 

[AustinBabler]

I’ll tell you what…I didn’t really want to spend big money for a tang either but I’m glad I spent it on this white tail bristletooth. He’s been pecking the rocks all day like it’s his job. I’m actually sitting here watching him right now. He’s about 3” long right now and in a 3’ tank but next summer I’m getting a 4-5’ for the dining room.

 

[i cant think]

So the idea is that they keep the algae from growing into something that makes the tank look ugly, but not to add it in before algae is able to start growing (according to them) I got this from their 5 minute guide series, just a rabbit hole I jumped in last night lol.



I had planned on having a Square tail or two spot bristletooth in my tank. I'm thinking now I might lean more towards the foxface. My tank is a 75g with a sump 4' wide. Would that house a one spot foxface and a bristletooth long term?

Currently I have 2 clowns, a firefish, and a Yellow Watchman. Only other fish I want is a Dwarf Flame Angel.

to me that is plenty of room for both fish, foxfaces aren’t as active as yellows. As I said 95% of the time they perch and the other 5% of the time they’re doing the best job any algae eating fish does. I find that you can add these fish in before algae grows because it will stop the ugly stuff from appearing in mass productions. IMO, the twin spot is the unusual one of the bristletooth S because no other tang other than C. cyanocheilus has blue that dominant on its body. Mine is the twin spot (C. binotatus) and I wouldn’t have any other bristletooth except C. flavicauda.

I find that C. binotatus is the most peaceful Ctenochaetus, I have added in 5 wrasses after it and there has been no chasing or arguments. Mine was bought at about .5” and is now 2” pushing 3”.

 

[i cant think]

I do have to rehome my fox face every 4 years or so from my 4 foot frag tanks. They do get pretty big, so that should be a consideration. My LFS will take mine in trade for a juvenile.

Kole tangs and tomini tangs won't outgrow it though.

So, there was an experiment done by Jay and he looked at the max recorded size of fish and then looked at the max size they got in captivity, they got 80% of their max size so if you did the max recorded size of a one spot Foxface x 0.8, that calculation would be 8 x 0.8 which gets 6.4” as what most max out in captivity. I would say my Magnificent is maxed out at 5 or 6” since he seems to have stopped growing.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I’ll tell you what…I didn’t really want to spend big money for a tang either but I’m glad I spent it on this white tail bristletooth. He’s been pecking the rocks all day like it’s his job. I’m actually sitting here watching him right now. He’s about 3” long right now and in a 3’ tank but next summer I’m getting a 4-5’ for the dining room.

Such an under appreciated fish. I very much enjoy watching mine.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I did love my foxface. I had a lo and he was great with everything.

 

[kamehameha]

I did love my foxface. I had a lo and he was great with everything.

One other concern I have is that I am allergic to bee stings. I had read that if you are allergic to bees, you are, or likely are, allergic to the foxface. Is that true?

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I'll have to go with the vastly recommended bristletooth tangs for algae. I have a yellow eye kole in one and whitetail bristletooth in the other. Both are constantly picking at food. Even after feeding, the whitetail goes back to grazing immediately.

 

[Gtinnel]

I've also never found yellow tangs to be anything special. A foxface is the best algea eater you can get. My tomini does a good job with film algea but I've never seen him eat any filamentous algea.
Here is a picture I just took with his lips up against the glass like he always is.

Sorry it's a bad pic but I just zoomed in with my phone from the couch.

 

[pseudorand]

+1 to fix face, but I've never owned a tang. I doubt sting will be a problem. Mine hides in the rocks with his spines out if I look at the tank funny. He's fun to watch when he's not scared though.

The guy at my LFS said he's been sting by foxfaces many times. Not by sticking his hand in the tank. But because he catches them in a specimen container and puts his hand over it so it doesn't jump out. He seemed alive and well.

 

[ZoWhat]

Anything with Bristletooth in its description