Which Tang?

[ambuncher]

I have a 90g tank, and am looking to put one smaller tang in there. I think I found the body shape and coloration I like, just trying to narrow it down to which exact one. I'm looking at the two spot, white tail bristle tooth, and kole tang. Pros and cons of each? Obviously some are more expensive than others. NOTE: I do have a snowflake eel in the tank, he's pretty tame. But still, its an animal, and animals can be unpredictable.

Also, if there are any other similar tangs to this I should know about, please let me know!

 

[Dcal]

idk if you can find a true kole tang right now but regardless white tails are gorgeous as well as whatever bristle tooth @monkeyCmonkeyDo has is beautiful

 

[Falc!]

Dont forget to look at the tomini tang...it also has a white tail too

 

[doubleshot00]

Dont forget to look at the tomini tang...it also has a white tail too

This or a blue or yellow eyed are pretty easy to find.

don’t over look something like a yellow, purple or scopas tang.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I never thought I would be, but I'm obsessed with my tomini. Got him qt from Dr. Reef a few months ago - other than chasing new additions a little, he's been a model citizen. Still hides from me when I approach the tank though, lol.
(Please excuse the messy rocks/glass - uglies leftover from a recent cyano and GHA battle and my diamond goby making a mess).

 

[nereefpat]

Also, if there are any other similar tangs to this I should know about, please let me know!

Here's the list of fish in that genus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenochaetus , but chevron and striatus get pretty big.

C. truncatus is really pretty, and you don't see it as much.

 

[ambuncher]

Here's the list of fish in that genus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenochaetus , but chevron and striatus get pretty big.

C. truncatus is really pretty, and you don't see it as much.

Awesome, I will definitely check this link out!

@Sink_or_Swim @Falcon30 love the idea of a tomini. That one looks great!

 

[Dierks]

Koles are hard to come by, you can get them still but they arent the ones you think of out of Hawaii. They are a bit aggressive, but not as much as the White Tail. The Two spot is extremely underrated and is the least aggressive of the three in my experience of working with a lot of Bristletooths. They all are extremely high strung fish... I would call them all worker fish as they do clean rocks and glass, so in that regard they will all fit the bill.

You may want to add your tang last if you have other things yet to go in the tank. Good Luck

 

[Dierks]

Also Tominis are awesome! Not as good at cleaning as the others, but stays small so a lot of folks like that about them. Also that flame fin is as pretty in real life as it is in the pictures!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Mine is an orange spotted bristletooth tang. Got him from a friend who probably purchased at least 3yrs ago. Idk if you'll be able to find anymore.

I did see nyaquatics has a nice sized tang for sale recently. Looks like a bristletooth but don't quote me on it as I'm no fish expert.
D

 

[Idech]

I love my yellow eye kole tang. He gets rid of any algae and eats with appetite. I find him beautiful and I love watching him. He tends to chase my tail spot blenny but there are so many places to hide it’s not a problem.

 

[maroun.c]

Yellow eye. I find them beautiful a d great algae cleaners.

 

[i cant think]

+1 to Twin Spot. Here’s my 2 year old guy. He has gone through many colours (Sometimes daily changes of colour pattern, sometimes monthly changes and sometimes yearly).

 

[ambuncher]

So I ended up choosing none of the above...I was at the LFS and they had a sailfin tang for a great price...got him! He's settling in now.

 

[Falc!]

So you went from wanting a "smaller" tang to a big tang....sailfins are awesome btw, congrats!

 

[i cant think]

So I ended up choosing none of the above...I was at the LFS and they had a sailfin tang for a great price...got him! He's settling in now.

Just a warning, these tangs will get large and much more active… Once it hits 4” then the 4’ tank will be too small for this species unfortunately.
You can keep him for a while but not forever as these fish can get to 14/16” depending on species (Pacific vs Indian).

 

[ambuncher]

Just a warning, these tangs will get large and much more active… Once it hits 4” then the 4’ tank will be too small for this species unfortunately.
You can keep him for a while but not forever as these fish can get to 14/16” depending on species (Pacific vs Indian).

Thank you, I appreciate it. I think by the time it gets that big, I’ll be getting a bigger tank. It’s only about an inch right now. I didn’t fully conceptualize how big it would get when I bought it haha. Also didn’t realize they can live for 30+ years…. Clearly I didn’t know as much about this species as I thought I did

 

[ambuncher]

So you went from wanting a "smaller" tang to a big tang....sailfins are awesome btw, congrats!

Yes I did haha. He’s a really pretty one, already eating like a pig!

 

[i cant think]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I think by the time it gets that big, I’ll be getting a bigger tank. It’s only about an inch right now. I didn’t fully conceptualize how big it would get when I bought it haha. Also didn’t realize they can live for 30+ years…. Clearly I didn’t know as much about this species as I thought I did

These tangs can get 4” within a year when they’re fed properly.
Im not trying to say you’re bad (I have been caught in this same trap) however just wanted to boost your knowledge

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

So I ended up choosing none of the above...I was at the LFS and they had a sailfin tang for a great price...got him! He's settling in now.

I saw a small sailfin at Petco last night and it looked great - and was only $75! I SO badly wish I had a large enough tank. If I did I would've snagged it in a heartbeat. They're beautiful! But I hear they're very fast growers.