Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis) Care Guide
A unique tang that dramatically changes color as it matures — juveniles are bright orange-red with chevron markings, while adults become dark olive-brown.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis is a species in the family Acanthuridae. A unique tang that dramatically changes color as it matures — juveniles are bright orange-red with chevron markings, while adults become dark olive-brown. Highly prized as a juvenile for its striking appearance. Excellent algae grazer for reef tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Ctenochaetus
- Scientific name: Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
- Other names: Hawaiian Bristletooth
- Origin: Pacific Ocean
Habitat
Native to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn Islands and to Bikar Atoll. Inhabits surge zones and exposed reefs at depths of 1-31 m. Juveniles display vivid orange to red colouration overlaid by bright blue chevron markings; adults gradually fade to a darker olive-brown.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: strong
- Adult size: 22-28 cm
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as herbivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: semi-aggressive
- Swimming level: middle
- Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Wrasses, Angelfish
- Avoid with: Other Bristletooth Tangs, Similar Tangs
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis) Breeding Guide
Overview
The chevron tang, Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis, is a Pacific surgeonfish of the family Acanthuridae. Like other tangs it reproduces by pelagic broadcast spawning, releasing eggs and sperm into open water for external fertilisation, with planktonic eggs and larvae. Consequently it is not bred in home aquaria.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Surgeonfishes generally spawn at dusk in brief pair- or group-spawning events, forming aggregations and releasing gametes into the water column, with spawning often following lunar cycles. These open-water ascents and aggregations cannot be reproduced in aquarium conditions.
Egg & Fry Care
Fertilised eggs are pelagic and develop into the transparent, open-ocean acronurus larva typical of tangs, which drifts in the plankton for an extended period before settling on a reef. The acronurus is fragile, sensitive to water quality and dependent on specialised micro-prey, so it cannot be reared without dedicated hatchery technology.
Common Challenges
Surgeonfish aquaculture has been achieved only at research scale; the first acanthurid bred in captivity was the yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) by the Oceanic Institute in 2015 after about a decade of work with cultured copepod prey. No comparable home-aquarium method exists for the chevron tang.