Tomini Tang Care Guide
Ctenochaetus tominiensis is a small Western Pacific bristletooth surgeonfish, yellowish-brown with a white tail and yellow fin margins, reaching about 16 cm.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Ctenochaetus tominiensis, the Tomini bristletooth of the family Acanthuridae, is a small surgeonfish that is yellowish-brown with a white caudal fin and broad yellow margins to the dorsal and anal fins. It has uniquely angular rear ends of the dorsal and anal fins for its genus. FishBase records a maximum standard length of 16 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Ctenochaetus
- Scientific name: Ctenochaetus tominiensis
- Described by: Randall, 1955
Habitat
The species is marine and reef-associated in the Western Central Pacific — Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the northern Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands, Palau, Vanuatu and Fiji, with records from Tonga. It occurs singly or in small aggregations on steep drop-offs with dense coral growth in inshore, sheltered waters, with FishBase recording depths of 0-45 m, usually 3-25 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L (79 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
- Strong water flow
- Lifespan: 10-25 years
Diet
Ctenochaetus tominiensis feeds on algae and the microfauna living among the algae, using its comb-like bristle teeth to rasp the film from surfaces. In aquaria it should be offered marine algae and dried seaweed multiple times daily.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive, diurnal mid-water swimmer, this small bristletooth occurs singly or in small groups. Its modest size makes it one of the more manageable surgeonfishes. Wrasses, clownfish, angelfish and sturdy triggerfish make suitable tankmates, while other tangs of similar shape should be avoided in smaller systems.
Reef compatibility
The species does not eat coral and is considered reef-safe, grazing detritus and film algae from rock. Maintain carbonate hardness of 8-12 dKH and specific gravity of 1.024-1.026.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2010 via FishBase.
Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) Breeding Guide
Overview
The Tomini tang, Ctenochaetus tominiensis, is a smaller bristletooth surgeonfish from the western Pacific. Bristletooths bear many small flexible comb-like teeth used to graze detritus and film algae from reef surfaces. Like other members of the family Acanthuridae it is a free-spawning reef fish that releases pelagic eggs, so it is not reproduced in home aquaria.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Surgeonfishes spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column, typically after forming aggregations or pairing on the reef, with spawning tied to natural lunar and tidal cycles. Such open-water reproduction cannot be reproduced inside an aquarium.
Egg & Fry Care
Fertilised eggs are pelagic and develop into the transparent open-ocean acronurus larva characteristic of surgeonfishes, which maintains a planktonic existence before settling nearshore and developing into a juvenile. The fragility and feeding demands of this larval phase put rearing beyond home means.
Common Challenges
No documented home breeding of the Tomini tang exists. The pelagic spawning strategy and long-lived planktonic acronurus larva confine any breeding attempt to dedicated marine aquaculture facilities.