Indian Gold-Ring Bristletooth Care Guide
Ctenochaetus truncatus is an Indian Ocean bristletooth surgeonfish with a yellow eye-ring and spotted brown body that grazes detritus and algae.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Ctenochaetus truncatus, the Indian gold-ring bristletooth, is a surgeonfish endemic to the Indian Ocean. It has an orange-brown body with pale blue to yellow spots and a distinctive yellow ring around the eye; juveniles are bright yellow. It was described in 2001 by Randall and Clements. FishBase reports a maximum standard length of 16 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Ctenochaetus
- Scientific name: Ctenochaetus truncatus
Habitat
Endemic to the Indian Ocean, ranging along the East African coast from Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal, off southern Oman, and east to the Andaman Sea, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island. It occurs at depths of about 1-21 m over sheltered reef crests and slopes, either solitarily or in small aggregations among large corals.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- dKH: 8-12
- Adult size: 14-18 cm
- Lifespan: 10-25 years
Diet
As a bristletooth it rasps detritus and unicellular algae from rock and substrate. In aquaria it benefits from mature live rock for grazing plus regular feedings of marine algae and herbivore foods.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe: it grazes detritus and microalgae without harming corals or invertebrates. Maintain stable specific gravity (1.024-1.026) and alkalinity (dKH 8-12).
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive toward conspecifics and tangs of similar shape; avoid mixing with other tangs in small tanks. Suitable companions include wrasses, clownfish, angelfish and robust triggerfish.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010). It is a minor component of the aquarium trade.
Indian Gold-Ring Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus truncatus) Breeding Guide
Overview
The Indian gold-ring bristletooth, Ctenochaetus truncatus, is an Indian Ocean bristletooth surgeonfish closely allied to the Pacific C. strigosus. Bristletooths use many small, flexible bristle-like teeth to graze detritus and film algae from reef surfaces. As an acanthurid it releases pelagic eggs in open water, so it is not reproduced in home aquaria.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Surgeonfishes spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column after pairing or aggregating on the reef, with timing driven by lunar and tidal cycles. These open-water events cannot be reproduced in an aquarium.
Egg & Fry Care
Fertilised eggs are pelagic and develop into the transparent acronurus larva typical of the family, which drifts in open water before settling nearshore and metamorphosing. The fragility and feeding needs of this larval stage place rearing beyond home capability.
Common Challenges
There is no documented home breeding of this bristletooth. The pelagic spawning strategy and prolonged planktonic acronurus larva confine reproduction to research-scale marine aquaculture.