Kole Tang

Ctenochaetus strigosus

The Kole Tang, or Yellow Eye Tang so named for the yellow-orange spot surrounding its eyes, are a favorite among fish keepers. The active lifestyle of Ctenochaetus strigosus are extremely attractive to enthusiasts and beginners alike and provide hours of watching pleasure as they casually swim about at all levels of the strata. The Kole Tang benefits from a mostly herbivore diet consisting of algae and seaweed to help promote a healthy resistance to disease, however, will also partake of meaty food sources if supplied to other tank mates. The Kole Tang can be aggressive towards other Tangs but typically reside peacefully and maintain a passive relationship to many other species. Generating no threat to reef life the Kole Tang will assist in keeping the environment clean and clear of excess algae growth, and at a maximum size of close to 7 inches, it can eat a lot of algae.

Kole Tang are native to the Hawaiian Islands and therefore thrive in a temperature of 75-78°F and require at a minimum seventy gallons to swim freely and fellowship with others. Kole Tang require a moderate amount of care to remain in good physical shape due to vulnerabilities to certain diseases. Provided with proper care and kept under close inspection for nibbling on other Tangs and smaller fish, the Kole Tang are very lively and will add a new dimension to an aquarium.