About Goldring Surgeonfish
Kole tang — arguably the best algae-grazing tang for a mid-sized reef. Constantly working over rockwork picking off film algae and detritus. Hawaii-sourced specimens are sustainably collected and tend to ship better.
Ctenochaetus strigosus, the kole tang, spotted bristletooth, spotted surgeonfish, goldring bristletooth, goldring surgeonfish, yelloweye tang or yellow-eyed surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is endemic to Hawaii.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Dark blue-black body with a fine yellow eye-ring (hence "goldring") and yellow-tipped tail. The body has fine vermiculated patterning visible up close.
In your tank. Excellent algae-grazer — constantly works rockwork, picking off film algae and detritus. Hawaii-sourced specimens tend to ship best and have more stable supply since they're sustainably collected.
Care notes. Tang-aggression rules apply: don't house with similar-shaped surgeonfish in tanks under 100 gallons. Reef-safe and one of the most useful tangs for mid-sized reefs that need an algae-grazer.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from the central Pacific. Inexpensive for a tang ($40–80). Primarily herbivorous — nori sheets, prepared herbivore foods, supplemental algae growth.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related fish
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 219658).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).