Filefish Hovering near reef

Kole Tang Care Guide

Glossary:

  1. Care Guide & Requirements
  2. Reef Safe
  3. Prices
  4. Food & Diet
  5. Facts
  6. Tank Mates & Environment
  7. FAQs

 

The Kole tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) is a popular choice among aquarists for its visual appeal, calm temperament, general ease of care, and easy behavior. If you can afford this potentially pricier fish, you’ll find a good addition to your saltwater aquarium.

This Kole tang care guide will help you determine if this fish is the right choice for your tank.

Is the Kole tang reef safe?

Generally, the Kole tang is a reef-safe fish that will do well in a reef tank. It will typically ignore your corals and invertebrates, but it could begin to nip at fleshy coral polyps and clam mantels. So, just keep an eye on this fish when adding it to a tank with the latter two inhabitants.

Kole tang food and diet

The Kole tang is primarily herbivorous, but it can also thrive on other types of foods. It mostly eats algae, but you can also feed it everything from spirulina and flakes to meatier meals such as Mysis shrimp. To help keep your fish in great shape and prevent lateral line erosion, you may also want to feed it certain supplements like SELCON. 

Kole tang FAQs

What size tank does a Kole tang need?

The Kole tang is popular, in part, because of its smaller size. It doesn’t require a lot of space to thrive in a saltwater tank, meaning you can keep it comfortable in a tank that’s 60 gallons or bigger. 

How often do you feed Kole tangs?

You will need to feed your Kole tang frequently, but not too often. You’ll need to feed juvenile Kole tangs around 3 to 4 times per day, but you’ll only need to feed adults around twice per day.

Do Kole tangs eat algae?

Kole tangs are herbivores that eat algae, including smaller detritus and diatoms.

Kole tang price

The cost of a Kole tang will vary according to size, availability, and other factors, but it’s a potentially pricey fish. You’ll find this fish from aquarium shops for around $100 to $150 or more, so you’ll want to commit to buying this one before adding it to your tank.

Kole tang facts

The following are some facts about the Kole tang that you might find interesting:

  1. The Kole tang can reach a total length of around 7 inches, making it a reasonably-sized fish that requires an aquarium size of around 60 gallons.
  2. Kole tangs may exhibit aggressive behavior when in competition for food and territory, but they’re generally pretty peaceful and will get along well with other fish if food is plentiful.
  3. The Kole tang will be fully grown in about 4 to 5 years.

What other fish are the best tank mates for the Kole tang?

The Kole tang won’t get along well with others of its own species, but it can do well with other species that have a similarly peaceful temperament. 

Some ideal tank mates for the Kole tang include:

Where to buy Kole tang

Want to buy a Kole tang for your aquarium? You can find this species at the following online retailers:

With enough money and proper care, you might find the Kole tang to be a welcome addition to your saltwater tank that’s entertaining and enjoyable to look at.