How related are they?
Same family, Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes and tangs): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Kole Tang belongs to Ctenochaetus (Bristletooth tangs), the Powder Blue Tang to Acanthurus (Acanthurus surgeonfishes).
Find the Kole Tang on the tree · Find the Powder Blue Tang on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Kole Tang | Powder Blue Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Acanthuriformes Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin | |
| Family | Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes and tangs | |
| Genus split | Ctenochaetus Bristletooth tangs | Acanthurus Acanthurus surgeonfishes |
| Species | Ctenochaetus strigosus Kole Tang | Acanthurus leucosternon Powder Blue Tang |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Kole Tang | Powder Blue Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Tang | Fish · Tang |
| Care level | Moderate | Expert |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Biofilm, diatoms and detritus grazed from rock, sand and glass, Dried marine seaweed (nori and other algae sheets) on a clip or tied to a rock, Spirulina and algae-based pellets and flakes | Dried marine algae sheets (nori, red and green seaweed) on a clip, Frozen herbivore formulas, Spirulina and algae-based flakes and pellets |
| Max size | 7 in (18 cm) | 9 in (23 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 180 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–30 ppm | 0–30 ppm |
| Lifespan | Not well documented. Hobby care guides commonly give about 6-10 years in aquariums, with some claiming much longer; no published age study of this species was found. | Poorly documented. Many wild-caught fish die within weeks of import from disease and shipping stress; fish that settle in commonly live about 7-10 years or more according to hobby care guides. No published age study for this species was found. |
| Breeding | Not achieved | Not achieved |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |