How related are they?
Same family, Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes and tangs): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Powder Blue Tang belongs to Acanthurus (Acanthurus surgeonfishes), the Kole Tang to Ctenochaetus (Bristletooth tangs).
Find the Powder Blue Tang on the tree · Find the Kole 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 | Powder Blue Tang | Kole 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 | Acanthurus Acanthurus surgeonfishes | Ctenochaetus Bristletooth tangs |
| Species | Acanthurus leucosternon Powder Blue Tang | Ctenochaetus strigosus Kole Tang |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Powder Blue Tang | Kole Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Tang | Fish · Tang |
| Care level | Expert | Moderate |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Dried marine algae sheets (nori, red and green seaweed) on a clip, Frozen herbivore formulas, Spirulina and algae-based flakes and pellets | 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 |
| Max size | 9 in (23 cm) | 7 in (18 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 180 gal | 75 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 | 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. | 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. |
| Breeding | Not achieved | Not achieved |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |