Fish ID Kole Tang?

[RickG]

Can anybody id this little guy? Not sure if a variation of the kole tang or a juvenile? Have had him for some months now.

 

[i cant think]

Can anybody id this little guy? Not sure if a variation of the kole tang or a juvenile? Have had him for some months now.

This is a juvenile specimen, it won’t be certain what you have until the transition for maturity begins.
One thing for sure, it’s not a true kole tang as they’re Hawaiian endemic and Hawaii is closed still.

 

[14 foot reef]

i would guess atlantic tang. Kole tangs are not going to be found because of the hawaii ban.

 

[i cant think]

i would guess atlantic tang. Kole tangs are not going to be found because of the hawaii ban.

Definitely not an Atlantic, body shape is incorrect for an atlantic and several other species (I think most species) of Ctenochaetus are all yellow as juveniles.

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

Looks like a juvenile atlantic blue to me.

 

[i cant think]

Here’s a photo of an Atlantic blue juvenile. The body shape is completely incorrect for this species.

 

[Rmckoy]

Looks almost like a chocolate or mimic tang .

 

[nereefpat]

Keep us updated.

C. truncatus would be a guess. It could be a couple others. There are a few that are yellow. Can't be chevron or tomini, for example.

 

[Goaway]

Can anybody id this little guy? Not sure if a variation of the kole tang or a juvenile? Have had him for some months now.

Thread 'Juvenile White Tail Bristletooth Tang' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/juvenile-white-tail-bristletooth-tang.593864/

Reminds me of juvi white tail tang

 

[JCM]

Juvenile Ctenochaetus binotatus maybe?

 

[ScubaFish802]

Since BIOTA and others breed the Hawaii tangs and they can be found available currently, is it still possible this is one of those? (just throwing out there that the ban may not matter..)

 

[Goaway]

Juvenile Ctenochaetus binotatus maybe?

Would still have two small spots.

 

[Tamberav]

Looks like a square tail to me... by the shape of the tail in your pic. Ctenochaetus truncatus. They are sometimes called Indian Kole tangs. Not to be confused with the Hawaiian Kole.

Juvie's are yellow and eventually transition to the brown/purplish body.

Same fish as above but adult colors.

Kole vs Squaretail:

https://reefbuilders.com/2021/09/08/kole-tang-squaretail-tang-comparison/

 

[JCM]

Would still have two small spots.

Good call, you're right.

 

[Tamberav]

Since BIOTA and others breed the Hawaii tangs and they can be found available currently, is it still possible this is one of those? (just throwing out there that the ban may not matter..)

They breed yellow tangs but not the others.

 

[Goaway]

Looks like a square tail to me... by the shape of the tail in your pic. Ctenochaetus truncatus. They are sometimes called Indian Kole tangs. Not to be confused with the Hawaiian Kole.

Juvie's are yellow and eventually transition to the brown/purplish body.

Same fish as above but adult colors.

Kole vs Squaretail:

https://reefbuilders.com/2021/09/08/kole-tang-squaretail-tang-comparison/

From those puctures, the juvie kole tang has a strong yellow around the eye.

I hope the op keeps us updated as the colors start to form. The thread I linked is the only other juvi I seen like it.

 

[Tamberav]

From those puctures, the juvie kole tang has a strong yellow around the eye.

I hope the op keeps us updated as the colors start to form. The thread I linked is the only other juvi I seen like it.

well the photo they posted isn't very clear. It seems like there is yellow when zoomed in but its blurry

It's just my best guess from the shape and the fact they were showing up in trade recently.

 

[Goaway]

well the photo they posted isn't very clear. It seems like there is yellow when zoomed in but its blurry

It's just my best guess from the shape and the fact they were showing up in trade recently.

I understand. Hopefully he'll update in a month. I doubt a clear pic will happen soon. Small fish, probably always on the move.

 

[Tamberav]

Another idea could be Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus?

It would develop some striping on the body

http://timstropicalfish.com/saltwater-tangs/bluelip-bristletooth-ctenochaetus-cyanocheilus.php
https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Images/Image/CtenochaetCyanocheil2PaddyRyan.jpg

 

[nereefpat]

Another idea could be Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus?

Yep, that's another possibility