Re: Impulse Buying and not Quarantining… And the Trouble it Causes (Please Research) 10/28/05
Thank you! 
<Quite Welcome.> 
I noticed early this morning that he has this white stringy stuff on his body 
<Hard to say without a picture, could be lymphocystis or flukes, look these up via WWM.>
I have a small 1 1/2 trigger fish 
<I hope you know the potential size and behavior of this creature.> 
that is perfectly fine though. 
<Are they together, then I’m guessing the Kole was not in a quarantine tank. Please read here: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php .> What could I do to get the white stuff off of the Kole tang?
<If this is a display tank with other fish I would not medicate it, Adam J.>  

Unknown Ctenochaetus Species 7/24/05
Hi crew~
<Aaron>
About a month ago my LFS received a tang that the
importer had only listed as Unknown Tang Species.  Its
clearly a variety of Ctenochaetus; its extremely
similar to Ctenochaetus strigosus, except it lacks the
horizontal pin striping.  Instead, the fine spotting
that occurs on the face of C. strigosus is spread
across the entire body.  The color patterns are
exactly the same otherwise.  I have found one
reference to this fish before, but all I could find
out is that it was previously classified as C.
strigosus, but has since been recognized as a
distinct, undescribed species.  That's it.  So I'm
wondering- how do I find out updated information on
something like this?
<Mmm, Dr. Randall has recently added a few species to this genus, and produced a book on Acanthurids...>
I would love to know if it was
indeed given a separate name, and if there are
defining characteristics other than the pattern, since
I know pattern alone is generally a lousy tool in
taxonomy.
<It is indeed with this genus.>
Any suggestions for me?  Its a great fish- eats
everything that comes near it, and has settled into
his tank beautifully, I'd just like to know What he
is.
Thanks!   ~Aaron, Columbus OH
<Take a look through fishbase.org, the link there per species to Google Images, here on WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ctenocha.htm
and the newest books on the family by Dr. John Randall, and Rudie Kuiter. Bob Fenner>

Re: Unknown Ctenochaetus Species 7/25/05
Hi Bob~
<...>
Thanks for the fast response about the oddball tang.
The book you mentioned was actually that 1 reference I
had found to the fish.  Imp not sure how the process of
fully describing a species goes, but is there a
journal or something you could recommend that may
provide updates on matters like this?
<You've look at the listing of the 13 species on fishbase? http://www.fishbase.org/NomenClature/ScientificNameSearchList.php?crit1_fieldname=SYNONYMS.SynGenus&crit1_fieldtype=CHAR&crit1_operator=EQUAL&crit1_value=ctenochaetus&crit2_f
ieldname=SYNONYMS.SynSpecies&crit2_fieldtype=CHAR&crit2_operator=contains&crit2_value=&group=summary&backstep=-2
You've looked for Jack's latest?>
Sorry to bother again; it (sadly) drives me nuts when
I have cases pop up like that where I cant ID an
animal or be sure on its proper husbandry.
Thanks again,  Aaron
<You're getting closer to the actual process of discovering, describing new species... BobF>

Re: Unknown Ctenochaetus Species 7/25/05
  Right!  Thanks for that.  I had searched WWM and the
net in general, but for whatever reason, missed the
fishbase reference.  C. truncatus it is!
<Ding, ding ding ding! We have a winnah! And named by none other than Jack... in 2001~!>
  Just realized your from San Diego; Ill be heading
there this Tuesday for my first real vacation to Cali.
<Mmm, am out tomorrow for the Big Island (HI), elsewise I'd show you about... do try to take in the Birch Aquarium at UC... and the fine public library done to the west of it for that matter>
Look forward to seeing the city (and some of the
wholesalers up in LA; esp. Aquamarines).
  Thanks again,  Aaron
<Cheers, BobF>

Unknown tang
Hello Bob
I was wondering if you could identify my tang if i were to send you a photo or can direct me to somewhere where i can get it identified. 
<Will try. None other than Dr. John/Jack Randall can be asked to take a look/see...>
I do know that he is a juvenile bristle mouth and was told that he may even be an orange lined bristle mouth? Do you have any photos or a website that I can look to to possibly identify him myself. 
Hope to hear from you soon.
Cindy Schultz
<We do... use the indices, search tool... for the genus Ctenochaetus... or bristlemouth tangs... Bob Fenner> 
 

Are there two species of "Kole" tangs? one with yellow eyes and one without? 
<Hmm, nope, just the one, Ctenochaetus strigosus... sometimes C. striatus is mis-sold as the Kole or Yellow eye... article and pix of both at the site: www.wetwebmedia.com>
The FSG at my LFS told me that they're the same fish -- when they grow older the yellow around their eyes turns brown? I thought they were two different fish,
but of course, maturing color changes are pretty common... ??
<Hmm, to some degree... but age/time not as big a factor in eye color as environmental (foods, feeding, water quality, social issues... ) factors>
Furthermore, now that the Kole (?) is established, I'm thinking of adding an Achilles. Comments?
<Not a big fan of this species of Acanthurus Surgeons... soft-bodied, and prone to damage, easy susceptibility to disease high... most succumb within a few weeks of capture/shipping from (mainly HI) the wild.>
And, here's another Q. Has anyone tried to keep more than one of the SAME species of Centropyge in a tank before? I've a Atlantic cherub pygmy angel in a 155, and I'm thinking of adding a 2nd.
<Yep, a few, for ornament and in attempts at establishing breeding harem/communities... for small fishes need BIG spaces (100s of gallons), and a sharp-eyed concerned keeper to prevent world war X problems...>
thanks, Paulo
<My dos centavos, Bob Fenner>

Ctenochaetus tominiensis or binotatus? (the latter)
Thank you so much for providing so many people with help! I am in need of a little assistance also... I recently ordered a Tomini Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis). 
<Neat! A species I really would like to photograph>
When it arrived I was sad to see that it looked nothing like every pictured I'd seen. I checked Dr. Burgess Atlas and it had juv. and adult images that looked totally different. 
<There is quite a bit of variability in some Bristlemouth Tang species...>
The fish I received has blue eyes and a bright yellow tale that is forked. It also has light blue spots ( mostly around it's face but extending threw it's body - almost in rows) with a rust/orange body color. It also has two dark spots above and below it's fins. I sounds just like a blue-eyed or two spot tang! 
<Yes. Agreed>
So after doing some research I sent them an email and told them about the mistake. They sent me a new one without any questions asked. The new one they sent was the same fish! What should I do? Am I wrong? This is a picture of the Tomini http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1875&articleid=2031 as a juv. and this is a picture http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname= as an adult. That website also mentions that it's the "Only species of @Ctenochaetus@ with angular dorsal and anal fins." What does that mean - they all look angular to me... Any ideas? 
<That these fins are obliquely pointed... in relief... that they look like angles... I think because of the yellow highlights. Take a look at fishbase.org's image here: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=6016&genusname=
A rare species in the trade and wild. Bob Fenner>
Thanks so much! -Scott