Six line Orange and Purple Tang

[pncstod]

Anybody ever here of a Red Sea Six Line orange and purple Tang. It has the body shape of a Kole tang but has the coloration of a six line wrasse. It is purplish with orange stripes. The place where i got it said they were just recently allowed to be imported from the Red Sea. He didnt have the Latin name but I have searched everywhere and cannot find the name for it. Just wanted to do a little research on it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[GSchiemer]

I would say that your fish is the Orange-lined Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus). This is an Indian Ocean fish (probably collected in the Maldives) that has bright orange and blue lines across its body. It grows to 20 cm.

Greg Schiemer

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen this fish pictured somewhere...I think in Baench's Marine Atlas.
Sorry, thats all I know.

 

[GSchiemer]

I should add that the status of the orange-lined bristle-tooth tang is uncertain. Right now it's considered a variant of Ctenochaetus striatus.

Greg Schiemer

 

[pncstod]

Thanks guys, That sounds like the fish i have......It has orange and blue lines across its body. Its body and lips look like a chevron tang and a chevron is a hawaiian bristletooth. So i guess you guys solved my puzzle. Does anybody know where I could find the picture on-line so i could compare?

 

[Entacmaea]

Its on page 734-5 of the Baensch Atlas. Mr. Schiemer has the correct identification. The coloration similar to the six-line wrasse and will fade during maturation, turning instead to a striated green-mustard, judging from the picture listed... Very cool juvenile coloration though!

It also lists it as a possible poisonous fish, based on its diet in the wild (which may make it not a concern in an aquarium) ...

 

[Chucker]

Check FishBase. It is a wonderful resource. You may find that the mirrors actually work better than the main site - I've consistently found the German one to be faster.