Twospot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus)
Fish in the family Acanthuridae. Moderate care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
A small, oval-bodied tang with a dark brown to tan body and characteristic dark spots or markings near the eye and gill area. The fish has prominent bristle-like teeth (hence "bristletooth"), and a distinctly curved mouth adapted for grazing algae from rock and substrate surfaces.
Diet and feeding
Ctenochaetus binotatus is a dedicated herbivore that feeds primarily on benthic diatoms and filamentous algae. In captivity, provide quality dried seaweed sheets and high-quality herbivorous pellets multiple times daily, supplemented with fresh vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or nori.
Difficulty and care for the Twospot Bristletooth
Moderately challenging. Requires excellent water quality, a well-established tank with abundant live rock for grazing, and a mature reef system. More hardy than some other bristletooth species but demands consistent feeding and stable conditions.
Common health issues
Parasitic infections (ich), head and lateral line erosion (HLLE), intestinal parasites
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, typically found in coral reef environments at depths of 5–60 meters.
Log Twospot Bristletooth in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Twospot Bristletooth alongside everything else in your reef.
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