The Whitetail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) is a mid-sized surgeonfish from the South-Central Pacific, with records from Tahiti, the US Minor Islands, and the Line, Society, Rapa, and Austral Islands. It occupies shallow coral reefs, reef slopes, and lagoons from roughly 3 to 90 feet of water. Body color is variable and described in different ways, from dark brown to olive with fine horizontal spotting to warmer red and orange tones with spots and stripes, but every account agrees on the crisp white tail that gives the fish its name. Yellow-ringed eyes are a frequent feature, and the mouth is equipped with bristle-like, individually movable teeth built for scraping and sifting fine material from hard surfaces. Adults reach about 6.5 inches.

Plan on a 70-gallon aquarium or larger with at least four feet of swimming length, since this is an active grazer that patrols the full footprint of the tank throughout the day. Build the layout around abundant live rock or coral-encrusted rock so the fish has continuous grazing surface, and include caves and crevices where it can retreat and sleep. Strong, well-distributed flow mimics the reef environment it comes from. This species is sensitive to declining water quality, so it belongs in a mature, established system with low nitrate and phosphate. A secure lid is sound practice with any surgeonfish.