Flame Fin (Tomini) Tang

The Flame Fin Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) is a bristletooth tang that helps with algae control by picking film algae and buildup from rockwork and hard surfaces. Adults are typically tan to brown with a blue tail and yellow-tipped dorsal and anal fins, giving it a clean, high-contrast look in reef tanks.

What You’ll Observe:

• Makes frequent short “picking passes” across live rock, glass, and overflow walls throughout the day
• Follows a repeatable route once it learns the tank layout, with bursts of swimming between grazing stops
• Learns feeding cues quickly and often joins the front of the tank when food goes in
• Uses caves and overhangs as regular rest points, then returns to grazing in cycles

To succeed, provide a well-established aquarium with live rock and open swimming lanes so it can graze and cruise naturally. Offer a mix of algae-based foods (like sheets on a clip) plus quality pellets and frozen foods to keep daily intake consistent. When housed with other tangs, keeping feeding stations in multiple spots helps spread out attention during meals.

Why is my Tomini Tang ignoring nori?
Some individuals focus more on film algae and fine grazing than on sheets. Try folding the nori into a thicker “pad” on the clip, rotate colors (green/red/brown), and also offer algae pellets or spirulina-based foods.

Will it eat hair algae or bryopsis?
Many bristletooth tangs target film algae/diatoms more than long strands, so results with hair algae can be mixed. They still help by keeping surfaces cleaner, which can reduce new buildup over time.

Is it normal for a new Tomini Tang to spend a lot of time out of sight?
Yes—many will “check in and out” of the rockwork while they map the tank and settle into a routine. A consistent feeding schedule usually brings longer, more regular grazing laps.

How do people typically introduce a Tomini Tang with other tangs already present?
A common approach is using an acclimation box briefly so fish can see each other without contact, then releasing near lights-out. Placing algae clips in more than one area can also help the first few days go smoother.

Does it need a sand bed to graze effectively?
They can graze rock and glass very effectively either way, but mature tanks with more natural surface area (including sandbed film if present) tend to support more constant picking behavior.

Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.