Yellow Tang

[johnyardavid]

Ok, story goes, I bought a Yellow Tang two weeks ago, named him Martin (Marteen). He didn't take to any seaweed I placed in the aquarium. So far I have tried Ocean Nutrition Green and Brown Seaweeds, as I've read some are picky based on color. Regular Nori from HEB dripped on with some Garlic Xtreme has been tried as well. Martin didn't eat for four to five days, besides picking on what little algae growth I have on my live rock. In my short experience any fish that hasn't eaten a decent meal in that long doesn't make it; it seems as though their digestion and therefore their desire to feed has shutdown. Well yesterday as I was dropping a little freeze-dried Hikari Brine Shrimp in my tank Martin decided he was at least an omnivore at heart, and began to chow down on some Sea Monkeys. Later that night I fed some freeze-dried Hikari Ocean Plankton (basically mysis, brine, and other sea creature delicacies) and Martin hit those up as well. Both of these Hikari products are multi-vitamin enriched. As I have read, many yellow tangs in captivity will resort to eating meat, but consequently suffer if they do not also consume algae. My questions are, does the enrichment of the Hikari food make up for the lack of plant in Martin's diet, or will he still suffer so long as he does not consume plants? Still, I faithfully swap out a piece of seaweed rubber banded to some rubble every twenty four hours in hopes that he will come around. At the very least my hermits LOVE the garlic enriched seaweeds, and I have no problem ensuring my opportunistic feeders have their fill of whatever is cheap! Any insight by previous or current Yellow Tang owners would be appreciated. - John'yar

[Europhyllia]

Another MAAST member here finds Spirulina enriched brine shrimp to be contributing to his fish' health. Might try that.

[Mike]

Is there anything else in the tank that eats algae also? Sometimes it takes the fish seeing someone else eating it to realize that it is food and supposed to be eaten. You might also try some of the different macro algaes to see about getting him eating. Our little blue hippo loved dragon's breath. Not sure if anything eats chaeto or calurpa. Finally there are some specially formulated herbivore frozen foods that might help him... good luck.

[profntbtr]

tangs usually are pretty fond of caulerpa, but it can be invasive, so i wouldn't try more than a strand or two, and don't just throw it in until you know martin will consume it. i'd hate for you to try it, have it take over your tank and choke out your corals, and then you have to get another fish to consume it. i 'd either wrap it in the mesh that usually accompanies algae clips, or,if martin isn't shy you may have some luck just dangling it in the water with your hand. i've had the best luck with getting tangs to eat grape caulerpa.

[beareef19]

Yellow tangs can be picky eaters. My tang will eat frozen brine, brine with spirolina,and mysis, I also put 1 sheet of HEB Nori in everyday. I have herbivores eating meat and omnivores eating algae just be patient and make sure it is not getting bullied when you feed, put plenty of food so all the fish dont gather in one place to eat. make them hunt the tank for food.
Barry

[350gt]

Sometimes it takes the fish seeing someone else eating it to realize that it is food and supposed to be eaten.


exactly what it took my yellow to start eating it........ hes still picky sometimes and wont go after it unless someone else is eating it...

[kkiel02]

I also try the mixed foods like fish and reef or something similar as they will start eating the mysis or brine but also the nori that is also in there without knowing it. Now my lubbucks fairy wrasse even eats nori. I also like marine cuisine and want to try the Rods food next as I have heard good things about it.

[alton]

I had a chrysurus angel goes weeks before eating. As long as he is fat you should be okay

[johnyardavid]

Well he still is healthy and fat. I have a lawnmower blenny in there with him but even the lawnmower won't eat any of the seaweeds. Now he is eating like my carnivores and he chomps on all food. Perhaps y'all are right and the majority of feeding that he sees is the meat eaters chowing on shrimp, so Martin see Martin do I guess :-). If only I had a 1000 gallon so I could swim in and show him how it's done! Lol, I rip a small piece of his HEB Nori sometimes and eat it myself. I'm used to misubi and sushi from Hawaii. Thanks for all the advice, and no he doesn't get bullied when feeding time comes. I broadcast feed and let everything get swirled around by the flow in my tank. My fish like it better that way and there's less competition.

[350gt]

Try chopping it in flake sized pieces.... Soak it for a bit so it sinks, I bet he will try it..

[johnyardavid]

That's a good idea. I was securing it to rubble because he was picking off the rocks, but now that he feeds from the water column he may try it like that.