kole tang vs yellow tang

[reefreak]

I was thinking of getting a yellow tang from my dads tank he is a slow grazer the reason i want him is because i want to grow caulerpa prolafia in my tank I was thinking of a kole tang because i have lots of flow but are they slow grazers?

[Europhyllia]

Kole are bristletooth. They will suck more on rock, etc. than really graze on algae like the yellows would

[reefreak]

Ok but they will graze a little because I want it to naturally trim it but not eat all of it like my blue tang did

[Europhyllia]

I'd be surprised if you found a Kole tang that eats macro but stranger things have happened.

[reefreak]

K well I'm probably going to go with a yellow right now and then wait until I get the sand from you

[350gt]

Yellows can be mean...

Something to keep in mind is your going to add another tang later, or any fish for that matter.

[Europhyllia]

really good point! if all you want is thinning out the prolifera you leave yourself more options if you just yank out a handful yourself every once in awhile...

[reefreak]

Well the reason I was going to add him was because he's getting beat up by my dads blue tang

[Europhyllia]

if you want a yellow tang then by all means get one. :)
They are very beautiful.
Just don't get one just because you want him to prune the Prolifera. You can do that better yourself. And know that by getting the tang you may commit yourself to passing on some other fish. That's totally okay if a yellow tang is what you want to begin with.
Our suggestions were just based on the idea that you wanted it specifically for grazing.
That would often be not worth the commitment. Kind of like marrying some guy just because you need somebody to mow the lawn once a week. You'd be better off to mow it yourself and keep your options open... ;)

[reefreak]

Thanks Karin I think I am that is the only tang I will probably get umm was wondering are you going to be making a trip into town anytime soon?

[Europhyllia]

Saturday morning. can meet up at 10:30 on the NE side but it's got to be quick.

[allan]

Man, I love my yellow tang. Such a welcome splash of color.

I don't know what you mean about a slow grazer though. Mine is constantly picking at the rock and keeps my algae well in check. He seems to love all manner of algae and certain species of acans. It was such a delight watching him enjoy a meal of prized acans.

So far on my list of never agains is the blue hippo (scoly muncher) and yellow tangs (acan nibbler). I've a yellow eye joke tang that so far only enjoys greens. Won't even feed meaty stuff when I feed the rest of the tank.

[reefreak]

Ok see you then