Feeding Tangs

[Tradewinds]

My tangs will eat just about anything I put in the tank. Most would probably agree that a varied diet is best for these fish.

My question is, what should the main stable of their diet be? Pellet, Dried Seaweed, or frozen (Mysis, Ron's food)?

It seems like there would be less waste (uneaten food) when using dried sea weed on a lettuce clip.

 

[TheGrimmReefer]

I would say seaweed is their main source in an aquarium setting. They mostly eat algae in the wild so this would make sense. But you are right in saying that a varied diet is best. I do seaweed and pellets daily, and rods or roggers frozen once or twice a week.

 

[tuna_bullet]

definatly mix it up. also mix up your seaweed there are several types at the grocery store for sushi wraps they all work well, ie green, red, rust colored...you dont want your tangs to get hole in the head from lack of diet......

 

[Tradewinds]

...you dont want your tangs to get hole in the head from lack of diet......

... maybe that's my problem! All I eat is tuna twist. [JK]

 

[TJ's Reef]

A mix of Nori/Seaweed with a protein such as Mysis is best for the fact that Tangs as a group though mainly herbivores have adapted to eat different algae and or plankton depending on species. You can see first hand by adding a mix of Red, Green and Brown algae at same time to see who eats what first. Or who eats whats left, after initial feeding frenzy. For my mix of Tangs they mostly attack the Red and Brown Nori first then graze on the Green for little longer. My Kole Tang is the only one to target the Red/Maroon Turf Algae in my system and Yellow will eat any small Velonia (Bubble Algae) if exposed. I do not have one currently but Hepatus/Hippo Tangs are primarily planktivores as juveniles and become more of a herbivore as adults.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Reefing Madness]

I just feed mine Romaine Lettuce and Mysis Shrimp, I've got some monsters.

 

[navila06]

wow, I haven't heard of someone feeding tangs romaine in a while. Have you considered using nori, it's cheaper (when you buy at wal-mart)and doesn't go bad, and is a more natural food?

I just feed mine Romaine Lettuce and Mysis Shrimp, I've got some monsters.

 

[Eienna]

I just feed mine Romaine Lettuce and Mysis Shrimp, I've got some monsters.

I do believe romaine lettuce (or lettuce, period) is not nutritionally adequate for tangs. It's lacking several beneficial nutrients contained in seaweed.

 

[Reefing Madness]

This guys got a better set up than I.
Tangs feasting on Romaine lettuce - YouTube

 

[navila06]

I am not saying it's bad for them or you can't have thriving tangs if you feed it to them, just saying nori is cheaper, doesn't go bad, and a more natural food for them. I fed my tangs romaine when I was 15 years old cause I didn't know about nori. Now 20 years later when I pass romaine in the vege section at the store I always giggle a lil.

This guys got a better set up than I.
Tangs feasting on Romaine lettuce - YouTube

 

[Eienna]

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?p=638366

If you can grow live algae for them, such as in the refugium, they will love you for it.

I hear the New Era Grazer Ring is great for herbivores like tang and rabbitfish.