Foxface eats bubble algae?

AC1211 · Oct 14, 2019

What type of foxface or tang eats bubble algae preferably one of the smaller species?

Seanislav · Oct 14, 2019

AC1211 said:
What type of foxface or tang eats bubble algae preferably one of the smaller species?

I had a Naso tang wipe all bubble algae out of a previous tank, but they're most definitely not small fish.

TessGlo · Oct 14, 2019

My one spot foxface (siganus unimaculatus) will nibble at the smaller bits, but wont go after larger clumps of it, but I'm interested what others have experienced. I've not experienced a tang that likes it.

saltyhog · Oct 14, 2019

My Gold Rim tang eliminated it from my tank. Still in the overflow but none in the DT.

CivicS14 · Oct 14, 2019

In my previous tank, I had a crazy infestation and a desjardini tang ate it all up.

But like any species, foxface or tangs, its going to vary by fish

jlanger · Oct 14, 2019

It will vary by the individual fish. I had a One Spot Foxface that would devour bubble algae in seconds and the following fish wouldn't even cast it a glance.

Thales · Oct 14, 2019

It varies. I havent found one more likey to eat than the others, but some individuals are all over it. You can help them by removing or popping as much as you can find - it seems the are more likely to eat it when it is tiny (this tends to be true for most algaes).
It is fine to pop - there are no spores in there.

Halal Hotdog · Oct 14, 2019

IME scribble rabbitfish, yellow tang, purple tang, and naso tang have eaten bubble algae. I also had a powder blue that I believe was also eating bubble algae. My naso didn't touch any algae until he was 3", after which is appetite exploded. I find fish teach other fish what to eat.

nereefpat · Oct 14, 2019

Are we all talking about green bubble algae?

mfinn · Jan 23, 2020

Thales said:
It varies. I havent found one more likey to eat than the others, but some individuals are all over it. You can help them by removing or popping as much as you can find - it seems the are more likely to eat it when it is tiny (this tends to be true for most algaes).
It is fine to pop - there are no spores in there.

I'm going to bump this old thread and hopefully @Thales can expand on his statement about the bubble algae.
I was doing a search on bubble algae and read your post. Just looking for information. Not calling you out.

Thales · Jan 24, 2020

mfinn said:
I'm going to bump this old thread and hopefully @Thales can expand on his statement about the bubble algae.
I was doing a search on bubble algae and read your post. Just looking for information. Not calling you out.

I think you are asking about the spores part. I talked to phycologists and looked at the literature. Since you can't prove a negative, it actually makes more sense to ask the people that say there are spores to support that claim. Sorry, it has been a bit since I dived deep on this so I don't have any references available. IIRC, the spores are made in the cells, and are not in the bubble cavity. I don't have time right now to look up stuff, so if you are interested try google scholar.