Getting new tangs to eat

BrandonS · Oct 10, 2019

I have a new yellow Tang and yellow eye Tang in qt. I am trying to feed nori and American reef hpd. I have soaked both in garlic but haven't noticed the tangs eating yet. Granted it's only been 2 days.

Any tricks or tips for getting new tangs to eat?

lapin · Oct 10, 2019

Live food might work. White worms, black worms and even brine shrimp.

nereefpat · Oct 10, 2019

Yes, live foods can help. I've never had a healthy fish refuse live brine. Frozen brine or mysis are good first foods.

Were they eating at the store?

Fish don't always go to nori right away. Ctenochaetus tangs (like yellow eye) sometimes don't ever take to it. It does help to have it on a rock, rather than on a clip.

BrandonS · Oct 10, 2019

Unfortunately my LFS has closed and it was an online purchase. The yellow tang ended up belly up today after I posted this. All other fish are fine so far. He was doing fine to just swam into a corner laid down and 30 minutes later was done.

I will give frozen brine and mysis a try. Thank you for the suggestions. Do Ctenochaetus tangs eat meatier food then? Was under the impression all tangs took to nori.

C. Eymann · Oct 11, 2019

Are you using a clip for the nori? try rubberbanding it to a small rock instead. Some tangs get spooked by clips at first.

Also garlic is okay as an entice, IMO its not good for them long term, try selcon instead, also new life spectrum herbivorous pellets soaked in selcon has worked well with finicky fish for me , it's also a great food nutrition wise.

BrandonS · Oct 11, 2019

C. Eymann said:
Are you using a clip for the nori? try rubberbanding it to a small rock instead. Some tangs get spooked by clips at first.

Also garlic is okay as an entice, IMO its not good for them long term, try selcon instead, also new life spectrum herbivorous pellets soaked in selcon has worked well with finicky fish for me , it's also a great food nutrition wise.

I am using a clip and will give the rock trick a try.

BayouReefer · Oct 11, 2019

LRS Reef Frenzy it is a frozen food. I just just got 2 new Tangs they kinda turned their nose up at Nori but I put some Reef Frenzy in and they couldn’t resist. I also soaked it in some selcon for 5 min prior to feeding.