How to hand feed tangs?

[big man]

I just got a biota yellow tang that is about 1.5 inches. And I want to be able to hand feed the little guy some Noir and make him use to me Does anyone have any advice on how to hand feed tangs. He's right now in a 10 gallon quarantine tank with a few gobys.

 

[Sean Clark]

Start with nori on a magnet or clip. When it is use to that and will anticipate the food and eat from it while you are standing in front of it the next time instead of the magnet or clip just hold it for them. They may be timid at first but they learn/trust fast.

 

[fishguy242]

hi, at this point ,just keep him fed well, try not to make him uncomfortable,
once settled,and accustomed to you feeding ,then start to offer by hand.
should be no problem...

 

[Sean Clark]

+1 for above. I did not even consider that this was a biota tang and super tiny. Hand feeding can wait until it is bigger.

 

[MaxTremors]

It’s going to be tough getting it to trust you in a ten gallon tank that doesn’t have hiding spots and room to dart away. Once in an appropriately sized and scaped tank, it will just take time getting used to your feeding schedule and getting comfortable with your presence. I would feed at the same times each day in the same spot, and move slowly at first so as not to spook the fish. Once it’s comfortable and starts to associate you with food (when it comes to the front of the tank where you feed when you approach), start trying to hold food in your hand. It shouldn’t take too long, so long as you reinforce that you’re not a threat and get your fish to associate you approaching a certain part of the tank with getting food (for example my fish know that when I put my hand by the right front corner, it’s food time).

 

[big man]

In my main tank I am able to hand feed my clowns. But my small kole tang runs away as soon as I get close. That'd why I want to try to make the yellow use to me so he doesn't dash away as soon has he sees me. Also at night is it normal for yellow tangs to have a dark blotch in the middle of them. Like is it camouflage because when I acclimated him he had it then it went away and now it's back in the middle of him. And also after I quarantine him and put him in my main tank will my blue eyed kole tang attack him? The kole tang is about 2.5 inches and the tank is a 55 gallon

 

[fishguy242]

yes normal, is best to just check on ,and feed in qt, fish is stressed enough,
thinking no with kole attacking, but better safe than sorry,
use an acclimation box upon adding.

 

[Doctorgori]

I’d associate a sound or lighting event with feeding time, if you are consistent it doesn’t take long for them to figure out….from there it’s easy for your hand to be a “veggie clip” so to speak

 

[TheBiochemist]

All of my fish got use to me and hand feeding. I feed every day at the same times (morning/evening). In the morning, when fish see me they get excited and beg for food. At the beginning they were rather shy and it took few months to be there. Interestingly, they do this only as a reaction to myself, but not to my wife or kids, so they are obviously able to connect a specific person with feeding.

 

[big man]

Also it's normal for yellow tangs to not eat for the first few day because he's new to the tank right