kole tang

Tphill · Dec 19, 2013

Hello. I have a yellow-eyed kole tang in qt. He's been in there a little over a week and will not eat anything I offer him. I've tried frozen, flakes, and 2 different pellets. I've put a couple pieces of rock in there that have algae on them and he picks at the rocks, but I can't tell that any of the algae is gone. I've also put nori in there, and while it is gone from the clip in a few hours, I've not seen him eat it so I'm not sure that it isn't being sucked up in the filter or otherwise 'dissolved'. Any suggestions on what I can get this guy to eat. He's about 3" and came from Vivid Aquarium. Tank is a 29g with a powerhead and a cpr hob refugium. Thanks.

JMSKI333 · Dec 19, 2013

Try rubber banding the nori to the rock. That will feel most natural to him. Once you can get him to reliably eat that, then we will move up to the next step.

787will · Dec 19, 2013

Nori doesn't 'dissolve' within a few hours, so you can rule that out. Are you folding the nori several times before you clip it or just clipping it straight on? if you fold then clip and its gone within a few hours then he's eating it because if he wasn't then it would still be there the next day! if your not folding it then the flow in the tank will probably tear it off.

GOSKN5 · Dec 19, 2013

I got a yellow eye kole tang from Divers Den almost a month ago... same story... will not eat anything... grazes all day on rocks and sand although I have very little algae other than film on glass...

I finally tried the rubberband nori on rock method and he picks at it now... also will chase and eat some of the pieces that fly off the nori... still won't eat pellets flakes or frozen...

Reefing Madness · Dec 19, 2013

Soak the food in Garlic X. That'll at least entice him.
Also try Mysis Shrimp
Possibly hang some Roamine Lettuce or Spinach Leaves.

3dees · Dec 19, 2013

that's why I don't order fish online. for one, I like to see the fish and I always Insist that I see the fish eat. I just put a kole In my qt yesterday and he was eating after a few hours. I wouldn't worry, as long as it's eating the nori.

TJ's Reef · Dec 19, 2013

Kole Tangs in the wild primarily eat Red & Brown Macro and Turf Algae. If you can get a hold of either Red or Brown Nori I'm sure it will initiate his feeding response.

Cheers, Todd

Tphill · Dec 19, 2013

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try the nori rubberbanded on a rock tonight. Yes I do fold it several times, and all that has been left is the part in the clip. I did have the clip at the opposite end of the tank from the powerhead, so I thought maybe the flow was breaking it up too much. That is the side of the tank where he stays around most of the time pecking at the rock and glass. I did try romaine, he didn't touch it. I'll get some Garlic X ordered. I just received an order today from BRS, it will probably be after Christmas before I would receive another shipment though.
As far as ordering fish/coral online, if you saw the crappy choices we have in these parts, you would order online also, or do without!

thegrilledcheesus · Dec 20, 2013

The way I get all my fish to eat is to start with live brine, copepod, or mysis if I can get it, and then if he's eating that I try to wean the herbivorous fish onto their natural diet, and the omnivores, and carnivores, I attempt pellets. It's not worked once, and interestingly enough that was on a Kole tang.

Tphill · Dec 20, 2013

thegrilledcheesus said:
It's not worked once, and interestingly enough that was on a Kole tang.

Not very encouraging.

Jimbo · Dec 20, 2013

My Kole Tang loves Newlife Spectrum Pellets. Worth a shot, it's a good food for your other fish anyway.

Eienna · Dec 20, 2013

My Bartlett's anthias like the NLS pellets better than any frozens I've tried them with. They go nuts when I put it in!

Obviously, they aren't tangs, but...

I've heard of New Era Grazer Rings working well for tangs.

RJAllen · Dec 21, 2013

I purchased a Kole 9 weeks ago. Spent 1st 5 weeks in quarantine. Came from Vivid in California. He has always eaten everything except during prazi treatment. Then he only ate a little hair algae from my sump. Treated 2 courses over 2 weeks. He developed a fondness for brine shrimp. At the end of prazi, within 48 hours, his appetite came back 2x. Now in DT he eats nori, spirolina pellets, film algae, all types of frozen , flakes, pellets, my Foxface's poo. Heck he even tried to steel a small bristle worm from my Hovens Wrasse. Don't think he liked the taste though. My problem is I think he's eating too much animal protein.
Play around with different foods. He will come around.

Tphill · Dec 21, 2013

That's where this guy came from. I'm still on the fence about trusting this source. I bought 4 critters from them, 2 fish and 2 coral. 1 fish and 1 coral died. They did refund back to my account, but that's only 50/50 survival. I've had much better results ordering off e-bay and from other places.

RJAllen · Dec 23, 2013

I've had 2 shipments from Vivid. Everything LPS, SPS & 1 soft coral plus 6 fish all arrived in good shape. Each specimum was an outstanding example of species. Within 72 hrs on 1st shipment, one of paired set of maroon clowns came down with something similiar to Brook. Lost the fish within 48 hrs...really don't know what it was as no other fish got sick. All the fish, including its mate are healthly and Book
Is very contagious. Vivid refunded the cost.
One thing that might improve your survival percentage. When drip acclimating, add a drop or two of Prime or another amonia detox agent as the transport water goes through some immediate chemical changes when exposed to air. pH changes and ammonia