Thinking about adding a kole tang

[kgstei]

Thinking about finding a kole tang to add to my tank to manage my caulerpa algae growth. Are they good algae pickers?

 

[Blitzie]

yes they are but make sure to QT them as most Tangs can be sick

 

[amazonjoe]

They're great algae eaters

 

[kgstei]

That's good news this caulerpa is getting out of control.

 

[kgstei]

yes they are but make sure to QT them as most Tangs can be sick

Unfortunately I'm not real strong in the quarantine Department

 

[FishWrangler]

Unfortunately I'm not real strong in the quarantine Department

I rolled the dice when I bought mine, didn't quarantine, and we got lucky with a nice healthy fish. That said, I doubt I'd take the chance again. Don't some LFS's use copper and other stuff in their tanks to minimize sick fish? I know it's not the same as quarantining. but better than nothing........

What about waiting for one on Diver's Den?

 

[justingraham]

Love my kole I think it's a good decision

 

[kgstei]

I was hoping maybe I'll get lucky and find one from someone who's had one in their tank for a while. I'm thinking about moving my tank so maybe I should wait

 

[Vaughn17]

Find an LFS that runs copper in their fish tanks and buy a fish that's been there awhile and looks healthy.

 

[Brew12]

I rolled the dice when I bought mine, didn't quarantine, and we got lucky with a nice healthy fish. That said, I doubt I'd take the chance again. Don't some LFS's use copper and other stuff in their tanks to minimize sick fish? I know it's not the same as quarantining. but better than nothing........

What about waiting for one on Diver's Den?

Actually, it can work the other way. Running copper at levels below therapeutic can actually mask things like Ich and Velvet without killing them. It may give you a false sense of security. Maybe @Humblefish or @melypr1985 can expound on that more.

 

[cginter]

Best algae eater i had.

 

[Humblefish]

Actually, it can work the other way. Running copper at levels below therapeutic can actually mask things like Ich and Velvet without killing them. It may give you a false sense of security. Maybe @Humblefish or @melypr1985 can expound on that more.

^^ This is true. Subtherapeutic copper eliminates some of the free swimmers but not all. A few attach and become trophonts on the fish (usually inside the gills.) So what you get is a "slightly infested" fish, but the parasites come back with a vengeance once he/she is removed from copper water.

 

[Brew12]

^^ This is true. Subtherapeutic copper eliminates some of the free swimmers but not all. A few attach and become trophonts on the fish (usually inside the gills.) So what you get is a "slightly infested" fish, but the parasites come back with a vengeance once he/she is removed from copper water.

Thank you Humblefish! I was hoping I was correct with this. I would hate for people to have a misconception on something this important!

 

[Vaughn17]

Great point, Brew and Humblefish. However, I don't think anyone was claiming that fish purchased from an LFS that runs copper would be guaranteed to be healthy. I think the point was that some people aren't into quarantining fish. IMO, fish from a quality LFS that runs copper are a better choice than fish from a certain chain store or an LFS that doesn't run copper if you're not going to quarantine them. Of course, quarantining new fish is the best way to go.