Yellow and purple tang eating trachy

[JasonLy07]

Hi reef to reef a few days ago my purple and yellow tang decided that they like how my trachy looks or taste and began there assault on the coral and I am worried if it’ll end up killing the coral. Did anyone ever experience there tangs nipping on corals? And what should I do to stop this from happening. Thanks any help would be much appreciated

 

[destro]

Yes, it happens quite often. I'm not an expert but I think naturally they look for food constantly. If there's not enough to eat they will draw attention to the next best thing. It's their day job!

I've seen tangs rip scoly coral tissues right in front of my eyes. This happened yesterday when I was at a friends place. It's quite devastating. I joked and said you have expensive feeder corals! lol

Get a veggie clip/net with noori for them to graze on. That will help keep them off your corals.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I would try temporarily covering the coral with something to prevent it from being picked at, maybe tangs will lose interest.. something like a berry box works great.

 

[JasonLy07]

Ok thank you for the good ideas and fast responses I will try both the nori and making a crate to protect the trachy thank you and if anyone else have any other recommendations or idea please let me know thxs

 

[vetteguy53081]

Very unusual to hear tangs doing this to such coral. Get a clip and divert their attention to nourishing seaweed (nori)

 

[Reefer40b]

Honestly tangs get removed far too often for eating something they shouldn't be... just ask any tank maintenance company!

My purple tang loves Xenia and well I don't care that he eats it!

 

[Katrina71]

Did I just see the yellow tang bullying the purple? Lol. I thought it was the other way around.

 

[JasonLy07]

Did I just see the yellow tang bullying the purple? Lol. I thought it was the other way around.

Haha Yea it was crazy I was crawling on my floor to try and get a video of them nipping at the coral and I think it was more like the yellow tang was guarding the trachy Lol saying this is my food lol.

 

[JasonLy07]

Very unusual to hear tangs doing this to such coral. Get a clip and divert their attention to nourishing seaweed (nori)

Will any seaweed I get from the market work or do I have to buy a specific tang only seaweed?

 

[DSC reef]

Pretty common, tangs like the slime some corals and tridacna produce.

 

[JasonLy07]

Well guys made the cage for this coral and it’s puffed up very quickly but I wish the story ended there lol cause shortly after I took the pic and looked up somehow my purple tang got inside this cage and began its assault on the coral lol. Let’s take a moment of silence to honor the brilliance and tenacious purple tang... thank you

wish I got a pic of him in the cage I panicked and the only thing non my mind was how and get out lol.

 

[Silverfish]

I was researching this same problem I’m having with a purple tang and a lobo. My problem is a little different. I can’t feed my LPS bc the tang is stealing the food\eating the corals. My fox face has now learned how as well. Definitely gonna need the strawberry box !