New Kole tang not eating :(

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by markie360, Jun 28, 2010.

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  1. markie360

    markie360 Astrea Snail

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    I got a kole tang about 2 days ago and i cant get him to eat. Water checks out fine and he swims around the tank a lot. I see him pick algea on the rock often but he wont eat. I have tried feeding him mysis brine formula 2 and freeze dried seaweed. Is this normal for a tang to take a while to get used to his home or am i doing something wrong.
     
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  3. divott

    divott Giant Squid

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    its probably getting accustomed to his new surroundings. if its pecking at algae on your rocks , i wouldnt really worry. have you put any nori on a clip? he may go after that .
     
  4. blackraven1425

    blackraven1425 Giant Squid

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    It can take a tang a while to get used to eating nori, or any other prepared foods. I wouldn't worry about it, since he's currently eating off the rocks.

    BTW, bristletooth tangs eat detritus more than other tangs. So even if there isn't a large amount of algae, I still wouldn't worry.
     
  5. markie360

    markie360 Astrea Snail

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    yeah i put nori in and nothing the other tang destroys the nori but the kole doesnt touch it
     
  6. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Bristletooth tangs can be like this. How long has the tank been up? If it won't eat any prepared foods, it will eat detritus and algae off the glass and rocks. if it has enough of that, it will be fine. if not, it will starve eventually unless it learns to eat prepared foods.
     
  7. djbonney138

    djbonney138 Peppermint Shrimp

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    Hide a few little pieces of Nori in the live rock. Wedge a piece or two in between two rocks. It will take him a few days to adjust to his new surroundings so it is normal. Mine is real picky and only started eating the expensive Julian Sprungs Sea Veggies Green Seaweed. Once you get him eating Nori it won't take long till he eats like a pig at feeding time.
     
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  9. markie360

    markie360 Astrea Snail

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    tank is a year and a half old i was told that these guys are hardy anyways so i dont know why iam not having good luck!!!
     
  10. blackraven1425

    blackraven1425 Giant Squid

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    Well, they're hardy compared to other tangs. Definitely not as hardy as damsels lol.
     
  11. djbonney138

    djbonney138 Peppermint Shrimp

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    It has only been 2 days and you have seen him pecking at live rock I wouldn't get discouraged yet. He will eat just keep trying different foods and techniques.
     
  12. ReefSparky

    ReefSparky Super Moderator

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    I've had mine over a year and he pecks the glass more than anything. He will eat mysis and brine, though. He won't touch anything on a clip, brocolli, nori, seaweed, etc. The LFS recommended I buy spriulina-based flakes, but I've yet to take him up on that.

    He's doing fine. Good luck.