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Tips to Feed Stubborn Tang Fish [Archive] - Saltwater Aquariums - Reef Tanks Online Discussion

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Hohihahihahoho
02-09-2004, 12:51 AM
I had problems to keep my Naso Tang alive in the past. Lost the first one in my 9G acyrlic NEO tank due to starvation. Fish pellet, lettuce and seaweeds could not bring its appetite to eat.


Bought a new 55G tank as I read it in the Net, Naso requires big tank. After my new tank cycled, I got myself Sailfin Tang, Yellow Tang and Maroon Clown. They all survived in my new tank for almost a month. Then I bought my second Naso Tang which died in 6 days due starvation.

One day the LFS had a beautiful Naso Tang, I just got to have it. Had it for 4 days and still my Naso Tang would not eat anything. By this time, my Sailfin, Yellow Tang and Maroon already survived almost two months in my 55G tank.

After several tips, finally the guy at LFS gave me a tip that worked to persuade my Naso to eat. He told me to tie lettuce together with a heavy object so that it would sink at the bottom. Tried it and when the Naso looked at it inside the tank, took one bite and that was it! It swam away.

I remembered the leftover seaweed I bought for my first Naso. I replaced the lettuce with the brown seaweed and dropped it again in the tank. When the seaweed sank together with the heavy object, it swayed left and right due to the slight current movement in my tank. The 4 days hungry Naso came and grabbed it like a shark bitting its prey. The other Tang fish also came to bite but could not do it as all seaweed were gone and ended up in Naso's mouth.

After several times, feeding this way I got a bit tired of tying seaweed to the heavy object. I used my multi-purpose tool by Hagen to hold a piece of the seaweed at the end and lowered it down midway to the bottom of the tank. I moved the multi-purpose tool gently left and right so that the seaweed would sway left right too. That got attention of Naso and other Tang fish. From that day until today, that's how I feed my Naso. The guy at LFS told me their Naso fish ate pellet fish food. But mine even after a month refuses to eat the pellet except seaweed. Bottomline the seaweed is much cheaper than the pellet. BTW, I bought my seaweed at the grocery store (Carrefour) and not at LFS. The seaweed is meant for "sushi" (Japanese food). But care should be taken not to buy sushi seaweed that is mixed with somethings else. You should buy a packet that contains only RAW seaweed.

Lately, I feed my Naso using only my hand. I just tear a long thin piece of seaweed and dip it at the water level, wiggle it gently and ... my Naso comes and snatches it away. The other Tang fish will join in and chase my Naso with mouth dangling with the seaweed. It just fun to watch everytime! Try it if you have stubborn Naso Tang that refuses to eat! It might work for you too.

hounddog
02-09-2004, 01:10 AM
Did you see the Naso eat at the LFS? It sounds like you have a great system and feeding the fish by hand is really cool.

Hohihahihahoho
02-09-2004, 04:32 AM
I started my hobby with a freshwater tank and personally I never had problems of freshwater fish starving to death. So, when I bought my first Naso I didn't check whether it started to eat or not.

I bought my second Naso because the guy at LFS told me it already ate. But when I took it home, it refused to eat. Lesson to be learned here is to look with your own eyes that the fish eats before you buy it.

The third Naso like I mentioned earlier, I got to have it when I saw it at LFS. I got special price discount for newly arrived fish and could not take the risk if someone else bought it first. LFS at my place would have Naso Tang every now and then, but to get this Naso (tail takes on lyre shape) is quite difficult. So far the LFS managed to get only 5 of those. I took the risk when I bought it and I'm glad I did it.

Anyway, good experience to share with friends when they come to my house and start asking about my Naso Tang ... I got story to tell! :)

gregoryalln
02-09-2004, 04:36 AM
try feeding it with some garlic elixir mixed into the fod, the garlic elixir sometimes help's finicky eaters eat. also try frozen prawn's

emillard05
03-11-2004, 03:28 PM
I think a 55 gallon tank is too small to house 3 tangs that will reach a fairly large size. even if you load it to the gills with live rock. I think upgrading to a 6 foot tank is the only way to properly house 3 tangs. Dont forget that a naso can grow up to a foot in arge aquariums and 18 inches in the wild! I realize these tanks are expensive, but the 3 fish that you have now just about max out your capacity. Bullying amongst the tangs was in all likihood the reason for the demise of the naso.

Madmanny
03-12-2004, 02:13 PM
it is very important that when you buy seaweed it is not roasted or preserved in any way. EVEN if the pack says' seaweed, read the ingredients anyway. My tangs eat green hair algea when i starve them, because they love it so much, but i feed them every 3 days some seaweed and they have a great big bulge in there tummy.

good luck tangs are nice.