care and feeding of my yellow tang

[flame8]

hello, i just got a yellow tang last week and its not really into the flakes, shrimps or seaweed i'm offering it. i see it nibbling on stuff from the rocks sometimes, but is that enough for it to survive? also, i'm thinking of adding more tangs to the tank, but i know they can be a bit aggressive in small groups. does anyone know the minimum number i can add so they get along and thrive? thanks in advance for the advice.

[fleeton]

what's the tank size, the lack of eating is a bit of a concern. have you tried adding garlic to the food to see if that'll get the tang interested?

[flame8]

my tank is 120 cm x 75 cm x 40 cm. interestingly, the shrimps i offer already have some garlic in them.

[rusticore]

Yellow tangs being herbivores, even if it does eat the shrimp it's not getting the nutrients it needs, if any at all.

[zenoxa]

I strongly disagree with the notion that yellow tangs are herbivores requiring no meat. In reality, these fish, like many others deemed herbivorous, need a sufficient amount of protein to thrive. The algae they consume in their natural habitat is often covered in zoobenthos, providing them with the necessary nutrients. A study by Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd at the University of Florida found that a diet lacking meat led to an alarming 80% mortality rate in Caribbean Blue Tangs, with the few survivors appearing weak and undernourished. While feeding a balanced diet is crucial, I firmly believe that a meat-based diet is far more beneficial for tangs than a strictly vegetarian one.

[floral9]

My tang does pretty well on a mix of flakes and frozen brine, and I also give him nori for some extra nutrients.

[rusticore]

I strongly disagree with the notion that yellow tangs are herbivores requiring no meat. In reality, these fish, like many others deemed herbivorous, need a sufficient amount of protein to thrive. The algae they consume in their natural habitat is often covered in zoobenthos, providing them with the necessary nutrients. A study by Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd at the University of Florida found that a diet lacking meat led to an alarming 80% mortality rate in Caribbean Blue Tangs, with the few survivors appearing weak and undernourished. While feeding a balanced diet is crucial, I firmly believe that a meat-based diet is far more beneficial for tangs than a strictly vegetarian one.

I think you make a valid point, but if tangs truly do better on a meat-based diet, shouldn't that impact their classification. If they can't thrive on just veggies, doesn't that lean more towards them being omnivores or even carnivores.

[zeno9]

hello, i just got a yellow tang last week and its not really into the flakes, shrimps or seaweed i'm offering it. i see it nibbling on stuff from the rocks sometimes, but is that enough for it to survive? also, i'm thinking of adding more tangs to the tank, but i know they can be a bit aggressive in small groups. does anyone know the minimum number i can add so they get along and thrive? thanks in advance for the advice.

Not sounding too good at the moment. Garlic might be worth a shot, like Ski mentioned. They usually can't resist it.

I'd take a closer look at the fish for any signs of parasites or disease. When my clowns were sick, they stopped eating for days. One didn't make it, probably due to being shipped sick. Tangs are prone to whitespot, so make sure it's clear. Check if the fish's poop hangs from its anus for a while, like a long string. That can be a sign of internal parasites or infection.

I'd advise waiting on adding more tangs. Quarantine any new ones and treat them for ich and internal parasites before adding to the display tank. If you get whitespot with tangs, you'll be in for a tough time, trust me.

[lyrano]

My tang has a huge appetite, and I'm pretty sure it's time for a balanced diet, maybe even a fluffnut. Garlic is definitely worth a shot, I've seen great results with it. I usually mince one clove and mix it with frozen brine shrimp, let it sit for a bit, then add it to the tank - my tang loves the garlic bits.

As for the original tang, how's it behaving? Are there enough hiding spots, like between the live rock and the glass? What's the condition of the yellow stripes on its sides? If they're yellow, that's a good sign, but if they're white, it might be stressed, which could explain the lack of appetite. Keep in mind that the stripes can also turn white when they sleep.

My tang is quite shy, it darts behind the live rock when there's sudden movement near the tank.

[zenoxa]

Yellow tangs being herbivores, even if it does eat the shrimp it's not getting the nutrients it needs, if any at all.

Considering the natural diet of these fish, they do tend to eat greens as a primary source, and the meat is more of an accidental ingestion, which is why they're classified as herbivores.