Question for tang "experts"

Oblivionis · #1 08/22/2006, 06:19 AM

Is Orangeshoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceous) strictly a herbivore? I have had one for over a month now and he just loves lettice. He is not interested in anything else.

If you have one or you've kept one in the past, please share your experiences.

YolaKola · #2 08/22/2006, 07:50 AM

he's a vegetarian - and he likes your lettuce. maybe put some flakes on his lettuce - once he tries it, he may like it. Just kidding of course, but if he's growing, he should be OK (just like a little kid)

pondfrog · #3 08/22/2006, 07:57 AM

oblivionis,
I would assume your tang is also munching on algae that grows on the rocks. But for long term care you'll want ot try to also get him eating some sheets of Nori (grocery store or fish care kind). Lettuce is extremely low in any nutritional value.
It shouldn't be a problem getting him to eat it if he's already munching on lettuce!

rickyb · #4 08/22/2006, 10:34 AM

Mine eats just about anything, frozen, nori, pellets, flakes.

Oblivionis · #5 08/22/2006, 09:56 PM

Yeah, he didn't come close to Nori in the begining but when I put it in the clip together with the lettuce he took to it. He is nice and fat so I guess it's just the matter of getting him to eat different things so he stays that way.

TangWhispr · #6 08/23/2006, 12:48 AM

I would consider myself a tang expert, lettuce has no nutricinal value for your tang or any fish for that matter... my tangs will eat the seaweed selects, but so little interest in the 2 little fishes version....they also love spectrum, and some depending on the tang will pick at the live rock, they also eat formula 1 & 2 and Tetra tropical crisps...if he is being picky, try getting some Kent Garlic Extreme, I've seen some cheaper garlic additives but after reading the bottle they aren't even garlic extract...its a garlic flavoring which doesn't help boost they're immune system. Also they get pretty large (14")and requre a 150 gal or more.

my .02 cents

Eric

Ride Red · #7 08/24/2006, 12:04 PM

You really want to move him from lettuce to nori. As pondfrog said, lettuce isn't too good for him. I'd keep wrapping a little lettuce in nori and reduce the lettuce till it's gone. Also, not all nori is created equal. Ideally you want to use dried laver nori not the roasted stuff. They will take to it more easily and allegedly it retains more nutrients.

BTW, all my tangs (currently 8) eat just about everything from nori to krill. I just make sure they have lots of nori available.