Feeding Nori

[InCodWeTrust]

Hi Reef2Reef, I got a scopas tang from Reef-A-Palooza and I am wondering how you guys get tangs to start eating nori. I’m worried that he won’t last long if he doesn’t start eating so any advice is welcome.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I hope someone else chimes in. I did not have any problems as mine all just went nuts for it when I put it in the tank.

If I can give you any help it would be to rubber band some to a rock and place it in the tank. Tangs are grazers and naturally pluck algae off the rocks, so play to this. Make it as natural a process as possible and he should start eating soon.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm assuming you've tried to feed nori in some fashion and he hasn't gone for it???

I don't know if it helps, but I provide nori in small strips that are easy to pull off and eat. I buy my nori at my local oriental market. (H-Mart is a fantastic store close by that has an endless supply of nori. Just make sure it's plain nori with no salts/spices.) When I get it home, I first cut the nori into quarters. Actually the detail of how I give my tangs nori (including a Scopas) is found HERE. They suck the small stripes off like it's spaghetti.

 

[InCodWeTrust]

I hope someone else chimes in. I did not have any problems as mine all just went nuts for it when I put it in the tank.

If I can give you any help it would be to rubber band some to a rock and place it in the tank. Tangs are grazers and naturally pluck algae off the rocks, so play to this. Make it as natural a process as possible and he should start eating soon.

That’s what I’m doing right now. He swims near the nori, takes a good look at it, and then swims away.

 

[lpsouth1978]

How old is the tank? How big is the Scopas? What other fish are in the tank? Pics of your system?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get more info to better assist.

 

[InCodWeTrust]

Tank is 2 years old. Scopas tang is around 1.5 to 2 inches. Tank mates include Rusty Angelfish, Six line wrasse, and two clownfish. I don’t have pictures due to being in high school as of now

 

[Salty Lemon]

My two tangs were finicky eaters when I got them. When I got the first one he would only eat nori if I rubber banded it to a rock. The second one refused everything. Then last year, my wonderful R2R Secret Santa sent me Julian Sprung's Sea Veggies purple seaweed. Both my tangs are crazy for it. They soon were eating it off of a clip. I rotate between purple, red, and green, but both like the purple best. You can buy it on Amazon. Good luck!