Tang will not eat nori.

[MrCoralLover]

hello everyone. I have a juvenile mimic tang, I believe thats what he is. I’ve had him for about 3 weeks, but he has absolutely no interest in nori. When I first got him for the first 2 weeks he was grazing on all my algae, now that he’s pretty much wiped it clean, I need him to start eating nori. Ive offered him seaweed extreme mixed with selcon and he loves that stuff, he has to be quick tho because my maroon clown is a pig, So he doesn’t get all of it really. I also feed the tank marine flakes and he also pigs on that. But I need him to be Eating more algae/herbivore foods, and nori. What should I do? I tried the rubber band on a rock but the nori literally disintegrates. Thanks yall.

 

[Tamberav]

Supplement with algae pellets/flake, spiralina mysis, frozen LRS has a herbivor blend. Plenty of other things besides nori to offer for now.

 

[Homewrecker]

Sometimes they're kind of dumb. I would recommend using algae pellets ( I really like Omega algae pellets or NLS) and once they like that add vitachem to them. They'll get used to the taste and then use it on other things you want to get them to eat like nori. It works really well

 

[Red_Beard]

Totally normal in my experience. Juvenile tangs can take a few months to warm up to nori. From what ive witnessed, they lean a little more carnivorous and peck the rocks untill they are about 1.5-2 inches then start eating more and more greens as they get bigger.

 

[bubbgee]

My tangs wouldn't eat nori until i shredded it in the tank. You can try that. One trick I haven't tried is a frag plug that has a hose cut and glued to it and the nori rolled into it.

 

[PharmrJohn]

My tangs wouldn't eat nori until i shredded it in the tank. You can try that. One trick I haven't tried is a frag plug that has a hose cut and glued to it and the nori rolled into it.

That's inventive!

 

[Paul B]

None of my fish, including tangs have never seen nori or any dry foods like pellets or flakes and they never will. The only problem is that they live forever. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[fabutahoun]

I wouldn't worry about if its eating everything else , if its eating pellets and flacks you can try some of the mixes that contains higher algae content like new life spectrum algaemax or ocean nutrition formula two

 

[Freenow54]

None of my fish, including tangs have never seen nori or any dry foods like pellets or flakes and they never will. The only problem is that they live forever. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

I knew you could not resist you never disappoint lol. But what would you feed this fish?

 

[Paul B]

All my fish eat what they eat in the sea. That includes LRS food which is a mix of seafoods. I supplement them with fresh frozen clams, live whiteworms and maybe some earthworms. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:
I feel that living gut bacteria is the key to this hobby and it controls the fishes immunity almost 100%. :oops:

None of that comes in dry foods.

 

[Tub Life]

I'd agree with the sentiments of this thread.
If the tangs are healthy and eating, I wouldn't worry about the lack of seaweed in their diet.

After being in the hobby for decades I've only now begun feeding dried nori to my tangs.
Partly because I want them to have something they naturally would eat, but also because tangs are pigs and I think of nori for them like potatoes for me! It's delicious and a filler hahahha. Satiate their hunger with some filler, so the other fish can get more food during feeding time.

Not sure if that's working though, tangs appetites never seem to be curbed!

Another option, if you have a refugium or sump. Grow some macroalgaes and harvest and feed to the display.
I used to harvest "dragons tongue", rubber band it to a rock and toss into the display. (many years ago).
They were also fond of grape caulerpra, however IME that is a very nuisance macro that can get out of hand if unchecked and gets a foothold in the display.

Something to think about, but yah, bottom line, not an issue if you don't feed nori.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

hello everyone. I have a juvenile mimic tang, I believe thats what he is. I’ve had him for about 3 weeks, but he has absolutely no interest in nori. When I first got him for the first 2 weeks he was grazing on all my algae, now that he’s pretty much wiped it clean, I need him to start eating nori. Ive offered him seaweed extreme mixed with selcon and he loves that stuff, he has to be quick tho because my maroon clown is a pig, So he doesn’t get all of it really. I also feed the tank marine flakes and he also pigs on that. But I need him to be Eating more algae/herbivore foods, and nori. What should I do? I tried the rubber band on a rock but the nori literally disintegrates. Thanks yall.

What brand/type of nori are you using?

Nori is not especially nutritious, I don't worry about a fish not eating that as long as it is getting good nutrition overall.

 

[Freenow54]

What brand/type of nori are you using?

Nori is not especially nutritious, I don't worry about a fish not eating that as long as it is getting good nutrition overall.

I know I Said I use Colbat mysis spirulina. It loves that. The nori it gobbles down is Omega One. Seems Harder to find. I'm stocked up but as a last resort I bought stuff meant for sushi which Paul may have eaten in the jungle. Have not tried it yet because its in a sealed bag