Tips for feeding blonde naso tang

[Tom800]

I have a new blonde naso tang, he’s about 5 1/2 to 6 inches. He’s in a 180 gallon reef tank. I’ve had him for about four days now.

He is only interested in eating Nori pieces that are floating around the tank, especially those that get propelled by the current from the wave maker. He will even just stay in the current and wait for pieces to fly by and eat it, but we’re talking small pieces. He will not eat any Nori from the clips even though he sees other things doing so, and is not interested in any other type of food I’ve put in for all the other fish, which includes flakes and frozen foods. I’ve even tried red Nori on the clip, he didn’t care. And I have two Nori clips always at the same time. There are three other tangs in the tank eat from these clips.

Any tips for getting him to eat, especially from the nori on the clips, or is it just a waiting game, like I said he is eating nori pieces floating around, they’re just very small pieces, but he is eating. Attached is a picture of him.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a new blonde naso tang, he’s about 5 1/2 to 6 inches. He’s in a 180 gallon reef tank. I’ve had him for about four days now.

He is only interested in eating Nori pieces that are floating around the tank, especially those that get propelled by the current from the wave maker. He will even just stay in the current and wait for pieces to fly by and eat it, but we’re talking small pieces. He will not eat any Nori from the clips even though he sees other things doing so, and is not interested in any other type of food I’ve put in for all the other fish, which includes flakes and frozen foods. I’ve even tried red Nori on the clip, he didn’t care. And I have two Nori clips always at the same time. There are three other tangs in the tank eat from these clips.

Any tips for getting him to eat, especially from the nori on the clips, or is it just a waiting game, like I said he is eating nori pieces floating around, they’re just very small pieces, but he is eating. Attached is a picture of him.

This is the case of another blonde naso and wish I was posting something cheery but in reality and I dont like being the one to disclose this but over the last 22 months or more, there has been an influx of these fish are coming from Sri Lanka and it is suspected that a method of capture is contributing to this trend in which the fish appears healthy the first few days and then weakens quickly with loss of appetite and strength and then found laying on its side, thin body and breathing heavy until death. It may be due to cyanide capture but unconfirmed.
Best foods will be live brine shrimp or masstick food

 

[exnisstech]

Unfortunately the info above is what I've been seeing. My naso eats anything I put in the tank. Hopefully this one turns around and pulls through. If not maybe try to find one that has been at the store for an extended period or ask them to hold it for a while for the reasons @vetteguy53081 mentioned above. If they are unwilling then I would pass or maybe try to find a hobbiest rehoming one.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Unfortunately the info above is what I've been seeing. My naso eats anything I put in the tank. Hopefully this one turns around and pulls through. If not maybe try to find one that has been at the store for an extended period or ask them to hold it for a while for the reasons @vetteguy53081 mentioned above. If they are unwilling then I would pass or maybe try to find a hobbiest rehoming one.

This is terrible to hear. I almost wish they would close exports again for a bit. Seems there’s a lot of new captive bread tangs coming around which is so much better.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately the info above is what I've been seeing. My naso eats anything I put in the tank. Hopefully this one turns around and pulls through. If not maybe try to find one that has been at the store for an extended period or ask them to hold it for a while for the reasons @vetteguy53081 mentioned above. If they are unwilling then I would pass or maybe try to find a hobbiest rehoming one.

Mine is at 10" but also got it a few years ago and too is an eating machine

 

[Tom800]

This is the case of another blonde naso and wish I was posting something cheery but in reality and I dont like being the one to disclose this but over the last 22 months or more, there has been an influx of these fish are coming from Sri Lanka and it is suspected that a method of capture is contributing to this trend in which the fish appears healthy the first few days and then weakens quickly with loss of appetite and strength and then found laying on its side, thin body and breathing heavy until death. It may be due to cyanide capture but unconfirmed.
Best foods will be live brine shrimp or masstick food

I mean, it’s only day four and he is eating Nori around the tank, it’s not that he’s not eating at all. I guess I’m trying to be optimistic, and this is not abnormal behavior for any tang I put in the tank either, for the first few days they’re generally shy and don’t eat everything I put in the tank, at least in my experience. I was just looking for any tips, but wasn’t expecting to be told that the fish will likely die.

 

[exnisstech]

We're all here to help but the truth is as vetteguy stated. Hopefully your fish will start eating and live a long life. The problem with naso tangs coming in to the hobby is real unfortunately and not being aware is worse than not knowing I think?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I mean, it’s only day four and he is eating Nori around the tank, it’s not that he’s not eating at all. I guess I’m trying to be optimistic, and this is not abnormal behavior for any tang I put in the tank either, for the first few days they’re generally shy and don’t eat everything I put in the tank, at least in my experience. I was just looking for any tips, but wasn’t expecting to be told that the fish will likely die.

Thats how they start but hopefully continues.

 

[Tom800]

Thats how they start but hopefully continues.

OK good – I’m assuming as long as the fish is eating Nori in some form he’s getting at least a minimum he needs to eat, since that’s their natural diet anyway?

 

[Tom800]

Just to add, I just put Nori in the tank and a lot of it went through the current from the wave maker and he eats like a champ. he sits in the path of the current and as pieces flyby he goes and eats them. It’s as if he prefers to eat the smaller pieces in the current rather then the big pieces off the clip.

 

[exnisstech]

Since its eating nori maybe add some vitamins to help out. I put selcon and vitachem on nori when I feed. I have no proof it helps but figure it can't hurt.

 

[Uncle99]

I mean, it’s only day four and he is eating Nori around the tank, it’s not that he’s not eating at all. I guess I’m trying to be optimistic, and this is not abnormal behavior for any tang I put in the tank either, for the first few days they’re generally shy and don’t eat everything I put in the tank, at least in my experience. I was just looking for any tips, but wasn’t expecting to be told that the fish will likely die.

Correct! Let him be. Change nothing.
Maybe he likes it.

It’s day 4 only and he IS eating.

It’s likely this is how he ate where he came from so he has developed this trait as it’s familiar.

Just continue what your doing for at least, another 3 days or so.

Virtual all my new additions didn’t eat much for days and then, just a bite or two.

The clip will come when he wants it.

 

[Tom800]

Correct! Let him be. Change nothing.
Maybe he likes it.

It’s day 4 only and he IS eating.

It’s likely this is how he ate where he came from so he has developed this trait as it’s familiar.

Just continue what your doing for at least, another 3 days or so.

Virtual all my new additions didn’t eat much for days and then, just a bite or two.

The clip will come when he wants it.

Yes, that’s exactly my experience as well. And he is eating nori in the current.

 

[Tom800]

Correct! Let him be. Change nothing.
Maybe he likes it.

It’s day 4 only and he IS eating.

It’s likely this is how he ate where he came from so he has developed this trait as it’s familiar.

Just continue what your doing for at least, another 3 days or so.

Virtual all my new additions didn’t eat much for days and then, just a bite or two.

The clip will come when he wants it.

Yes, will do. I just keep putting nori in the tank throughout the day. I have a feeling as he’s more used to tank and his tank mates he will go to clips.

 

[Uncle99]

That’s a stunning fish!

 

[Tom800]

That’s a stunning fish!

Thanks. Pretty good for $200.

 

[Tom800]

Update: I’m happy to report that he is eating Nori off the clip now, and I have seen him eat a few pieces of food I throw in the tank. So progressing in the right direction. I am assuming I am past the point where many of you said the blonde naso tang dies out of nowhere lately. Only issue I have now is, I think he asserted himself as the alpha in the tang hierarchy, and caused stress which is leading to some ich on other Fish, but not the blonde naso tang.