Kole Tang

klepto · 12/11/2008, 07:23 PM

I recently picked up this little (approx 3 inches) Hawaiian Kole tang from my lfs. It acclimated very easily and has been in captivity an estimated 4-6 months. After a little color fade, it has settled into my reef and is grazing eagerly.

Here comes the problem- my lawnmower blenny is grazing on similar green algae and yesterday everything was peaceful, however as the tang settles in more it seems more aggressive and I have watched it bully my (4inch) blenny all day today because they are competing for food.

I have tried some nori for the tang (w/ garlic and w/ out) and havent had any luck.... Any thoughts on how to calm the tang down? if that is even possible...

My other concern is my tank size for this species- I know they can get upwards of 5 inches in aquaria. How long will I be able to house this fish in my 50 gal?

Any constructive thoughts are welcome.

otrlynn · 12/11/2008, 08:03 PM

Don't know about calming the tang down... I have had one for about six month and he is constantly on the move--picks at the rocks all day long. He occasionally charges toward my yellow watchman gobie or firefish, but he has never done anything more than that. You might want to try attaching some nori to a small rock with a rubberband. Eating off the rocks seems natural for these fish. Mine started eating it that way and now will eat it any way it is served--including out of my hand.

klepto · 12/11/2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks Lynn- I will try your suggestion w/ attaching the nori to a rock... I had it on a Mag float but i think I will have to train it like you suggested.

At first I thought my tang was just charging at the blenny, but upon closer observation I noticed that it will actually nip at the blenny's side repeatedly until it retreats..

Im tempted to try to capture the blenny if the tang dosen't settle- does anyone have any tips on capturing lawnmowers?

nikon187 · 12/11/2008, 11:04 PM

Good luck on catching the lawnmower. Both feed on film algea so i dought you will be able to calm the tang. He should be fine in a 55 for about a year before needing a bigger tank. I have had better luck feeding nori to koles when it is broken up into much smaller pieces

klepto · 12/12/2008, 12:36 PM

Friday bump..

abulgin · 12/12/2008, 04:00 PM

I used to keep a Kole Tang with a Brown Sailfin Blenny, and the Kole Tang terrorized the Blenny to the point where the Blenny barely came out at all.

klepto · 12/12/2008, 05:51 PM

Thanks Abulgin... im beginning to regret picking up the Tang without giving it more thought.
Trouble is, this fish is beautiful and im already attached- and my blenny has caused trouble since day one.. so Im prepared to sacrifice the blenny... id just rather get the blenny out and trade to my lfs for a frag or something.

My female tomato's character has changed dramatically since adding the tang - she is scouring out the whole reef- rather than staying in the bubble... at this point she doesnt seem overly aggressive towards other tankmates- fortunately.

So day 3 now- the tang has cleaned up most all of the hair algae on my back wall and continues to mess with the blenny when it comes up to graze.

Tried the nori w/ the rubberband- no luck with the tang... But my female tomato loves to come graze on the nori which Im pleased about.

Now if only the damn tang will wise up..

How much nori should i be offering? I have only been using small, folded strips of untoasted nori to keep tank litter at a minimum.

Thanks for the input people.

klepto · 12/15/2008, 08:48 PM

Good news- I watched my Kole eat some nori out of the water column after my clown viciously tore the nori from the rock it was attached to...

This fish is an excellent janitor- it cleared my entire back wall of the filamentous (and some coralline) algae in a matter of days. It is constantly grazing and my rock which looks a great deal cleaner.

The only negative side to the story- my Kole is an absolute bully. It continues to bite my lawnmower throughout the day. The blenny has learned to run from the tang, rather than taking a beating like it was initially (while it still will just submit and take the abuse sometimes- silly fish).

My female tomato has started punking the Kole when it comes too close to her BTA or competes for some nori- so i guess karma exists in the marine world as well...

otrlynn · 12/16/2008, 05:28 AM

Funny, I have a cinnamon clown that hasn't the slightest interest in the Nori, never touches the stuff. But, anyway, glad that your Tang is now eating the Nori, at least in the water column. I agree about the Kole being a good janitor. I have NO algae in my tank other than coraline. I think the Kole gets it before I ever notice it. I happened to move a small rock from a QT, where it had developed hair algae, back to the DT, and noticed that the Kole and/or hermits had totally cleaned it overnight.

12/11/2008, 07:23 PM	#1
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Kole Tang I recently picked up this little (approx 3 inches) Hawaiian Kole tang from my lfs. It acclimated very easily and has been in captivity an estimated 4-6 months. After a little color fade, it has settled into my reef and is grazing eagerly. Here comes the problem- my lawnmower blenny is grazing on similar green algae and yesterday everything was peaceful, however as the tang settles in more it seems more aggressive and I have watched it bully my (4inch) blenny all day today because they are competing for food. I have tried some nori for the tang (w/ garlic and w/ out) and havent had any luck.... Any thoughts on how to calm the tang down? if that is even possible... My other concern is my tank size for this species- I know they can get upwards of 5 inches in aquaria. How long will I be able to house this fish in my 50 gal? Any constructive thoughts are welcome. __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

12/11/2008, 08:03 PM	#2
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Don't know about calming the tang down... I have had one for about six month and he is constantly on the move--picks at the rocks all day long. He occasionally charges toward my yellow watchman gobie or firefish, but he has never done anything more than that. You might want to try attaching some nori to a small rock with a rubberband. Eating off the rocks seems natural for these fish. Mine started eating it that way and now will eat it any way it is served--including out of my hand. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

12/11/2008, 10:40 PM	#3
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Thanks Lynn- I will try your suggestion w/ attaching the nori to a rock... I had it on a Mag float but i think I will have to train it like you suggested. At first I thought my tang was just charging at the blenny, but upon closer observation I noticed that it will actually nip at the blenny's side repeatedly until it retreats.. Im tempted to try to capture the blenny if the tang dosen't settle- does anyone have any tips on capturing lawnmowers? __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

12/11/2008, 11:04 PM	#4
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	Good luck on catching the lawnmower. Both feed on film algea so i dought you will be able to calm the tang. He should be fine in a 55 for about a year before needing a bigger tank. I have had better luck feeding nori to koles when it is broken up into much smaller pieces __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

12/12/2008, 12:36 PM	#5
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Friday bump.. __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

12/12/2008, 04:00 PM	#6
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	I used to keep a Kole Tang with a Brown Sailfin Blenny, and the Kole Tang terrorized the Blenny to the point where the Blenny barely came out at all.

12/12/2008, 05:51 PM	#7
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Thanks Abulgin... im beginning to regret picking up the Tang without giving it more thought. Trouble is, this fish is beautiful and im already attached- and my blenny has caused trouble since day one.. so Im prepared to sacrifice the blenny... id just rather get the blenny out and trade to my lfs for a frag or something. My female tomato's character has changed dramatically since adding the tang - she is scouring out the whole reef- rather than staying in the bubble... at this point she doesnt seem overly aggressive towards other tankmates- fortunately. So day 3 now- the tang has cleaned up most all of the hair algae on my back wall and continues to mess with the blenny when it comes up to graze. Tried the nori w/ the rubberband- no luck with the tang... But my female tomato loves to come graze on the nori which Im pleased about. Now if only the damn tang will wise up.. How much nori should i be offering? I have only been using small, folded strips of untoasted nori to keep tank litter at a minimum. Thanks for the input people. __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

12/15/2008, 08:48 PM	#8
klepto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Monterey, California Posts: 1,955	Good news- I watched my Kole eat some nori out of the water column after my clown viciously tore the nori from the rock it was attached to... This fish is an excellent janitor- it cleared my entire back wall of the filamentous (and some coralline) algae in a matter of days. It is constantly grazing and my rock which looks a great deal cleaner. The only negative side to the story- my Kole is an absolute bully. It continues to bite my lawnmower throughout the day. The blenny has learned to run from the tang, rather than taking a beating like it was initially (while it still will just submit and take the abuse sometimes- silly fish). My female tomato has started punking the Kole when it comes too close to her BTA or competes for some nori- so i guess karma exists in the marine world as well... __________________ Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. Stephen C. Paul

12/16/2008, 05:28 AM	#9
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Funny, I have a cinnamon clown that hasn't the slightest interest in the Nori, never touches the stuff. But, anyway, glad that your Tang is now eating the Nori, at least in the water column. I agree about the Kole being a good janitor. I have NO algae in my tank other than coraline. I think the Kole gets it before I ever notice it. I happened to move a small rock from a QT, where it had developed hair algae, back to the DT, and noticed that the Kole and/or hermits had totally cleaned it overnight. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.