I thougt blue tang are reef safe!

chessnutt · 12/29/2010, 05:58 PM

A few days ago I notice a piece or bite mark on my scoly and acan. I tried looking for what bit it. Stayed up late to see if it could be something that I dont see during the day.
Today I saw my blue tang (dory) take chunks off my acan. Should I just fish the blue tang out? The fish has been with me for more than 6 month. The acan and scoly are only a few weeks.

AquaReeferMan · 12/29/2010, 06:43 PM

My hippo tang wouldnt allow me to keep any brain corals in the tank. Wouldnt bother anything else just the brains. I personally liked the fish better so I got rid of the 2 corals.

aleonn · 12/29/2010, 06:54 PM

That's unfortunate. I hear sometimes tangs get a taste of certain corals and they don't go back

. I hope mine continues to behave!

chessnutt · 12/29/2010, 08:01 PM

I guess I'll have to use the hook then. That sucks. I'll keep my scoly and acan.

stoney1118 · 12/29/2010, 08:10 PM

sorry to hear that, you never know when a "reef safe" fish will go awol on ya, they have different types of behavior, i would just remove the corals until you decide what to do!

aleonn · 12/29/2010, 08:20 PM

It would be a tough call for me. I'd probably leave my blue tang in the tank, as it'll be tough to catch her. Since you're not necessarily attached to those corals yet, I'd either move them to the refugium if you have adequate lighting, or to a frag tank if you even have one.

mc-cro · 12/29/2010, 08:28 PM

I had a hippo tang for about 4yrs that never bothered a thing, then one day he decided he liked the taste of the clam that had been in the tank the whole time. He had to go, I kept my clam.

chessnutt · 12/29/2010, 08:36 PM

I just remove 2 of my scoly and all my acan to a different tank. Now I have to think of a way to catch the blue tangs out. I have three hippo and only one of them is picking on my coral. Thanks you all for the input

kellerexpress · 12/30/2010, 05:34 AM

My tang has acquired a taste for welso's, Im still trying to catch it...

SpencerG · 12/30/2010, 06:52 AM

"Reef safe" is never an absolute. I've read on here where blue tangs have gone wild and mow down acans or other corals. You just never know. I guess we're sort of playing the odds with different types of fish, like a blue tang is 90% likely to leave your corals alone, a flame angel is maybe 70% likely, etc. Good luck catching the tang and please let us know how you manage to catch it.

mc-cro · 12/30/2010, 07:01 AM

fwiw, I find the easiest way to catch a fish in a stocked tank is to just drain the tank. I only have a 72g tank, so I bring up one of my large rubbermaid stock tanks, drain the tank down to about an 1in of water, reach in grab the fish. Its a lot less stress on the fish and other inhabitants. Otherwise, get out the fishing string.

12/29/2010, 05:58 PM	#1
chessnutt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silicon Valley San Jose Posts: 115	I thougt blue tang are reef safe! A few days ago I notice a piece or bite mark on my scoly and acan. I tried looking for what bit it. Stayed up late to see if it could be something that I dont see during the day. Today I saw my blue tang (dory) take chunks off my acan. Should I just fish the blue tang out? The fish has been with me for more than 6 month. The acan and scoly are only a few weeks. Last edited by chessnutt; 12/29/2010 at 06:10 PM.

12/29/2010, 06:43 PM	#2
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	My hippo tang wouldnt allow me to keep any brain corals in the tank. Wouldnt bother anything else just the brains. I personally liked the fish better so I got rid of the 2 corals. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

12/29/2010, 08:28 PM	#7
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	I had a hippo tang for about 4yrs that never bothered a thing, then one day he decided he liked the taste of the clam that had been in the tank the whole time. He had to go, I kept my clam. __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

12/30/2010, 07:01 AM	#11
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	fwiw, I find the easiest way to catch a fish in a stocked tank is to just drain the tank. I only have a 72g tank, so I bring up one of my large rubbermaid stock tanks, drain the tank down to about an 1in of water, reach in grab the fish. Its a lot less stress on the fish and other inhabitants. Otherwise, get out the fishing string. __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

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12/29/2010, 06:54 PM	#3
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	That's unfortunate. I hear sometimes tangs get a taste of certain corals and they don't go back . I hope mine continues to behave!

12/29/2010, 08:01 PM	#4
chessnutt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silicon Valley San Jose Posts: 115	I guess I'll have to use the hook then. That sucks. I'll keep my scoly and acan.

12/29/2010, 08:10 PM	#5
stoney1118 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Atlanta Georgia Posts: 56	sorry to hear that, you never know when a "reef safe" fish will go awol on ya, they have different types of behavior, i would just remove the corals until you decide what to do!

12/29/2010, 08:20 PM	#6
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	It would be a tough call for me. I'd probably leave my blue tang in the tank, as it'll be tough to catch her. Since you're not necessarily attached to those corals yet, I'd either move them to the refugium if you have adequate lighting, or to a frag tank if you even have one.

12/29/2010, 08:36 PM	#8
chessnutt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silicon Valley San Jose Posts: 115	I just remove 2 of my scoly and all my acan to a different tank. Now I have to think of a way to catch the blue tangs out. I have three hippo and only one of them is picking on my coral. Thanks you all for the input

12/30/2010, 05:34 AM	#9
kellerexpress Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 504	My tang has acquired a taste for welso's, Im still trying to catch it...

12/30/2010, 06:52 AM	#10
SpencerG Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Orleans Posts: 356	"Reef safe" is never an absolute. I've read on here where blue tangs have gone wild and mow down acans or other corals. You just never know. I guess we're sort of playing the odds with different types of fish, like a blue tang is 90% likely to leave your corals alone, a flame angel is maybe 70% likely, etc. Good luck catching the tang and please let us know how you manage to catch it.