Getting a Kole Tang to Eat.

Alexzor · 07/30/2009, 12:19 PM

Hi I recently got a Kole tang for my 125RR, and it doesn't seem to want to eat prepared foods. Ive had it for about 4 days and it doesn't seem to recognize flake or pellets as food. It spends all day even during feeding times while the other fish chow down Grazing on the rocks and glass. Is this normal? How can I train it to accept Flake. Thanks.

Whisperer · 07/30/2009, 12:21 PM

Get some nori or macroalgae. You have better chance of getting him to eat.

Alexzor · 07/30/2009, 12:29 PM

I tried feeding it chaeto but it didn't show interest as for Nori where do you find that? Thats just sea weed right? I have some sheets of algae that i tried feeding it but that didn't work either? should I still persist?

Shane Hoffman · 07/30/2009, 12:35 PM

I buy nori at any grocery store. It will be in the etnic food section. Its only 2 dollars at grocery store versus 9 dollars at LFS.

Get some and wrap it around a couple of different smaller rocks with a rubber band to hold it in place. Place 2 or 3 of these rocks around the tank if its a large tank.

MacD · 07/30/2009, 12:55 PM

My kole tang went for 10 days without eating anything when I first got him. I was starting to get really worried, but I just kept trying to get him to feed (algae sheets, algae flakes, regular flakes, frozen mysis, brine, etc.). On the 11th day he just decided he was ready to start eating, and now he eats like a champion (he probably eats 3 times as much food as the other fish in my tank. So, my advice is try not to get discouraged, keep trying to feed him various types of foods, and when he feels comfortable enough in your tank, I'm sure he'll start eating. Just remember that koles can be extremely shy at first. Good luck with your kole.

Whisperer · 07/30/2009, 12:58 PM

Let the fish adjust. Leave the clipped algae. Stay away from the tank and watch from a distance.

Alexzor · 07/30/2009, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the advice and encouragement It breaks your heart when you wonder if something so beautiful is going to starve.

Mopar Reefer · 07/30/2009, 02:03 PM

Maybe he is full from grazing? Depends on your algae situation in your tank ?

pugbreath13 · 07/30/2009, 02:10 PM

Grazing is what he should be doing. Mine doesn't like cheato, i heard it wasn't good for them anyway. Try soaking the nori in garlic.

kumb knots · 07/30/2009, 02:15 PM

May i say this i have a new yellow eye cole tang he is 2 weeks new to our 150 gal and did not eat pellet food he did like mice shrimp and green flake food after 10 days he is now picking at the pellet food in my case i would prefer that new fish eat allot.

saf1 · 07/30/2009, 03:22 PM

They are grazers. He/she will be constantly moving around and scrapping the rocks and glass for whatever algae is there. Nori, sea weed as noted, can be tied to a rock and tossed in. He will find it as well.

Best tip I got from Bob Fener(sp) believe it or not was to actually leave one side of your tank with algae on it. That way your Kole has a steady place to find algae as well.

Over time they will eat mysis shrimp or other type of foods - at least mine did. Also - mine was pretty fat - but then again I only had the Kole. It was my favorite fish since he always moved about unless it was night and he was sleeping.

07/30/2009, 12:19 PM	#1
Alexzor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 55	Getting a Kole Tang to Eat. Hi I recently got a Kole tang for my 125RR, and it doesn't seem to want to eat prepared foods. Ive had it for about 4 days and it doesn't seem to recognize flake or pellets as food. It spends all day even during feeding times while the other fish chow down Grazing on the rocks and glass. Is this normal? How can I train it to accept Flake. Thanks. __________________ Print it till its worthless... Turns crank Current Tank Info: 125G salt 50g Sump/fuge

07/30/2009, 12:21 PM	#2
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Get some nori or macroalgae. You have better chance of getting him to eat. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

07/30/2009, 12:29 PM	#3
Alexzor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 55	I tried feeding it chaeto but it didn't show interest as for Nori where do you find that? Thats just sea weed right? I have some sheets of algae that i tried feeding it but that didn't work either? should I still persist? __________________ Print it till its worthless... Turns crank Current Tank Info: 125G salt 50g Sump/fuge

07/30/2009, 12:35 PM	#4
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	I buy nori at any grocery store. It will be in the etnic food section. Its only 2 dollars at grocery store versus 9 dollars at LFS. Get some and wrap it around a couple of different smaller rocks with a rubber band to hold it in place. Place 2 or 3 of these rocks around the tank if its a large tank. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

07/30/2009, 12:58 PM	#6
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Let the fish adjust. Leave the clipped algae. Stay away from the tank and watch from a distance. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

07/30/2009, 12:55 PM	#5
MacD Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 26	My kole tang went for 10 days without eating anything when I first got him. I was starting to get really worried, but I just kept trying to get him to feed (algae sheets, algae flakes, regular flakes, frozen mysis, brine, etc.). On the 11th day he just decided he was ready to start eating, and now he eats like a champion (he probably eats 3 times as much food as the other fish in my tank. So, my advice is try not to get discouraged, keep trying to feed him various types of foods, and when he feels comfortable enough in your tank, I'm sure he'll start eating. Just remember that koles can be extremely shy at first. Good luck with your kole.

07/30/2009, 01:00 PM	#7
Alexzor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 55	Thanks for the advice and encouragement It breaks your heart when you wonder if something so beautiful is going to starve. __________________ Print it till its worthless... Turns crank Current Tank Info: 125G salt 50g Sump/fuge

07/30/2009, 02:03 PM	#8
Mopar Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 465	Maybe he is full from grazing? Depends on your algae situation in your tank ?

07/30/2009, 02:10 PM	#9
pugbreath13 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The former United States Posts: 466	Grazing is what he should be doing. Mine doesn't like cheato, i heard it wasn't good for them anyway. Try soaking the nori in garlic.

07/30/2009, 02:15 PM	#10
kumb knots Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Greenville S.C Posts: 37	May i say this i have a new yellow eye cole tang he is 2 weeks new to our 150 gal and did not eat pellet food he did like mice shrimp and green flake food after 10 days he is now picking at the pellet food in my case i would prefer that new fish eat allot. __________________ knumb knots big game fishing team Current Tank Info: We have a 150 gal reef with 40 gal sump and fuge 3-250 watt highlights 20k refluxs

07/30/2009, 03:22 PM	#11
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	They are grazers. He/she will be constantly moving around and scrapping the rocks and glass for whatever algae is there. Nori, sea weed as noted, can be tied to a rock and tossed in. He will find it as well. Best tip I got from Bob Fener(sp) believe it or not was to actually leave one side of your tank with algae on it. That way your Kole has a steady place to find algae as well. Over time they will eat mysis shrimp or other type of foods - at least mine did. Also - mine was pretty fat - but then again I only had the Kole. It was my favorite fish since he always moved about unless it was night and he was sleeping. __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef