How do I know fish are eating the dried seaweed?

aquagirl70 · 09/18/2010, 08:15 AM

Hi,

I read that dried seaweed on a clip would be good for my crew, particularly the tangs that are stressed. My LFS recommended Ocean Nutrition Green Marine Algae with natural garlic extract. He said to remove any uneaten portion after 24 hours so it won't clog the filter. I cut a strip about 2" x 3" per instructions and hung it from a clip, on the side and near the surface about 1/4 of the way down.

I never saw any fish go near it, and I watched for a long time at various points throughout the day. However at about hour 22, I noticed about 1/2 of it was missing. I don't know if it tore off or someone finally ate it, but the Blenny lawnmower appeared to munch on a good chunk on the bottom of the tank.

My question is: If the tangs or anyone else actually liked it, wouldn't they go over to immediately check it out? Shouldn't I see them periodically nibbling at it?

I won't keep putting it in if no one loves it and it may clog the filter. I'll just chalk it up to a waste of $10. Blenny has enough other food to keep him busy. But if this is a typical feeding pattern for something like the dried seaweed, I'll keep putting it in and assume they like it.

Any suggestions for other things to put on the clip that hippo tangs might like? Also chromis, damsel, pajama fish and spotted hawkfish? Thanks.

shifty51008 · 09/18/2010, 08:27 AM

you can also try putting the algae around a piece of rock rubble and tie it with a rubber band. sometimes it takes a few times before the fish take to it from the clip because it is new to them. or if you have algae growing in the tank the tangs may be getting enough from picking at the rocks.

on a side note just go to a asian food market and pick up a pack of nori you get alot more seaweed for alot less in price. just make sure it isn't any seasoned nori. (BTW nori is the seaweed that they wrap sushi in)

aquagirl70 · 09/18/2010, 08:34 AM

Good to know, thanks for the tip. There is a lot of algae at times, so maybe that's the problem.

rocride · 09/18/2010, 08:40 AM

+1

just make sure the only ingredient is 'dried seaweed'

aquagirl70 · 09/18/2010, 08:41 AM

Will do, thanks.

Mr James · 09/18/2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquagirl70

Hi,
...I read that dried seaweed on a clip would be good for my crew, particularly the tangs that are stressed...

How many tangs do you have and what kinds do you have? Why are they stressed?

aquagirl70 · 09/18/2010, 09:07 AM

I purchased a 37 gallon used. It contained 2 tangs (!), a white sand star, about 15-20 hermits and snails, a dottyback, 2 chromis, blenny lawnmower, 4 inch pajama fish, spotted hawkfish and electric chromis, and a reef lobster who proceeded to eat most of the hermits, the starfish and the dottyback.

The tank is overstocked, the tangs are stressed. I posted pics recently under the header "What's wrong with my tangs?" I know the 37 is too small even for 1 tang, but the LFS won't take them back b/c the black area of the body around the eyes is faded. The opinion of RC members is that the tangs were stressed due to overcrowding and I should move the tangs to a hospital tank to give more space and get them stronger. Not an option for me right now, so I am doing the fallback approach of trying to feed them more, perhaps with food infused with garlic.

But I haven't seen them touch the seaweed that they're supposed to love.

Mr James · 09/18/2010, 10:01 AM

Get with some other reefers in the area and see if they need/want a tang or two. Feeding a stressed fish won't solve the problem. Upgrade the tank or relieve your cramped space of some fish for which you know do not belong in there. Not trying to be the hard-butt here, but fixing the root of the problem is not being addressed.

rocride · 09/18/2010, 10:25 AM

ok touchy subject regarding tangs and tank size but at 1.5" and 2" shouldn't they still be ok in the 37g,at least until she can nurse them back to health,i know my tangs were ich magnets and what i have had work for me is new life spectrum pellets soaked in garlic guard and elos extra vitamins,the food pellets soak up the products like a sponge,keep up with the water changes,nothing out of the normal routine but consistant and i always soak my every other day feeding of mysis soaked in garlic guard, i went through a a stage of dealing with ich and finally this routine has been solid...i don't feed the pellets anymore or use the elos,just the mysis and garlic guard.

RR

aquagirl70 · 09/19/2010, 04:28 AM

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I actually have some of that garlic, so I'll start doing that the very next feeding while I figure out what to do.

julie180 · 09/19/2010, 10:17 AM

I found that the grocery store nori, aka roasted seaweed stays together much better than the fish store type. If the fish don't eat it in my tank it just floats around and I can remove it.

aquagirl70 · 09/19/2010, 11:41 AM

Thanks for the tip Julie, good to know. Save money and better for the tank too.

09/18/2010, 08:15 AM	#1
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	How do I know fish are eating the dried seaweed? Hi, I read that dried seaweed on a clip would be good for my crew, particularly the tangs that are stressed. My LFS recommended Ocean Nutrition Green Marine Algae with natural garlic extract. He said to remove any uneaten portion after 24 hours so it won't clog the filter. I cut a strip about 2" x 3" per instructions and hung it from a clip, on the side and near the surface about 1/4 of the way down. I never saw any fish go near it, and I watched for a long time at various points throughout the day. However at about hour 22, I noticed about 1/2 of it was missing. I don't know if it tore off or someone finally ate it, but the Blenny lawnmower appeared to munch on a good chunk on the bottom of the tank. My question is: If the tangs or anyone else actually liked it, wouldn't they go over to immediately check it out? Shouldn't I see them periodically nibbling at it? I won't keep putting it in if no one loves it and it may clog the filter. I'll just chalk it up to a waste of $10. Blenny has enough other food to keep him busy. But if this is a typical feeding pattern for something like the dried seaweed, I'll keep putting it in and assume they like it. Any suggestions for other things to put on the clip that hippo tangs might like? Also chromis, damsel, pajama fish and spotted hawkfish? Thanks.

09/18/2010, 08:27 AM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	you can also try putting the algae around a piece of rock rubble and tie it with a rubber band. sometimes it takes a few times before the fish take to it from the clip because it is new to them. or if you have algae growing in the tank the tangs may be getting enough from picking at the rocks. on a side note just go to a asian food market and pick up a pack of nori you get alot more seaweed for alot less in price. just make sure it isn't any seasoned nori. (BTW nori is the seaweed that they wrap sushi in) Last edited by shifty51008; 09/18/2010 at 08:52 AM.

09/18/2010, 08:40 AM	#4
rocride Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 162	+1 just make sure the only ingredient is 'dried seaweed' __________________ 120g mixed

09/18/2010, 10:25 AM	#9
rocride Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 162	ok touchy subject regarding tangs and tank size but at 1.5" and 2" shouldn't they still be ok in the 37g,at least until she can nurse them back to health,i know my tangs were ich magnets and what i have had work for me is new life spectrum pellets soaked in garlic guard and elos extra vitamins,the food pellets soak up the products like a sponge,keep up with the water changes,nothing out of the normal routine but consistant and i always soak my every other day feeding of mysis soaked in garlic guard, i went through a a stage of dealing with ich and finally this routine has been solid...i don't feed the pellets anymore or use the elos,just the mysis and garlic guard. RR __________________ 120g mixed

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09/18/2010, 08:34 AM	#3
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	Good to know, thanks for the tip. There is a lot of algae at times, so maybe that's the problem.

09/18/2010, 08:41 AM	#5
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	Will do, thanks.

09/18/2010, 09:07 AM	#7
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	I purchased a 37 gallon used. It contained 2 tangs (!), a white sand star, about 15-20 hermits and snails, a dottyback, 2 chromis, blenny lawnmower, 4 inch pajama fish, spotted hawkfish and electric chromis, and a reef lobster who proceeded to eat most of the hermits, the starfish and the dottyback. The tank is overstocked, the tangs are stressed. I posted pics recently under the header "What's wrong with my tangs?" I know the 37 is too small even for 1 tang, but the LFS won't take them back b/c the black area of the body around the eyes is faded. The opinion of RC members is that the tangs were stressed due to overcrowding and I should move the tangs to a hospital tank to give more space and get them stronger. Not an option for me right now, so I am doing the fallback approach of trying to feed them more, perhaps with food infused with garlic. But I haven't seen them touch the seaweed that they're supposed to love.

09/18/2010, 10:01 AM	#8
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	Get with some other reefers in the area and see if they need/want a tang or two. Feeding a stressed fish won't solve the problem. Upgrade the tank or relieve your cramped space of some fish for which you know do not belong in there. Not trying to be the hard-butt here, but fixing the root of the problem is not being addressed.

09/19/2010, 04:28 AM	#10
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I actually have some of that garlic, so I'll start doing that the very next feeding while I figure out what to do.

09/19/2010, 10:17 AM	#11
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	I found that the grocery store nori, aka roasted seaweed stays together much better than the fish store type. If the fish don't eat it in my tank it just floats around and I can remove it.

09/19/2010, 11:41 AM	#12
aquagirl70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NY Tri state area, US Posts: 70	Thanks for the tip Julie, good to know. Save money and better for the tank too.