Bad Tangs

countrykat · 07/24/2012, 10:09 AM

I just had to remove 2 tangs ( a yellow and blue) from my tank because they were chowing down on my elegance coral. I never heard of, had one, or read about tangs eating a coral. Anyone else ever run across this? It's like they just snapped.

goettner · 07/24/2012, 11:00 AM

I have a yellow tang for 3 weeks now,but have not seen him nip on any corals so far.Yours were very strange doing what they did.Get some flashing wrasse,carpentery and or filamentosis,you will love those.

aleonn · 07/24/2012, 11:11 AM

My yellow tang usually doesn't go after any corals or inverts. However, when my Welso brain coral started dying (started off with a small flesh wound when a rock fell and cut it), the yellow tang started pecking at it. After that Welso died, the yellow tang didn't peck at any other fleshy LPS or any other corals, FWIW.

Below Radar · 07/24/2012, 11:15 AM

A guy on my local forum has had problems with his blue tang eating some of his LPS. How much do you feed? Also, do you keep nori in the tank?

Entropy · 07/24/2012, 01:55 PM

My bet is there is something other than the coral attracting their attention. Algae starting to grow in a wound maybe?

I remember a peppermint shrimp that attacked a new frog spawn I added. Turned out there was aptasia on the same rock and the frog spawn was just in the way.

Guacamole · 07/24/2012, 03:06 PM

I Had a purple tang that Nipped at a clam that i had, by the time i realized it, it was to late and ended up losing the clam. The tang shows no interest in my corals though, Weird

bluewater921 · 07/24/2012, 03:15 PM

i know alot of people that have owned blue tangs and they all pick on corals most of it is zoas tho nothing else .. i have a Achilles that host my hammer coral .. she will lay in it love it in looks like a clown fish sometimes she sleeps it .. but the sail fin i have likes to mess with my scoly and wellsos but does not try to eat it .. just likes watching it deflate itself ..

countrykat · 07/24/2012, 04:27 PM

I feed them 2 or 3 times a day and drop in a chunk of seaweed a few times a week either tied to rubble rock or the suction cup. They weren't just nipping at it, the mouths were open taking bites. I'm sure can imagine my reation this.

07/24/2012, 10:09 AM	#1
countrykat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 303	Bad Tangs I just had to remove 2 tangs ( a yellow and blue) from my tank because they were chowing down on my elegance coral. I never heard of, had one, or read about tangs eating a coral. Anyone else ever run across this? It's like they just snapped.

07/24/2012, 11:15 AM	#4
Below Radar Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Huffman/Houston, TX Posts: 120	A guy on my local forum has had problems with his blue tang eating some of his LPS. How much do you feed? Also, do you keep nori in the tank? __________________ One mind, any weapon. Current Tank Info: 60x36x18(170g) reef w/65g sump APEX 2 MP-40Wes Dart/Snapper hybrid

07/24/2012, 01:55 PM	#5
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	My bet is there is something other than the coral attracting their attention. Algae starting to grow in a wound maybe? I remember a peppermint shrimp that attacked a new frog spawn I added. Turned out there was aptasia on the same rock and the frog spawn was just in the way. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

07/24/2012, 03:15 PM	#7
bluewater921 Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: melbourne fla Posts: 605	i know alot of people that have owned blue tangs and they all pick on corals most of it is zoas tho nothing else .. i have a Achilles that host my hammer coral .. she will lay in it love it in looks like a clown fish sometimes she sleeps it .. but the sail fin i have likes to mess with my scoly and wellsos but does not try to eat it .. just likes watching it deflate itself .. __________________ if i was a fish i would play on the reef & swim in the surf Current Tank Info: 180 in the wall reef

07/24/2012, 11:00 AM	#2
goettner Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Grand Rapids,MI Posts: 69	I have a yellow tang for 3 weeks now,but have not seen him nip on any corals so far.Yours were very strange doing what they did.Get some flashing wrasse,carpentery and or filamentosis,you will love those.

07/24/2012, 11:11 AM	#3
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	My yellow tang usually doesn't go after any corals or inverts. However, when my Welso brain coral started dying (started off with a small flesh wound when a rock fell and cut it), the yellow tang started pecking at it. After that Welso died, the yellow tang didn't peck at any other fleshy LPS or any other corals, FWIW.

07/24/2012, 03:06 PM	#6
Guacamole Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 159	I Had a purple tang that Nipped at a clam that i had, by the time i realized it, it was to late and ended up losing the clam. The tang shows no interest in my corals though, Weird

07/24/2012, 04:27 PM	#8
countrykat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 303	I feed them 2 or 3 times a day and drop in a chunk of seaweed a few times a week either tied to rubble rock or the suction cup. They weren't just nipping at it, the mouths were open taking bites. I'm sure can imagine my reation this.