Sushi for Tangs

[thanhjenn]

Just recently acquired some tangs (3 yellow and 1 powdered brown). Tank is fairly new and nothing for them to eat on. Bought some sushi wraps and the tangs wants nothing to do with it. Any particular type of sushi wrap I should be using?

[Palting]

LOL!! First tiem I've ever heard it called that.

Anyway, you are on the right track. Most sushi wraps that I know of are flavored. Get the unflavored dried seaweed from an oriental store. Sometimes it's called "nori". It usually comes in sheets, same as the sushi wraps. Or, you can go to your LFS, and they should also have dried seaweed in sheets. Cut them into strips, roll them, place them on clips and stick that on the aquarium wall.

If that still fails, although I can't see that it will, get some grape caulerpa. Just throw that into your tank, or put it under a rock. Don't worry about the "curse of the caulerpa". The caulerpa curse is no match for tangs. They just love the stuff and will annihilate any algae.

I've never tried cabbage, or lettuce, but it also supposedly works too. I just don't like feediing land based stuff to marine animals.

3 yellow and a brown, huh? How big is your tank? Although they say best way to get tangs to cohabitate is to introduce them all together, it's still a gamble. Good luck!!

[mcoomer]

Throw a california roll and some wasabi in there. My tangs go crazy when I do that! If you really want to top it off pour some sake and Sapporro in the tank. Beer and sushi makes everyone happy! Seriously though, unflavored nori sheets at the asian markets are the way to go. I get mine from a Japanese supermarket that are already cut to small squares. Sushi nori is the way to go.

Mike

[FearTheTerps]

The sushi wrap is normally referred to as nori, how long did you leave the nori in the tank? Normally the higher grade nori will start to fall apart after being the tank for a short period of time. A lower grade will hold up better, so it stays on a clip longer giving your fish a longer time to come graze on it. It also helps cleaning it up, you want to remove any of the uneaten portions.

As for tangs themselves, since they are new they are probably just adjusting to the tank. Give them some time and they should be eating again shortly.

[Toddrtrex]

Just wondering why you bought so many tangs for a new tank? Is this for your 135? There might be other reasons they aren't eating it.

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Just wondering why you bought so many tangs for a new tank? Is this for your 135? There might be other reasons they aren't eating it.

+1

Aside from that, the way I got mine to get used to eating nori from a clip is a blended it up a little and let the particles float around in the water. From there I soaked it in some garlic juice and placed it in the tank. Many things have been said about garlic, some good, and some not so good, but IME it is a great appetite stimulant. Once they started eating like that, I just omitted the garlic and just put a sheet of seaweed folded over twice in the clip each day. By the following morning, all that is generally left in the clip is the part actually in the teeth of the clip that the fish can;t get to. Even the clowns love it!

As far as picking the right stuff, look at the ingredients list. The one and only ingredient should be seaweed. If it has anything else in it, you are using the wrong stuff. It should be really easy to find. I know the local Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart carry it around here for about $1.50 a bag. Cheapest fish food you can get!

I also started chopping up broccoli florets and green cabbage as a treat once or twice a week.

[thanhjenn]

my tank is 135g. they are eating mysis but i also want them to eat sushi since there is not much to pick at my rock. anyways they are starting to pic at the nori. Thanks for all the replies.

thanh

[Toddrtrex]

See lots of issues in the future with that combo in that sized tank, and them eating or not eating nori isn't going to be it.

[James404]

This is what my tangs love, got it from whole foods, only a couple bucks and lasts a long time. Make sure whatever you get its untoasted.

[dtran01]

just out of curiosity, what if it's toasted?

[James404]

Actually just toasted is probably fine, some are known to have seasoning and flavoring, you want to stay away from those.

[Whisperer]

I trained my yellow tang to eating nori by cutting the nori into tiny squares ( ) <--this size. Soak in in tank water until soft and feed. You can add crushed garlic while soaking. When one learnes to eat, the others will follow. Then you can use the clip.

[Rybren]

I also feed my tang & Coral Beauty nori from the local asian grocery store.
The last time I was there, I noticed that they also sell a shredded seaweed. It is a heavier consistency than nori and comes in a bundle with 1/8" wide x 8" long strips. Has anyone tried this stuff?