Kole tang still not eating!

mrhasan · #1 05-30-2013, 03:13 AM

Alright so it has been two weeks since I got my kole tang but all it eats are the diatoms off the sand and picks at rocks from time to time. Garlic soaked mysis/cylopeeze/plankton/flake doesn't work on him. And (blaming his bad diet) today he got ich!

Any suggestion on which food I should try? I am getting worried since it is to the point of stress due to starvation.

naesco · #2 05-30-2013, 03:18 AM

Have you feed it nori soaked in garlic extreme and selcon. If not you should do this now, often and if it eats it.

Do you have at least one side of your tank left 'dirty'?

Kole tangs need to feed on film algae which is the greased stuff you feel see on the glass. They will also eat it off of smooth stones you place in the glass.

mrhasan · #3 05-30-2013, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

Have you feed it nori soaked in garlic extreme and selcon

I tried nori soaked in garlic guard (not selcon though; don't know where I can find that in Calgary) and the foxface eats it from the clip before the tang can see it. I even tried rubber banding it around a pvc pipe and drop it on the sandbed so that it can notice it but doesn't seem interested other than diatom. I haven't had any problem with fish not eating until I got the kole. I am pretty sure diatom is not giving it the proper nutrition and hence its health is deteriorating.

naesco · #4 05-30-2013, 03:26 AM

Do you clean all sides of the glass

mrhasan · #5 05-30-2013, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

Do you clean all sides of the glass

I did leave one side for him to munch on but he doesn't seem to be interested on that either. But I do leave some films. Just the diatoms and occasional LR grazing. And chills with the foxface (wish he would starting eating like the foxface).

Proteus · #6 05-30-2013, 03:31 AM

I had a couple tangs that wouldn't take food but emerald entre did the trick

naesco · #7 05-30-2013, 03:34 AM

Mr Hassan he needs films algae which he finds on the glass and smooth areas
Most kole adapt quickly but yours appears not to so leave the glass dirty. He is after film algae not diatoms.
If he is pecking he is eating but can't find the food he needs so he is starving.
Fix it.

Reef Pilot · #8 05-30-2013, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I tried nori soaked in garlic guard (not selcon though; don't know where I can find that in Calgary) and the foxface eats it from the clip before the tang can see it. I even tried rubber banding it around a pvc pipe and drop it on the sandbed so that it can notice it but doesn't seem interested other than diatom. I haven't had any problem with fish not eating until I got the kole. I am pretty sure diatom is not giving it the proper nutrition and hence its health is deteriorating.

I have a Kole Tang, and his first food (besides constantly picking algae from the rocks and glass) was freeze dried mysis in the QT tank, and it is still his favorite food. Then he started eating a few pellets after that. Never could get him to eat nori (weird for a tang), and still won't. And yes, I have a foxface too, and he is a real pig for that nori. I also have the Kole eating veggie flakes (while the foxface won't touch it). But he still fills his day bouncing around the tank, pecking for algae.

mrhasan · #9 05-30-2013, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus99

I had a couple tangs that wouldn't take food but emerald entre did the trick

I am guessing its like formula 2?

So I am guessing that I am doing anything wrong, its just tangs' nature to be stubborn. I did check my parameters and those are in check (the water is not stressing out thats for sure).

mrhasan · #10 05-30-2013, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

I have a Kole Tang, and his first food (besides constantly picking algae from the rocks and glass) was freeze dried mysis in the QT tank, and it is still his favorite food. Then he started eating a few pellets after that. Never could get him to eat nori (weird for a tang), and still won't. And yes, I have a foxface too, and he is a real pig for that nori. I also have the Kole eating veggie flakes. But he still fills his day bouncing around the tank, pecking for algae.

He was getting quite active (apart from being shy whenever I am standing close to the tank) but he became very slow today and only roams around in one side of the tank. I am not totally sure but I have read that koles hardly (if any at all) touch nori. I am seriously getting worried.