Kole Tang - feeding habits and compatibility

[EmilyB]

OSI spirulina nibblers were a favorite for my Kole.

[skylord]

What I did was wrap nori around a small rock with a string on it and drop it in the tank. The Kole will find it. After it starts eating the nori I continue that for a few days then start using the clip.

Scott

[Reefer Rob]

I've had a Kole Tang for a few months, and it eats very little other than what it sucks off the rocks and glass. It will eat the little pieces of nori that float around the tank during the feeding frenzy, and the occasional pellet, but it really likes, well, poo. A little disgusting to watch, but the fish is very healthy.

[naesco]

The kole tang is different from other tangs.
They must have the brown slimy algae that you see forming on your glass. That is why he is sucking the brown stuff on your glass.
If you want to keep this tang alive, you can do two things.
1. Keep a large portion of your glass in the corner uncleaned.
2. Buy some of the smooth stones you see in LFS and pile them in an area on the bottom of your tank.

Both these suggestions will provide sufficient food for you kole.
Note the mouth of the kole. It is a sucker an its mouth piece will be damaged if it is forced to eat the brown algae that is also found on jagged live rock.

[Todd]

Thanks for all of the great advice guys.

Fishoholic - Interesting I have always heard that it is the sailfin that is mean, and the yellow rather calm. I will take that into consideration, although as I may be moving this year (just within the city), I dont think that I will be adding anything more for awhile.


Chin and Skylord - Some of the peices that have broken off of the clip have been floating around, none of the fish seem to notice so far. Tying it to a rock on the bottom is a great idea! I will try this!

Naesco - I have a bare bottom and a large center overflow that is never cleaned, this is alot of glass space so it should be lots of space for algea growing. I was mainly concerned that this would not be adequate in terms of variance and quantity.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Todd

Thanks for all of the great advice guys.

Fishoholic - Interesting I have always heard that it is the sailfin that is mean, and the yellow rather calm. I will take that into consideration, although as I may be moving this year (just within the city), I dont think that I will be adding anything more for awhile.


Chin and Skylord - Some of the peices that have broken off of the clip have been floating around, none of the fish seem to notice so far. Tying it to a rock on the bottom is a great idea! I will try this!

Naesco - I have a bare bottom and a large center overflow that is never cleaned, this is alot of glass space so it should be lots of space for algea growing. I was mainly concerned that this would not be adequate in terms of variance and quantity.

It should be fine. You have probably noticed that it is sucking at the glass all the time. You can see the sucker marks. As it is feeding off the bottom glass throw in a couple of the sinking wardley spirulina discs.