Kole tang vs Yellow tang - feeding habits

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by naesco

Kole tangs may appear to eat algae on the rocks but in order to thrive they require film algae as you have experienced. You can provide them with film algae by keeping the back of your tank 'dirty'.

Why would the film that grows on rockwork be a different algae than on the glass? The same film covers everything but isn't too visible on the rocks if it's mature rock. My kole works the rockwork ALL day and only occasionally the glass. I'm thinking he's eating something worth all the effort =)

My kole seemed very happy in my 97 (36x24x26) but there's no denying the wy in which he moves around changed in the big tank. I suppose everything's relative but seems much happier.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Why would the film that grows on rockwork be a different algae than on the glass? The same film covers everything but isn't too visible on the rocks if it's mature rock. My kole works the rockwork ALL day and only occasionally the glass. I'm thinking he's eating something worth all the effort =)

My kole seemed very happy in my 97 (36x24x26) but there's no denying the wy in which he moves around changed in the big tank. I suppose everything's relative but seems much happier.

I understand that film algae is found on smooth rock surfaces in the wild and obviously glass in our aquariums. The Kole's mouth is designed to suck the film algae off the glass.s iIf you observe him he has a sucker-type mouth.
Like all fish they will do their best to find what they need and sometimes adopt to aquarium food but ultimately they will start to go downhill if their specific food needs are not met.

[jostafew]

Thanks for the feeding advice naesco, I do leave the back 3 walls "wild" so there's lots of grazing area. Will see what I can do about some smooth stones as well.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by naesco

I understand that film algae is found on smooth rock surfaces in the wild and obviously glass in our aquariums. The Kole's mouth is designed to suck the film algae off the glass.s iIf you observe him he has a sucker-type mouth.
Like all fish they will do their best to find what they need and sometimes adopt to aquarium food but ultimately they will start to go downhill if their specific food needs are not met.

Hummmmm good to know, I'm housing yellow tangs in my 80g (until the 260g is up and running) but when they're moved over I think I'll get a kole as I have horrible algae growth all over the sides and back of my 80g.

[Reefer Rob]

Koles are a bristle tooth Tang, and while they appear to be sucking they are in fact scraping the algae from surfaces with many very small teeth. My wife likes the little kiss marks they leave all over the aquarium. I had a fat and health Kole in my 180 for years, a great, hardy fish and hard working reef custodian.

[lastlight]

Agreed it looks like a suction but there are definitely teeth at work. You can easily see them in the mouth.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Agreed it looks like a suction but there are definitely teeth at work. You can easily see them in the mouth.

Keep this on topic please.... Oh wait forgot I am not a moderator...

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by naesco

I understand that film algae is found on smooth rock surfaces in the wild and obviously glass in our aquariums. The Kole's mouth is designed to suck the film algae off the glass.s iIf you observe him he has a sucker-type mouth.
Like all fish they will do their best to find what they need and sometimes adopt to aquarium food but ultimately they will start to go downhill if their specific food needs are not met.

I'm not claiming to know anything that's for sure just speaking from experience here. My kole is the nicest one I've personally ever seen. He doesn't really go for nori... all his algal needs are from the tank with most of that from the rocks. I've certainly had the glass get dirty many times and yeah you see all the sucker marks all over it but he still prefers to graze the rock for whatever reason.