What Do Blue Tang Fish Eat?
These fish consume tiny foods such as marine algae, brine shrimp, bits of seaweed, and other microscopic organisms. They eat brine shrimp along with capelin (a small fish), chopped squid, broccoli, and peas at the zoo.
What does a blue tang eat?
What Do Blue Tangs Eat in Captivity? – Captured from the wild, Blue Tangs are often seen in professional aquariums. Their diet is simple to imitate. They gladly consume nori, algae-based fish flakes, krill, and plankton. Nevertheless, the majority of their diet should consist of algae and algal-derived compounds.
Information Regarding the Species 
Paracanthurus hepatus Blue tangs (Paracanthurus hepatus, Linnaeus, 1758) are one of the most popular aquarium fish. Among their many common names are Pacific blue tang, Palette tang, Regal tang, and Hippo tang. This species’ native range encompasses the majority of the Indo-Pacific.
In the environment, juveniles school together and feed on algae and zooplankton. Due to their eating activity, they do best in a well-established aquarium with clean water, rocks, and ample swimming area. This fish may be timid when initially introduced to an aquarium, but it will rapidly acclimatize if it has rocks or other hiding places.
In captivity, they will soon learn to accept the majority of offered foods. At the Sustainable Islands project, we train our blue tangs to consume our hatchery diet, which consists of spirulina brine shrimp, mysis, and nori. Due to their high appetites and waste production, appropriate filtration and water quality are needed.
- These fish can become prone to numerous illnesses, including marine ich (Cryptocaryon) and lateral line erosion, if they are not adequately cared for.
- This is readily preventable with proper diet and water quality.
- Physical Description – Blue tangs are appreciated for their exquisite and distinctive coloring.
They are a vibrant shade of royal blue with prominent black patterns. Their brilliant yellow caudal fin is highlighted in black, creating a striking contrast with their dark body. Both the dorsal and anal fins have a black edging. As with other tangs, they have a defense-use scalpel on their caudal peduncle.
Specimens found around the African coast may also have a faint yellow underside, earning them the name Yellow Bellied Blue Tangs. These are one of the most tranquil tangs, getting along with the majority of their tankmates. As adults, they do not get along with other individuals of the same species, thus only one should be housed per system.
They may also fight with fish that share a similar body form, thus tank mates must be chosen with caution. As previously noted, these fish might be timid when initially brought to a tank, therefore aggressive or loud partners should be avoided. Size – Blue tangs may attain a remarkable length of 12 inches, however captive specimens seldom attain this size.
Their massive size and continual foraging activities necessitate a tank capacity of at least 100 gallons. Sustainable Aquatics Hatchery Diet gives your fish the optimum nutrients! Diet – At the Sustainable Islands project, our blue tangs are conditioned to consume our Hatchery Diet, spirulina brine shrimp, mysis, and nori.
Distribution — This species is incredibly widespread in the Indo-Pacific. They are distributed from the eastern coast of Africa to Fiji, and as far north as Japan and as far south as Australia. They are often found on coral reefs, but can also be spotted at depths between 6 and 130 feet.
Can you feed lettuce to tangs?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not show this or other websites correctly. You need upgrade or use an other browser, My tangs adore romaine lettuce has any body tried soaking it in garlic ? You’re going to need something more absorbent than lettuce to get it into the meal.
No, Ive never steeped my in garlic. What would be the motive to do it? You may use Seaweed Select, I assume it would absorb garlic. It helps prevent against parasites like ich. Also is an appetite stimulator from my understanding. It wood be fantastic if the garlic wood enter in to the leaf a lot easer than seaweed,
I put in a romaine leaf and it last all day and nothing breaks of in the tank My Tangs don’t let anything float when is feeding time, the smash it. Joined Mar 24, 2008 Messages 340 The reaction score is 6 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 According to your study, it is not a good idea to feed them this, despite the fact that they will consume it.
If you saw my Tangs, how long I’ve had them, and everything else I offer them, you would be surprised. What other things do you give your Tangs? Are the sheets of noire as fragile as seaweed? Our Yellow is a fan of broccoli! I feed shrimp Mysis, Plankton, Spinach, Squid, and Nori Sheets. Romaine lettuce and spinach tend to remain in the vegetable clip the longest.
Consider Seaweed Select; I believe it would absorb garlic. It helps repel parasites such as itch. My understanding is that it also stimulates hunger. It also serves to repel vampires. One point for fishes2889. lettuce? maybe in 1976. Go to your local Asian grocery store (or even Walmart has a nice brand) and purchase NORI (it’s MUCH cheaper than lettuce and MUCH healthier for your fish).
make sure there’s nothing added and that it’s 100% dry nori (some say toasted) Nori is more similar to what fish consume, and it absorbs a great deal of liquid. I use it to supplement my fish’s food with Zoecon. I think you could do the same with garlic, however there is a recent story on garlic and how, other than enticing a reluctant fish to eat, it offers no other benefits.
It also serves to repel vampires. That is amusing. I will remember this the next time I observe a vampire in my tank! Plus one Nori sheet. Here is a link to an article that lists the protein to phosphate ratio of a variety of widely fed meals, including the majority of those mentioned.
Remember that tangs require a great deal of roughage to remain healthy over the long run. This should be considered when selecting food. It extends beyond the food’s plain nutritional worth. While I agree that romaine lettuce has minimal nutritional benefit, the leaf’s roughage and fiber may make it desirable to serve.
My group of ten-year-old tangs thrive on Nori and broccoli, but I wouldn’t rule it out based alone on its nutritional benefits. Perhaps a more appropriate criterion would be the food’s phosphate to protein ratio. Aquarium Chemistry: Phosphate And Mathematics: Both Are Necessary? Aquatic Expert | Aquarist Magazine and Blog Regarding the notion that garlic is beneficial to fish, I have seen many research indicating that garlic is really harmful to fish.
I suspect liver damage was the issue. Garlic contributes neither to the healing of fish nor to the treatment of ich. People who believe this may delay therapy in the hope that garlic may assist. Their fish lose so much power as they wait to take action that therapy is impossible. I’ve observed several fish succumb to ich despite garlic supplements throughout the years.
I’ve also witnessed people heal without the use of garlic pills. No matter how much we would desire otherwise, the two are unrelated. Tangs eating This video depicts my tangs eating their usual breakfast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll94icWTFhs Wow, you have everything prohibited in a reef aquarium in your tank.
- How large is your aquarium? nice I like it I only possess a 125g.30 January, 2012 Joined Messages 1,881 Reaction rating: 1,265 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 Situating Plymouth Remember that romaine lettuce has NO nutrients for fish.
- Joined on Feb 22, 2013 with 1,916 Messages Reaction score: 306 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 Location Carrollton But nori from Asian market like 50 12″x12″ sheets for $8 tangs adore it.
Just ensure that you provide vitamin-rich meat at least once every week. Add a few drops of garlic to the mixture of algae and frozen meaty meal. 
You are using an out of date browser. It may not show this or other websites correctly. You need upgrade or use an other browser, My tangs adore romaine lettuce has any body tried soaking it in garlic ? You’re going to need something more absorbent than lettuce to get it into the meal.
No, Ive never steeped my in garlic. What would be the motive to do it? You may use Seaweed Select, I assume it would absorb garlic. It helps prevent against parasites like ich. Also is an appetite stimulator from my understanding. It wood be fantastic if the garlic wood enter in to the leaf a lot easer than seaweed,
I put in a romaine leaf and it last all day and nothing breaks of in the tank My Tangs don’t let anything float when is feeding time, the smash it. Joined Mar 24, 2008 Messages 340 The reaction score is 6 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 According to your study, it is not a good idea to feed them this, despite the fact that they will consume it.
If you saw my Tangs, how long I’ve had them, and everything else I offer them, you would be surprised. What other things do you give your Tangs? Are the sheets of noire as fragile as seaweed? Our Yellow is a fan of broccoli! I feed shrimp Mysis, Plankton, Spinach, Squid, and Nori Sheets. Romaine lettuce and spinach tend to remain in the vegetable clip the longest.
Consider Seaweed Select; I believe it would absorb garlic. It helps repel parasites such as itch. My understanding is that it also stimulates hunger. It also serves to repel vampires. One point for fishes2889. lettuce? maybe in 1976. Go to your local Asian grocery store (or even Walmart has a nice brand) and purchase NORI (it’s MUCH cheaper than lettuce and MUCH healthier for your fish).
- Make sure there’s nothing added and that it’s 100% dry nori (some say toasted) Nori is more similar to what fish consume, and it absorbs a great deal of liquid.
- I use it to supplement my fish’s food with Zoecon.
- I think you could do the same with garlic, however there is a recent story on garlic and how, other than enticing a reluctant fish to eat, it offers no other benefits.
It also serves to repel vampires. That is amusing. I will remember this the next time I observe a vampire in my tank! Plus one Nori sheet. Here is a link to an article that lists the protein to phosphate ratio of a variety of widely fed meals, including the majority of those mentioned.
Remember that tangs require a great deal of roughage to remain healthy over the long run. This should be considered when selecting food. It extends beyond the food’s plain nutritional worth. While I agree that romaine lettuce has minimal nutritional benefit, the leaf’s roughage and fiber may make it desirable to serve.
My group of ten-year-old tangs thrive on Nori and broccoli, but I wouldn’t rule it out based alone on its nutritional benefits. Perhaps a more appropriate criterion would be the food’s phosphate to protein ratio. Aquarium Chemistry: Phosphate And Mathematics: Both Are Necessary? Aquatic Expert | Aquarist Magazine and Blog Regarding the notion that garlic is beneficial to fish, I have seen many research indicating that garlic is really harmful to fish.
I suspect liver damage was the issue. Garlic contributes neither to the healing of fish nor to the treatment of ich. People who believe this may delay therapy in the hope that garlic may assist. Their fish lose so much power as they wait to take action that therapy is impossible. I’ve observed several fish succumb to ich despite garlic supplements throughout the years.
I’ve also witnessed people heal without the use of garlic pills. No matter how much we would desire otherwise, the two are unrelated. Tangs eating This video depicts my tangs eating their usual breakfast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll94icWTFhs Wow, you have everything prohibited in a reef aquarium in your tank.
How large is your aquarium? nice I like it I only possess a 125g.30 January, 2012 Joined Messages 1,881 Reaction rating: 1,265 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 Situating Plymouth Remember that romaine lettuce has NO nutrients for fish. Joined on Feb 22, 2013 with 1,916 Messages Reaction score: 306 Review rating: 0 / 0 / 0 Location Carrollton But nori from Asian market like 50 12″x12″ sheets for $8 tangs adore it.
Just ensure that you provide vitamin-rich meat at least once every week. Add a few drops of garlic to the mixture of algae and frozen meaty meal.