Blue tang question

[leftyblite]

My blue tang is currently about 2.5 inches long and I've had him for about 2 months now. He is in a 150G tank with a porc puffer, foxface and a bicolor angel. He is currently the smallest in the tank(though not by much) My question is this...I've read in books and on this site plus other that they are basically herbivores, but everytime I put silversides on for my puffer he goes NUTS and bullies the puffer out of the way. My puffer is twice his size but always yields to the tang. Is this normal??? I mix the tangs food between pellet ood, seaweed, and nori lettuce, which he loves.

 

[dragonzim]

From my own experience with a Hippo Tang I'd say that they are opportunists. The one that I had ate whatever I put in the tank, from seaweed to flake, mysis, squid... Pretty much everything and anything.

 

[eggs]

Same here, mine eats everything that I put in the tank.

 

[leftyblite]

I just thought it was strange how crazy it goes when those are put in for food. It's like a totally different fish.

 

[anonome]

They are indeed a herbivore by nature, but once introduced into out systems, they become a omnivore. This is actually a good sign that the hippo will eat just about anything that is placed in the tank. You shouldn't have hlle, with the tang wanting and eating a varied diet. This is the key in feeding our fish in an enclosed system. Maybe cut, or puree some silverslides just for the other fish.

 

[leftyblite]

Thanks Anonome, thats good to know.

 

[laxplaya]

they are definitely not strictly herbivore. I feed spirulina flake, mysis shrimp, and frozen brine. Every meal he is whacking down the food. The only fish that eat more than him are the Bangaii cardinals. Although, having algae sheets is a good thing to have if you have multiple "herbivores". I am not currently using algae sheets because my hippo, scopas, and foxface have plenty of algae to whack off the reef.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by LAXplaya
they are definitely not strictly herbivore. I feed spirulina flake, mysis shrimp, and frozen brine. Every meal he is whacking down the food. The only fish that eat more than him are the Bangaii cardinals. Although, having algae sheets is a good thing to have if you have multiple "herbivores". I am not currently using algae sheets because my hippo, scopas, and foxface have plenty of algae to whack off the reef.
Actually this is incorrect. They are herbivores in the sense that they only need the nutrients provided by that sort of diet. Too much meat and the fish will get sick. You should also probably be supplying algae sheets regardless of how much algae is available on the rock.