getting my hippo tang to eat nori

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
Well my Hippo tang is in the main tank after a successful induction in the QT
Hes eating meaty foods very well, but doesnt seem the slight bit interested in the nori stuff i am putting in. The stuff im using is by Julian Springs and is called 'sea veggies' if anyone knows it. How can I make him eat his veggies? The cleaner shrimp loves it and everytime i put it in he has msot of it, and the clownfish likes it to, just not the tang! what can i do?
Thanks!
Tim.

 

[fishtanker]

hippo tangs are omnivore's which means they eat just about everything (meaty and greenstuffs). i'd say just keep putting the nori in there and eventually he will pick at it. you might want to try romaine lettuce (the real green leaves) and boil it for about 30secs then put that in as well as the nori and see if he likes that better. My hippo eats nori, romaine lettuce, flake, and frozen brine. he's quite the pig
HTH

 

[lesleybird]

Try getting a small rock and put it on with a rubber band. My fish were afraid of the seaweed feeder clip thing... The rock looks more natural to a fish. Keep doing this for a few days and he will probably see the other fish eating and catch on. I finally got my Majestic angel to eat this way. Thank God he is eating....he cost me almost $200 including tax. I also put his frozen sponge angel diet on the rcok with a rubber band. I figure in nature they are used to picking sponges and algae off of rocks. I buy the Seaweed Selects green and the Seaweed Selects red algea for my fish too. Lesley

 

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
Well I was reliably informed that even though tangs will eat lettuce, there is no nutritional value in it for them, so seaweed is the one to shoot for.
I did put it under a rock but as soon as it was in there, the cleaner shrimp was all over it and the fish (even if they wanted to) couldnt get a look in! Grrr!
Any suggestions?
Tim.

 

[bdhough]

Try taking a small piece and mashing it up with your fingers in the water. Maybe he will eat it as it drifts by. Carefull not to do to big of a piece. I've done it before in my small tanks and it always results in a small spike of cyano....

 

[timsedwards]

ok thanks I will try that, but some pieces did fall apart last time with free floating bits, and he looked at it and simply wasnt interested
Thanks,
Tim.

 

[buzz]

Give it time with the Sea Veggies. Mine didn't take to it immediately either. But now it eats it, as does my lawnmower blenny, and my chromis...(I didn't expect that one).

 

[timsedwards]

ok will do thanks buzz. how long did it take for yours to get used to it and eat it?
Tim.

 

[bdhough]

Yeah buzz green chromis love spirulina type foods....

 

[buzz]

Mine took about a week, and then got curious. Prior to that, it was only flake and frozen foods it would eat.

 

[michaelstern]

I have always found that my tang only eats seaweed when it is attached to something (either rock or clip) You might try soaking in garlic extreme. That has helped me in the past. Is it possible your tang is eating when you are not watching?

 

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
I dont think so...i mean he would investigate what the floating piece of sea weed is...then ignore it. Ill give it a little while and keep pestering
Thanks for your help!
Tim.