Naso eating habits strange...

[tacks]

I have a 125g with a Berlin Turbo Protein Skimmer, a UV, wet dry, and approx. 70lbs of live rock. Inhabitants are a 6" Naso, 3" Yellow Bar Angel, 3" Coral Beauty, 2 Percs, 3 Green Chromis, 2 Scooter Blennies, and a diamond goby. All fish get along fine. The tank has been up and running for about a year and a half. I've had the Naso for 11 months. About 2 months ago, the Naso suddenly stopped eating for 5 days and became very lathargic. Well, he snapped out of it and returned to eating very well like usual. I've noticed that sometime when eating seaweed selects, it almost seems as though some food gets stuck in his throat (maybe he's eating to fast). His color gets dark and he tries to swim in darting motions like he is trying to get it down. He's still eating but seems to be going down the same path as before. Anyone have any guesses as to what this could be? I've heard that Naso's sometime have kidney problems.

 

[beth]

What are you feeding him besides seaweed selects? How is the fish color and behavior otherwise?

 

[tacks]

I also feed brine, flake, and mysis none of which he shows much interest in. His color is very healthy looking and behavior is good. He swims around the whole tank most of the time. I soak the selects in Zoe twice a week.

 

[beth]

Tangs are vegetarian fish, not meat eaters. They are also grazing fish, which means that they need to graze every waking monment or they will not maintain health. Do you have macroalgae growing in your tank? This would be an excellent supplemental dietary source for this fish not to mention address the fish's grazing needs.
IMO, what you are offering just doesn't cut it nutritionally for this fish. You may need to get a variety of seaweed selects to introduce a proper and balanced diet. Think vegetarian. This fish needs to eat veggies, not meat. You can offer some meaty foods, but that should not be the mainstay of the fish's diet.

 

[tacks]

I want to first say thank you for your help. I am feeding seaweed selects (brown, green, and red) soaked in Zoe. I am not specifically feeding the tang meaty foods (there are others in the tank who eat the meaty foods). What else do you recommend feeding the tang?

 

[beth]

Sounds like he is getting some good variety there. Do you have macro algae growing in your tank? Is the tang able to graze?
What are the nitrate levels in your tank? I find that tangs have very low tolerance to nitrates. How does the body look, scales in tact, etc?

 

[needhelp]

i wish you good luck. i hate reading about sick fishies

 

[tacks]

I'll check the nitrates. Last time (about 3 weeks ago) they were 20. The fish looks great. The body is very smooth and unmarked. The color is brilliant. I have some macroalgea in the tank and he seems to graze. Maybe I'm just overly cautious. After a while you get to know the behavior of your fish and you know when something isn't right.