View Full Version : Need to fatten up a large tang
cleverbs
04/10/2015, 09:45 AM
I have a 10-11" Sailfin tang that went on a hunger strike a few weeks back and got very skinny. He started eating again and I have been giving him nori every day and feading the tank a hefty amount of food. However he isnt getting fat. How can I really fatten him up? any tricks I should know about?
ReefsandGeeks
04/10/2015, 09:47 AM
Maybe try a higher nutrient food, like pellets? nori is like a salad, lots of eating, bt not alot of calories. If the tang will eat pellets, or other higher density nutrients, he can take in more, and therefore, should fatten up.
cleverbs
04/10/2015, 09:51 AM
I feed pellets as well.
My yellow tang is giant he can hardly swim but he isnt nearly the size of the sailfin
CStrickland
04/10/2015, 09:52 AM
Garlic?
cleverbs
04/10/2015, 09:54 AM
Well hes eating just fine. He eats very well. Maybe I should try feeding 2-3 times a day
theoregonian
04/10/2015, 09:54 AM
http://www.amazon.com/Hikari-Usa-AHK21328-tropical-8-8-Ounce/dp/B00025Z6K2/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=1VJB48PMNHHN7NR9MN3A
I have a 10-11" Sailfin tang that went on a hunger strike a few weeks back and got very skinny. He started eating again and I have been giving him nori every day and feading the tank a hefty amount of food. However he isnt getting fat. How can I really fatten him up? any tricks I should know about?
Give him or her some ice cream. Seems to fatten me up just fine :facepalm:
reefgeezer
04/10/2015, 12:35 PM
I use Blackworms to fatten up fish in QT. Seems like most fish go nuts for them, even when they won't eat anything else. He'll gain weight quickly if he'll eat them.
cleverbs
04/10/2015, 12:53 PM
I wish I could have live black worms but my lfs's dont sell them and I think my wife would kill me if I fed my fish 40$ worms lol
snorvich
04/10/2015, 01:07 PM
Tangs are inefficient eaters and must eat constantly to maintain body weight.
reefgeezer
04/10/2015, 02:23 PM
I wish I could have live black worms but my lfs's dont sell them and I think my wife would kill me if I fed my fish 40$ worms lol
I've been there! I have recently switched to freeze dried Blackworms and feed them a couple times a week. I'd still use live for a skinny fish in QT though. I even bough a used dorm fridge to store them. I buy them on-line a 1/4 pound at a time for around $30 delivered. That'll feed several fish for 6-7 weeks.
cleverbs
04/10/2015, 02:51 PM
Oh its really lasts that long? can you keep them alive that long? I felt like they would only last a week or so. if they last 2 months I would have no problem spending 30$ on them.
I think thats the other issue is that I dont have any algae growing on my rocks at all anymore and so my tang isnt able to graze all day.
reefgeezer
04/10/2015, 04:13 PM
Oh its really lasts that long? can you keep them alive that long? I felt like they would only last a week or so. if they last 2 months I would have no problem spending 30$ on them.
I think thats the other issue is that I dont have any algae growing on my rocks at all anymore and so my tang isnt able to graze all day.
Keeping them alive is certainly a PIA. But yes, you can keep them alive for months in the fridge if you change the water almost daily and have an easy source of chilled RO/DI water to do it with. I do this when I have a picky eater in QT like a Copperband. I bought a 1/2 pound once because it didn't cost much more. I ended up giving a lot away. 1/4 pound portions are better. They fit well in a small Tupperware container and last for several weeks... if you take care of them. IME, the container sold at the website where you order the worms helps in the water changes and is worth the money.
I'm trying freeze dried and frozen blackworms from the same website now for feeding fish in the DT. I haven't done it long enough to know if it is worth doing though.
You can also put some algae pellets in an auto feeder for him.
m0nkie
04/10/2015, 04:17 PM
Keeping them alive is certainly a PIA. But yes, you can keep them alive for months in the fridge if you change the water almost daily and have an easy source of chilled RO/DI water to do it with. I do this when I have a picky eater in QT like a Copperband. I bought a 1/2 pound once because it didn't cost much more. I ended up giving a lot away. 1/4 pound portions are better. They fit well in a small Tupperware container and last for several weeks... if you take care of them. IME, the container sold at the website where you order the worms helps in the water changes and is worth the money.
I'm trying freeze dried and frozen blackworms from the same website now for feeding fish in the DT. I haven't done it long enough to know if it is worth doing though.
You can also put some algae pellets in an auto feeder for him.
mind sharing the website you ordered from? and if you have time, describe the WC process?? I've been trying to culture them in Cali in a plastic shoe box.. it's too dry and hot to keep them alive outdoors. I'm debating if I should dedicate a small fridge for them
thanks
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.