Black Spot Tang ( Acanthurus Bariene) have a taste for Zoas

[coral_lagoon]

In my 180 mixed reef I have a 5 inch Bariene Tang that has started to nip at my zoas. Not just nip,but seen him eat them.( the fish are well fed).Had this guy about 2 months. Very light fish load in this tank. Just him,and another fish..He also does a great job taking care of any algae too. Has anyone had this problem before, or with another tang? Thanks...

 

[nikon187]

wait till you see what he can do at 20 inches. I would remove him as it isnt likley to get better. I just removed my mata tang due to aggression in my 210,*he also picked on zoa from time to time. ( he was 10 inches before i got him out ) Going to a new 415g

 

[coral_lagoon]

wait till you see what he can do at 20 inches. I would remove him as it isnt likley to get better. I just removed my mata tang due to aggression in my 210,*he also picked on zoa from time to time. ( he was 10 inches before i got him out ) Going to a new 415g

Thank's. :thumbsup:
I got a 300 in storage,but don't know if I want to set that up just for 1 fish..

 

[sandwi54]

I also have a bariene in my 375g. grew him from 4.5" to now around 8", an absolutely massive fish and very thick.

are you feeding him enough? large acanthurus tangs like bariene have very high metabolism and require multiple feedings a day. typically when reef-safe fish start sampling corals, that's an indication that it's underfed.

On a side note, even though bariene tang is reef-safe, I wouldn't put it in a reef tank unless it's very big. bariene tang gets HUGE and can easily bump into your corals in a small 180g. I've seen a full grown (probably around 14-15") in a public aquarium and that thing is as long as my forearm, and probably as thick too.

 

[falconut]

I had a Yellow Tang that used to constantly pick at my large leather and then started nipping my Maxima clam. I've also read on here, where others have occasionally had Tangs eat/nip at corals. It's not that common, but it does happen.

 

[coral_lagoon]

I also have a bariene in my 375g. grew him from 4.5" to now around 8", an absolutely massive fish and very thick.

are you feeding him enough? large acanthurus tangs like bariene have very high metabolism and require multiple feedings a day. typically when reef-safe fish start sampling corals, that's an indication that it's underfed.

On a side note, even though bariene tang is reef-safe, I wouldn't put it in a reef tank unless it's very big. bariene tang gets HUGE and can easily bump into your corals in a small 180g. I've seen a full grown (probably around 14-15") in a public aquarium and that thing is as long as my forearm, and probably as thick too.

Yes I do 4 small feedings a day,and a clip of nori on top of that. Even at 5inches he's real fat. The liverock in my 180 mixed reef isn't stacked like Mount ST Helens so there's plenty of swimming space,and it's just him and a rabbit fish,and I plan on keeping it that way. Thank's..

 

[coral_lagoon]

I had a Yellow Tang that used to constantly pick at my large leather and then started nipping my Maxima clam. I've also read on here, where others have occasionally had Tangs eat/nip at corals. It's not that common, but it does happen.

Thank's . I'm sure glad mine doesn't nip at my Squamosa..

 

[love2skiutah]

That is a beautiful fish. Do you have anymore pictures?

 

[sandwi54]

Yes I do 4 small feedings a day,and a clip of nori on top of that. Even at 5inches he's real fat. The liverock in my 180 mixed reef isn't stacked like Mount ST Helens so there's plenty of swimming space,and it's just him and a rabbit fish,and I plan on keeping it that way. Thank's..

Just know that he will outgrow your 180g in a couple of years. This is one of the six largest Acanthurus species with an adult size of 20"! I'm not even sure if my 375g will be big enough once it reaches 12".

 

[coral_lagoon]

Just know that he will outgrow your 180g in a couple of years. This is one of the six largest Acanthurus species with an adult size of 20"! I'm not even sure if my 375g will be big enough once it reaches 12".

Once mine reaches 15 inches I'm gonna give him away to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In the mean time I still got some time to enjoy..

 

[Tony B (UK)]

I had a powder blue eat a load of xenia, every last bit, cleaned the rock it was on. He was a fat fatty fat fat pig, far from hungry. He got fed lots of nori, frozen and dry foods too.

 

[Ostara]

Once mine reaches 15 inches I'm gonna give him away to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In the mean time I still got some time to enjoy..

I don't know that I would count on this unless you have arranged it. I have never heard of them taking on specimens from the public (in fact, I've heard numerous employees state the contrary) and most of the aquarium is dedicated to cool water fish like those found in the bay. I don't think they've expanded much, if any, on the single small tank that was dedicated to a warmer reef.

 

[JohnniG]

He looks pretty nonetheless

 

[coral_lagoon]

That is a beautiful fish. Do you have anymore pictures?

Thank you brah..

 

[nikon187]

yes most public aquariums do NOT take fish from the public, zoos either.

My mata i just removed just went to a 660 gallon and he is stil kinda big lol.