Blue Tang gone rogue!

[IrishTang]

So I've had a Blue tang become carnivorous on me. Apparently it's pretty common. He is of course picking on my beautiful centerpiece brain. I noticed it wasn't opening up like it usually did for a few days, this thing gets like 5 inches across. At first I thought he was picking food that fell on top of it.

I've read that it is either the fish or the coral at this point and being as I have many more LPS in my tank I'm thinking I should ditch the fish, maybe try another Blue tang? I've had this guy for about 6 months. Any LFS that will take as partial trade towards another? He is very healthy probably about 4- 4 1/2 inches.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[zachfishman]

I've heard of tangs going after LPS with big mouths. They (apparently) nibble at some coral excrement, get a taste for the zooxanthellae, and begin eating the coral tissue presumably going after the algae...

 

[IrishTang]

Interesting, I also thought it could have been because of the coloring on this brain, every shade of green and red. I was thinking maybe he mistook it for algae. I have the brain under some egg crate right now to give him a rest.

 

[robthorn]

I had one start going after acros and it was in captivity for years.

 

[craigtaylor]

I unfortunately just got rid of the one I had for the very same reason, I've lost more in coral than what I paid for the fish. Second hippo that I have had go rogue on me.

 

[AJ69]

Yrs ago I had one that went rogue as well, that Blue Hippo devoured my open brain in less than 2 days

 

[risin]

Do you feed nori regularly? My sailfin tang eats my gorgonians (not a big deal), but typically stops when I put a sheet of nori in.

 

[IrishTang]

I do feed it pretty regularly but I had cut back a bit due to some elevated phosphates. The Nori does seem to help keep him occupied, the past few days I have been leaving some on the clip when I leave for work so I hope it helps.

 

[anbosu]

Hepatus tangs do this pretty regularly. Normally they eat zoas, but they aren't really as reef safe as people think.