Brain versus Yellow Tang

[Murph72]

I posted this on the corals forum, but I guess nobody had an answer So, here goes LPS lovers:

My yellow tang is picking at a new Wellsophyllia that I put into the tank. I can keep him from picking if I have nori in the tank, but (as I'm not home 24/7) I can't keep it in the tank all the time.
Anyone know of any method to condition the fish into the belief that this brain is not a food source? Is there any other way I can protect this coral?

Oddly enough, this is the second Wellso that he's picked at. He had done the same to another Wellso that I moved to another tank. That Wellso has yet to recover from the damage that was done. He also does not pick at any other coral, including other types of brains.

I am mystified by his behavior. Luckily the other tangs are not following suit.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm hoping others have had luck with this problem as I am stumped by what to do to fix the issue.

Thanks!

 

[JenDub]

move it or lose it

He won't stop until it's gone

 

[detz15]

I have a powder blue doing the same thing. I posted and there was limited suggestions. One was to try and feed more nori.

Try protecting the brain for a week or two and feed more nori and then maybe when you remove the protection the fish will have forgotten about the brain. I put a 2L clear plastic bottle with the top cut off and some holes for flow over my brain. It seems to be fine and expands every day even in the bottle and it keeps the fish from attacking it.

That is my only hope and if that does not work then I am going to have to try and catch the little bugger and exchange him for a nicer fellow.

Good luck and let me know if anything works.

 

[Murph72]

Detz,

How do you keep the plastic bottle from floating away? Wouldn't that float?

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

I have an Keyhole Angel nipping at all my corals in my 120 gal the first week I put him in after 6 weeks from Q-tank. I took him out because every coral was freaking out. I caught him and put him back in the Q-tank and feed him seaweed delight for a month eveyday, breaking up little pieces and let it always float in the tank. After a month I put him back in the 120 gal display tank. The Keyhole once in awhile will nip but not continuous like before and I feed nori and seaweed delight to my Tangs and keyhole every second day and my corals are happy and always open now.

Hope this Helps!

 

[Ti]

One of them has got to go

 

[izmullives]

unless you like the tank more than the Wellsophyllia I would take out the tang

 

[msman825]

a strawberry basket will work also to put over it

 

[Gobie]

I just sold all my clams because of my hippo tang, he just one day decided they taste good.

 

[yardboy]

After 2 years my yellow decided he liked the Wellsophyllia. I put the Wells in another tank with a Palette Tang, he delveloped a taste for it after just a couple of weeks. The yellow will have to go, mine did.

 

[Murph72]

Update: I moved the Wellso to the other tank. Problem is that the yellow and the sailfin in that tank are also picking at it. I have put the 2L bottle over it. It is expanding nicely now.

I'm going to try to see if I can try removing the covering after some time. I really hate to get rid of my fish. I have those two yellows, the sailfin, a purple, a naso, and a kole. My fear is that I can get rid of one only to have another develop the habit. I love the brains, but I'm not sure if I want a coral only tank. I may have to say goodbye to the wellsos.

I'll keep you posted on the results of the bottle test.