Can you be too good to your Tangs?

[SethTheWineGuy]

I have recently added 3 tangs to my tank. A Kole about a month ago and a Powder Blue and a Spot Face this weekend. I got the Kole because of its reputation for working the reef and picking away algae. For a whole month I never saw the Kole take prepared food. He just picked the reef clean and was happy and healthy. I didn't expect much from the other two from a cleaning aspect, but to my surprise they are very active workers on the reef as well. The Powder Blue and Spot Face will eat anything offered like pigs. The Kole watched them eat Nori and started at it himself for the first time.

So, here's my question. If I provide a constant supply of Nori and other food will all the Tangs get lazy and stop working the reef? I want to keep them as active cleaners in the tank but also want to make sure they are fed and healthy. I know the tank alone can't produce enough algae to sustain all of them plus the turbos. I keep my water params too in check for any substantial algae growth.

 

[jjk_reef00]

They will continue to pick at the rock.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Herbivores, tangs or cows, will always graze constantly. (What else do they have to do?)

 

[xtlosx]

Herbivores, tangs or cows, will always graze constantly. (What else do they have to do?)

It's like a permanent working vacation.... kinda makes me jealous.

 

[snorvich]

Herbivores, tangs or cows, will always graze constantly. (What else do they have to do?)

they could play bridge?

 

[aleonn]

Tangs eat like pigs, and would like to even when we're not there

 

[Recty]

I autofeed my tangs four times a day a mix of pellets and flakes, I feed a half a sheet of the 12"x12" nori and I usually manually feed at least once. About every three days to a week I feed mysis.

Immediately after feeding, my tangs stop picking on the rocks but within 10 minutes of a major feeding, they will be back to grazing on the rocks.

Long story short, I dont think there is any amount you could feed your tangs that would make them stop grazing for good.

 

[charleneatkins]

if I could get them to eat my grass, I could put my lawn mower away

 

[nonstopfishies]

They will eat, eat, eat, so you have nothing to worry about. I would try to get them eating some NLS to go along with the algae to keep them healthy.

 

[sanchoy]

Healthy Tangs constantly eat.. the only time they stop eating is when they are sick or stressed out.