feeding tangs lettuce?

[jd474]

Still surprised as many people consider this a food option, but.... any terrestrial green fed to fish has extremely little nutritional value to begin with (almost strictly water). Secondly, it needs to be organic, otherwise it was grown with fertilizers/pesticides, and is high in PO4/NO3. Lastly, they need to be blanched, as fish can't digest cellulose--which removes what little nutritional value there was to start with. Just stick with Nori or other dried sea weed, it is much better for your fish.

 

[xdannyxrocksx]

yes indeed that is why we feed ours romaine or how ever you spell it..we do buy organic and we still rinse it under r/o. Iceburg lettuce is mostly water while romain lettuce is a good choice to feed fish..as well as reptiles..

 

[Hocky]

My tangs are hit or miss on whether they will eat lettuce or not. SOme will, some won't.

 

[jaa1456]

Still surprised as many people consider this a food option, but.... any terrestrial green fed to fish has extremely little nutritional value to begin with (almost strictly water). Secondly, it needs to be organic, otherwise it was grown with fertilizers/pesticides, and is high in PO4/NO3. Lastly, they need to be blanched, as fish can't digest cellulose--which removes what little nutritional value there was to start with. Just stick with Nori or other dried sea weed, it is much better for your fish.

You are correct that tangs can't break down the cellulose walls of the cells. But if you guys want the extra boost from Romaine and Spinach you need to freeze it first. The cell walls will explode from being frozen and the tangs can then get the real nutrition from the lettuce/spinach. Iceberg lettuce is a waste of time frozen or not. I always cut the Romaine up into the size I want for the tank and then freeze them in a zip lock bag.

 

[Pallobi]

You are correct that tangs can't break down the cellulose walls of the cells. But if you guys want the extra boost from Romaine and Spinach you need to freeze it first. The cell walls will explode from being frozen and the tangs can then get the real nutrition from the lettuce/spinach. Iceberg lettuce is a waste of time frozen or not. I always cut the Romaine up into the size I want for the tank and then freeze them in a zip lock bag.

i did not know that bout the cellulose digestion, thank you for sharing... and the freezing... good info

 

[noobtothereef]

You are correct that tangs can't break down the cellulose walls of the cells. But if you guys want the extra boost from Romaine and Spinach you need to freeze it first. The cell walls will explode from being frozen and the tangs can then get the real nutrition from the lettuce/spinach. Iceberg lettuce is a waste of time frozen or not. I always cut the Romaine up into the size I want for the tank and then freeze them in a zip lock bag.

that is great info, that explains why when lettuce is froze its like a limp noodle when thawed

 

[bryan007]

As with many others posting terrestrial greens are sorely lacking in nutritional value such that these fish need. A previous post states fed Romaine for years. Unlikely that is the only food this fish got would not have lived that long if so and these foods alone cannot provide complete nutrition requirements needed by these fish. How many here who have posted know that all their tangs eat is lettuce, spinach, etc? Even in the wild these fish are not true herbivores. Most as they mature become omnivores and some such as the Naso genus become carnivore upon reaching maturity.

 

[noobtothereef]

As with many others posting terrestrial greens are sorely lacking in nutritional value such that these fish need. A previous post states fed Romaine for years. Unlikely that is the only food this fish got would not have lived that long if so and these foods alone cannot provide complete nutrition requirements needed by these fish. How many here who have posted know that all their tangs eat is lettuce, spinach, etc? Even in the wild these fish are not true herbivores. Most as they mature become omnivores and some such as the Naso genus become carnivore upon reaching maturity.

x2, my tangs go nuts for complete formula 1 and 2 and is mostly meaty, lettuce doesnt have much nutrition, just think if all we ate is lettuce, we wouldnt last long, true herbivores have to eat massive amounts of greens to stay healthy,

 

[jaa1456]

I feed mine more than just lettuce, The lettuce is more of a snack/something to keep them busy. Mine get pellets/mysis/formula 1 and 2 as well live brine shrimp, spirulina, nori and I'm sure I'm missing something.

 

[leemajors]

When I brought the wild into my living room!LOL
There are alot of things we feed that may not be totally natural, I don't recall garlic in the ocean either, and some feed macro algaes that are not indigenous to many tangs origin.
As long as they are free of pesticides, no sweat.

hahaha

 

[gusmanda]

How do you tech tangs to eat spinach, nori, etc? Just stick it under a rock until they figure out it’s food? I have a yellow, a blue, and a powder blue and I have been unsuccessful in getting them to eat any of them.

 

[brett559]

I have the Two Little Fishies clip. Took my purple tang a while to figure it out. Once he did, he went crazy for it. I have a new little bristletooth tang - he won't go near it yet. My mystery wrasse loves nori though....

 

[brett559]

I feed my blue tang lettuce every 1-3 days. I rinse with RO water, and put it on a TLF seaweed magnet before leaving for work. When I return home, it's all gone.

Rise with RO water? Lol.....

 

[bernster52]

I'm no expert but I do know there is no nutritional value in iceberg lettuce, Romaine yes. Me I have 3 different species of tangs they all get along and I only feed them the best seaweed which is very nutritional and natural for them. I do use a veggie clip and clip two pieces of seaweed together. The second my hand is in there placing the clip all three of them come running and eat at the same time no fighting.
I guess I'm lucky for that.

 

[brett559]

Yeah, just get the nori they sell at the store. Cheaper than lettuce maybe. Lasts forever. They'll go crazy for it.