Getting you Sohal Tang to eat, the first time?

[BlueNWhite]

For those of you, or friends, that have or had a Sohal Tang, what type of food did you feed to get them to eat the first time? How many days did it take for it to eat? What do you find they like most now? And anything else you would like to add to this thread would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[BlueNWhite]

Any comments? I've brought him home last Thursday and I haven't seen him eat any of the nori, flakes or mysis that I've fed thus far. He does pick at the rocks and the BB, but there is not much algae growing in my tank. I tried putting in some macro algae from my refugium, but the Vlamingi eats it up as soon as I put any in.

Please comment.

 

[DamienHanna]

Sohal's are very ease care fish so if yours is a good one he will eat pretty much anything.

What size is it right now?

When I got mine he was about 4" and kinda skinny; not bad but obviously hungry looking. He didn't eat much initially either but that soon changed. Try Mysis and/or brine to get him interested and always keep a good supply of dried algae in the tank (the Ocean Nutrition Seaweed Selects are great; the green one especially). My Acanthurus fish generally show less interest in the macros than my other tangs but some people report great success. Mine eats everything now; I've had him about a year and he eats flake, mysis, all manner of frozen foods, chopped meaty foods, u name it. He's a fat 7" now and very healthy.

The key is to not give up; keep putting stuff into the tank (seaweed sheet) and try the shrimp a few times a day. Eventually he will get the message; remember he's not used to getting his food this way so has to learn how to eat again. I usually tie the seaweed to a piece of rock; the clips didn't work too well.

--Damien

 

[McCrary]

Sohals are usually good eaters. When we get them in they will often eat by the end of the day. But be careful with what you put them in with. I have never seen a fish be so aggressive so consistently.

 

[XeniaMania]

My suggestion and personal practice is to ask the employees to feed the fish first. Only if it's eating will I take it.

 

[BlueNWhite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7292543#post7292543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamienHanna
...What size is it right now?

When I got mine he was about 4" and kinda skinny; not bad but obviously hungry looking. He didn't eat much initially either but that soon changed. Try Mysis and/or brine to get him interested and always keep a good supply of dried algae in the tank (the Ocean Nutrition Seaweed Selects are great; the green one especially). My Acanthurus fish generally show less interest in the macros than my other tangs but some people report great success. Mine eats everything now; ... He's a fat 7" now and very healthy.

The key is to not give up; keep putting stuff into the tank (seaweed sheet) and try the shrimp a few times a day. Eventually he will get the message; remember he's not used to getting his food this way so has to learn how to eat again. I usually tie the seaweed to a piece of rock; the clips didn't work too well.

--Damien

Thanks for your response Damien

Mine is approximately 4" too. I brought him home last Thursday and I haven't really seen him eat yet, other than pecking at the glass for algae, of which there is practically none. How much longer can he go without eating? How long did yours take to start eating?

I tried constant feeding yesterday, but all that happened was my Vlamingi just kept getting fatter and fatter if you know what I mean. I even tried some macro algae from my refugium. As soon as the Vlaimingi got to it, it was gone. It's funny looking when you see them eat it, and so fast.

I have a buyer for my Vlaimingi, so he'll be out of there in a few days. Hopefully that will help.

Wow, your ST grew 3" in one year! That is fast. I hope mine won't grow that fast.

Raymond

 

[BlueNWhite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7294684#post7294684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TurboSnail8898
Sohals are usually good eaters. When we get them in they will often eat by the end of the day. But be careful with what you put them in with. I have never seen a fish be so aggressive so consistently.

Uh-oh. I've read many posts and found mixed comments on their aggressiveness. So I looked around for a smallish one since I already have a Purple and a Yellow Tang in my tank. The Sohal is about the same size as the Yellow, but smaller than the Purple. Oh, and there's a Vlamingi in there that is the largest, but he's already sold, just waiting for pick up.

So far the Sohal is not bothering anyone. It is not hiding, and so far, appears to be at the bottom of the Tang chain in terms of aggressiveness. Hopefully the size and disposition of the Purple will keep the Sohal in this less aggressive state. The Purple is at the top, but it only shows this if challenged, which is very very rare so far.

It sounds like you operate a LFS. Thanks for your input. Please feel free to provide any further comments.

Thanks,
Raymond