kole tang or tomini tang?

[timrandlerv10]

75g display w/gsm pair.

would like to get a pair of bangais and a mandarin eventually.

which do you guys like more?

is the kole tang more of a rock/glass scraper or will he eat caulerpa?

 

[NicoleC]

The mouths of Ctenochaetus spp. tangs really aren't constructed to eat anything but soft algas, films and whatever tiny random bits they can swallow whole. Most caulerpas found in aquariums are pretty noxious and most fish avoid them; it would be very odd for a bristletooth tang to graze on it. In eating behavior they are much more like Ecsenius spp. blennies.

Of course, once in an aquarium, particularly in smaller tanks, natural behaviors often go by the wayside and you never know for sure. But I think you are a lot more likely to get lucky with a yellow tang that eats caulerpa than any of the bristletooth tangs.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/hcs3/index.php

 

[scapes]

off the subject, but i've got a whitecheek tang that eats anything green. including caulerpa

 

[timrandlerv10]

i've really started to fall in love with this kole tang...could he exist with a regal tang or are they too close?

i guess i can pull out the caulerpa

 

[NicoleC]

Kole tangs can be quite personable and good community tank inhabitants. And very cute. 75 is a bit small for them, but reasonable. Don't keep a squeaky clean tank -- only clean the front glass and let the tang graze on the back and sides.

A regal tang in a 75? You'll be upgrading or giving away in a year. They get big -- and they get big pretty fast.

i guess i can pull out the caulerpa

And pull out the caulerpa, and pull out the caulerpa... it's a never-ending battle. If you haven't put it in, don't.

 

[timrandlerv10]

The kole is adapting quite well to his surroundings--he and the female gsm swam past each other and couldnt really care less! (i guess as long as he stays out of the nems, she wont really care) the kole has picked at rocks, glass, pipes and caulerpa--not sure if he was eating it or scraping stuff off it. he was pretty timid the first 12 hours, but seems to be coming out a lot more already.

unlike the clowns, he really zooms around the tank--not end to end, but in and out of rocks almost like he's on a slalom course around the tank--i didnt know some of those parts were even connected until he swam in and out!

(i'm still going to pull out four handfuls of caulerpa tomorrow anyway!)

he looks great...anyway to confirm its really a he?