Kole Tang +'s & -'s

[1boatnut]

Who has a Kole Tang?
What are the plus's & minus's of having one of these fish.
My wife seen one the other day and would like for me to get one for my 125 Reef.
So who has one and what do you like/dislike about this fish?
Please tell me as much about this fish as possible
I know they are supposed hair algae eating machines along with regular algae,but does anyone know if they will eat the coraline algae too?

Currently inhabitants are:
Allardi Clownfish
5 Green Reef Chromis
3 Firefish

I would like to add:
My Flamehawk form another tank
Kole Tang
Maybe some PJ Cardinals
Blue Reef Chromis

Anyone have ideas on stocking?

 

[jjk_reef00]

Great reef fish and a good tang for your 125. I say go for it.

 

[jenjen]

I have one I've had for around 2 years. Excellent fish, my favorite tang in my tank. He's not too bright in that he constantly picks fights with my yellow tang, which he always loses. But a beautiful, interactive fish none the less.

 

[Grant W]

+1 with the others a good choice or a Tomini would be good also

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

Great algea eater, his buddy is a coral beauty, he stays away from my other tangs.

 

[1boatnut]

Thanks all.
So it should get along with my current & future inhabitants?

Doesn't pick at the coraline algae ?

 

[yahutch]

will not pick at the coraline . I have found them to mostly eat the brown film algae that grows on the glass , the yellow was a better green/hair algae eater for me .Still a good fish to have. The one I have now is in with no other tangs and tends to be a little bossy, will harass any newcomers . I think they are more passive if there is a more dominant tang in the tank , or maybe I just got a mean one .

 

[gradth]

Mines a bully and a freak, but hes an awesome fish.

 

[1boatnut]

A bully to other fish or other Tangs?

 

[RichK]

I wanted a Kole for the longest time. I was never able to find the "right" one. I settled on a Tomini tang and it has been a great fish. It is in a 75G with a clown and CBB. It can be a bully, but does a fantastic job cleaning the tank of any hair algae that pop up. If you can't find a Kole, look for a Tomini.

 

[Caliburst]

I had one that would only eat off the rocks and then ran and hid when I fed the other fish. After owning him for a week, I introduced a larger yellow tang into the tank. The kole turned ghost white and went into hiding. Three days later, he died. I didnt have a great experience with the fish... but thats just me.

 

[Caliburst]

FWIW, I posted up in my local section and others had the same issue with the tang not eating anything but off the rocks. Others said that the fish was still able to sustain itself however.

 

[1boatnut]

FWIW, I posted up in my local section and others had the same issue with the tang not eating anything but off the rocks. Others said that the fish was still able to sustain itself however.

Thanks
If I decide to get one I'll make sure it is eating.
I think the one my local LFS has,has been in the tank for maybe a few weeks
Usually they give me straight dope on the stuff I buy.

 

[Greatwyte]

FWIW, I posted up in my local section and others had the same issue with the tang not eating anything but off the rocks. Others said that the fish was still able to sustain itself however.

My Kole took quite awhile before he would eat prepared food. After about 3 weeks he would grab a bit of frozen food I was feeding the tank here and there. Slowly over time he would eat more and more. Now he rushes out at feeding time and eats great. He still spends all day picking at the rocks and grazing as well.

Kole is a great fish, very active, and gets along well with other tankmates (ignores them actually).

 

[ChadTheSpike]

the bristle tooth tangs usually are adept at eating film algae from the glass, rocks, and other stuff but often dont eat other stuff... I love them and will always have one in my (non-seahorse) tanks. Mine have usually learned to eat formula 2 after I train them a bit by thawing some and smashing it into a porous rock that I leave for them.

IMO, a bristle tooth tang, rabbit fish, and sand sifting goby should be in most tanks