kole tangs

M

myfrostymember

New member
everything i have read on kole tangs says that they are very easy going and not very aggressive ever, unless its there own species. So with that said, anyone who has owned a kole tang can tell me, is it ok to add a kole tang before i add my fairy wrasses?

75g setup

the fairys will hopefully be a pair of pyle's(pylei) if i can find em if not something close to them small and colorfull (orange back maybe)

thanks matt
 
I had 2 Kole's in my 75. Beautiful and peaceful. Unfortunately neither one made it. No ich no apparent stress. One day swimming happily the next morning gone. I honestly think the 75 was too small eventhough others say its okay. I am not doing any more tangs unless I go bigger.
 
I had a Kole in my 120. He was great at first but started getting aggressive to any fish that was near the rocks. Never went after my firefish but went after my Lawnmower Blenny to the point it starved and was doing the same thing to my Red Scooter Blenny when I took him out. My LFS was in shock as to why he did this. I made several posts about my Kole's attitude and none had seen it before.
 
I've never had good luck with Kole tangs. I have kept hippo tangs for over 10 years but I was never able to keep a Kole for over 9 months. Kole tangs are strictly vegetarians and won't accept any meaty foods. I tried nori to no avail. Once they run out of algae in the tank to graze on they starve. I know that some people are going to say that they have kept them with no problems, but I think the majority would agree with me. I would choose a different type tang.
 
We've had one for about two years now. . eats everything that goes in: pellets, frozen cubes, etc. Doesn't bother anyone else either, although all the other fish are similar in size, and the only one that went in after was a foxface.

When we got him, I though that he wasn't going to make it however. He was almost transparent in color looked pretty beat up, although he did eat.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11910844#post11910844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RA
I've never had good luck with Kole tangs. I have kept hippo tangs for over 10 years but I was never able to keep a Kole for over 9 months. Kole tangs are strictly vegetarians and won't accept any meaty foods. I tried nori to no avail. Once they run out of algae in the tank to graze on they starve. I know that some people are going to say that they have kept them with no problems, but I think the majority would agree with me. I would choose a different type tang.
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This is completely incorrect. I have had a Kole tang in my 75 for over 5 years. He eats frozen mysis, frozen formula 1, frozen formula 2, frozen cyclopeeze, prime reef flakes, formula 1 pellets, dried seaweed selects algae sheets and poop from other fish. Koles are not picky about food and are eager eaters. Sometimes it can take them a few days to start accepting food. Soaking the food in garlic is a good attractant and will entice them to eat.

As far as aggressiveness, Koles are a more peaceful tang but will still show aggression towards newly added fish after the Kole has settled in. This is usually short lived and will calm down IME. I highly reccomend Koles. Active fish and stay smaller than other tangs.
 
ok thanks for replies guys but only one person said anything about aggresiveness (except towards food competing fish)and adding them to a tank--- froggy said they are aggressive at first but usually goes away in his experience. Has anyone else ever put a kole into a tank before any other fish?
 
I just put a kole in my tank last week. It took him one day to acclimate. He eats everything and gets along with everyone. His tank mates are a same size yellow and hippo tang. Clown goby, 6 line wrasse, neon dottyback, 2 clowns, lots of crabs and a few snails.

I was going to add more snails but after seeing his apitite for algae I think he's all I need.

I have a very mellow community tank. When I added the Kole the yellow tang chased him a little but after a day in the light together they're now good buddies. The yellow tang swims with the Kole and has started grazing more along with the Kole. Monkey see- monkey do. The hippo follows the Kole and eats his poop. They all get along and that's what matters.

I find the Kole to be a bit timid. When I approach the tank he'll usually swim around the back of the tank. Even when I feed the tank he'll wait for me to step away before he scrambles for food. The other fish are picking it out of my fingers.

I'm glad I added him to the tank. Under my lighting I find his colors subtle from a distance and very defined up close. He's a good swimmer too.
 
My Kole Tang is the most passive fish I have in my system. Very outgoing fish that never bothers a soul. I totally disagree with RA's statement on there feeding habits. Although mine is constantly grazing on algae I find that it will never, ever, turn down a meaty snack. Awesome fish IMO.

kole2.jpg
 
so you guys think it would be safe to add one to my tank now if im going to get a pair of fairy wrasses sometime in the future? I am really waiting on the fairy wrasses untill i find a pair i want and can afford and i dont want to wait 6months to a year to get the kole tang. when i get a kole it will probably be a smaller one if that makes any difference.
 
My Kole will eat ANYTHING, even if it just came from the back end of another fish :-p -- That said, it took a while. He only grazed on the rocks for a couple days, but after feeding him spirulina flakes he started eating anything dropped in the tank.

Overall, he is peaceful, but he DOES put pressure on the lawnmower blenny! Sometimes he'll leave the LMB alone, but frequently he'll chase him back into hiding. They really seem to like the same foods- they'll both swim to the largest chunk of food during freeding time.
 
My Kole tang is 8yrs old & is generally peaceful, but will hold his ground... even with my clown fish. It did not get along with a larger powder blue tang that I bought & the blue eventually lost the battle.

It eats a lot of algae, but also eats krill, silversides & any pellet food you put in the tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11917112#post11917112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by myfrostymember
so you guys think it would be safe to add one to my tank now if im going to get a pair of fairy wrasses sometime in the future? I am really waiting on the fairy wrasses untill i find a pair i want and can afford and i dont want to wait 6months to a year to get the kole tang. when i get a kole it will probably be a smaller one if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

I think you are safe. The Kole should not even show any agression at all towards newly added fairy wrasses even if the Kole is already established. They are not like fishes and have different body types and eating habits. The Kole will not see the wrasses as a threat to the food supply and readily accept/ignore them IMO.
 
FWIW, Marine Depot Live says the following:

"Yellow Eye Kole Tang - Ctenochaetus strigosus
Maximum Size: the Ctenochaetus strigosus grows up to 8 inches.
General Size Specifications: The small size will come to you generally 1 to 2 inches; the medium generally 3 to 4 inches; the large generally 5 to 6 inches.
Minimum Tank Size: The Yellow Eye Kole Tang prefers a tank of at least 100 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim.
Diet: The Ctenochaetus strigosus is a herbivore and likes to eat Dried Seaweed (best), marine algae, mysid shrimp, Spirulina, Romaine Lettuce (blanched) , fresh seaweed, and other meaty treats.
Level of Care: The Yellow Eye Kole Tang is a medium maintenance fish.
Behavior: The Yellow Eye Kole Tang may act peacefully toward other fish. "

With an emphasis on "at least 100 gallons". In addition, Bob Fenner on WWM recommended another 75 gallon tank owner againts a kole tang until they upgrade to a larger tank. I too am a little bummed, I would love to add one to my 65 gallon, but I'll wait to upgrade.
 
Kole, 2- Yellows, Naso, Powder Blue all together in a 210 with no problems.....all eat everything as far as food, including flake!!
 
i've seen websites that say they can be kept in 55gs. not advocating it; but just know there is a lot of conflicting info out there.
 
I had a Kole in my 75g along with a yellow. At first they did not mix well, but after a day or two you could not seperate them. My kole ate anything that was given to the rest of the fish. I also gave mine nori.
 
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