My tangs don't eat algae

[hogfanreefer]

I have a Ctenochaetus flavicauda and C. binotatus. They constantly peck on the LR but always where there is no visible algae. They NEVER peck where algae is visible. They love nori but not any more than my wrasses or pyramid butterflies. Is this normal for bristletooth tangs?

 

[Fragman4]

What type of algae are you looking for it to eat? Bristletooth tangs dont notmally eat hair algae is thats what your after. When you see them pecking at the rocks chances are they are going after film algae that is hard to see.

 

[Marshall O]

My C. strigosus likes Nori, but takes its time eating small pieces, and never eats nearly as much as my Foxface or Wrasses. And as mentioned, it will not pick at any kind of macro algae IME. That is where the Foxface comes into play.

 

[SDguy]

Bristle tooth tangs don't really have the mouth structure for biting off algae like acanthurus or zebrasoma tangs. They scrape film algae and detritus.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Thanks guys that's perfectly consistent with their behavior. They actually peck on the glass if I'm a few days late on cleaning it.