Purple Tang carnivore???

[JTSchrock]

I have a relatively new Purple Tang that decided a freshly molted cleaner shrimp would be a good appetizer! Does anyone else have one in a mixed reef tank? I thought that they were a little aggressive, but were reef safe. Do you think it was a one time event or will he always be a sushi eater?

 

[geoxman]

I had a red sea sailfin tang that started to eat my zoo polyps a few months back. I gave him to another reefer and he has been a perfect citizen. On the other hand he went into 500 total gl system and he always has nori to eat, I think that was the key! Tangs are grazers and will eat all day long-so if you keep something for him to eat throughout the day you should be good to go. Good luck!

 

[bkh24]

tangs can sometimes start to nip at antenae's and legs and stuff and then eventually will start to eat the whole thing. I have seen a yellow do it although mine does not.

 

[JTSchrock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7678370#post7678370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bkh24
tangs can sometimes start to nip at antenae's and legs and stuff and then eventually will start to eat the whole thing. I have seen a yellow do it although mine does not.

That is exactly what he did. I went down to the tank and the shrimps antenae that were about four inches long were cut off to 1/4 inch, then he began chashing the shrimp around until he killed him and ate his legs also. Not a pleasant event.