Please help rescue this LFS-starved Naso Tang...

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. Yesterday I "rescued" a Naso tang from the nearest LFS. He has no diseases or injuries, but he is rather thin. He is picking at the rocks, and very gingerly eating some flake food, but nowhere near enough to maintain, much less recover.

I cannot find nori. I know that Naso tangs prefer brown algae. That was why I tried the flake food; it was the only thing I could think of that had brown in it at hand. He swims right past brine shrimp. I tried romaine and spinach and it's like he doesn't even notice it. I tried LifeLine frozen green and it ate a little of that, but again, nowhere near enough.

I am going to the asian markets in town tomorrow to try to find nori. But does anyone have any other ideas that could help? This is a beautiful fish and it deserves better than that LFS gave it...

BTW, as soon as I put it in the tank, my small heniochus began cleaning it like a cleaner wrasse. The tang apparently recognized it as a cleaner as he sat still and spread his fins. Even moved the pectoral fin up to his face so that the heni could get in there.

Thanks in advance!

djp

 

[AF Founder]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by djp:
<strong>Hello everyone. Yesterday I "rescued" a Naso tang from the nearest LFS. He has no diseases or injuries, but he is rather thin. He is picking at the rocks, and very gingerly eating some flake food, but nowhere near enough to maintain, much less recover.

I cannot find nori. I know that Naso tangs prefer brown algae. That was why I tried the flake food; it was the only thing I could think of that had brown in it at hand. He swims right past brine shrimp. I tried romaine and spinach and it's like he doesn't even notice it. I tried LifeLine frozen green and it ate a little of that, but again, nowhere near enough.

I am going to the asian markets in town tomorrow to try to find nori. But does anyone have any other ideas that could help? This is a beautiful fish and it deserves better than that LFS gave it...

BTW, as soon as I put it in the tank, my small heniochus began cleaning it like a cleaner wrasse. The tang apparently recognized it as a cleaner as he sat still and spread his fins. Even moved the pectoral fin up to his face so that the heni could get in there.

Thanks in advance!

djp</strong><hr></blockquote>

Feed him a quality spirulina flake food, like OSI's, and feed several times/day.

Terry

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Terry. I'll give it a try.

john

 

[Anonymous]

^^^

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, now I'm really getting worried. No matter what I try, he nibbles a little bit and that's it. He tried the nori once and has ignored it ever since. I just bought Omega One spirulina/kelp flake food, same thing. Regular flake food, brine shrimp, same thing.

His belly looks pinched, his spine is showing on the sides and I just noticed that his pateral line is becoming visible. He's not really super thin, but I'm worried he's about to get that way. Help!

Thanks,
john

 

[Super Len]

Have you tried live foods? Rotifers, newly hatched artermia, daphnia, etc.? Live foods generally invoke a feeding response from any fish, after which it may begin to feed "naturally." Another trick is to soak the flakes in fresh clam juices. Go the market, puree some clams, and soak the flake food in the juice. I've found fish can't resist the pungent odor.

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Leonard v2.01b ]</p>

 

[Jeff Southernwood]

Sounds like it was caught with poison. Just keep trying different foods and see if it will eat. I hope it starts eating for you. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

Will the store give you your money back or credit at this point?
If it dies, you're going to be out whatever you paid for it.

 

[JeremyR]

I'm sorry I'm posting to this a little late..

Naso tangs LOVE "sargassum" like what grows on fresh fiji rock and dictyota, both are brown macro algaes. See if you can get your hands on some of that, it is golden for getting new naso's to eat untill they will accept aquarium foods.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I haven't tried live foods. Sadly, no one around here carries them. I will try the clam idea though. (Although I'm sure the wife is just going to LOVE that one, haha.)

I truly hope it wasn't caught with poison. It DOES eat, it just doesn't "pig out". One thing I have noticed is if I feed it often in small amounts it will eat every time, so I'm trying to do that.

I was at the health food store the other day and I bought nori instead of kelp against my better judgement. I should have bought the kelp, huh? He doesn't care about the nori.

Store credit? Hehe, Moe, I wish! Seriously, I don't know of ANY store around here that does that. Out the door = it's your problem. If they do store credit in your area, I wish they had stores like that here... Anyway, I think the fish is in better hands with me. I may not win, but at least I'm trying.

Thanks again!
john

 

[JohnD]

John,

Does your LFS carry live blood worms or live brine shrimp? (I know you said the tang was not eating brine shrimp. Were the ones you fed it dead?) If so, buy a portion or two. Drain the liquid they come in and soak the worms or brine shrimp with some selcon or vita-chem for a half hour. Feed to the tang.

Does the LFS carry Ocean Nutritions's Seaweed Selects? My tangs go crazy over the green and less so over the red and brown. Maybe that will do the trick.

Certainly keep up with the small portions. Best of luck.

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: JohnD ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

John
Food Lion usually carries Nori, the employes will only know it as sushi wrap.

Also head down to the grass beds on the panhandle. Bring back some sea grass taken from an area that has springs flowing out to keep any pollution from being obsorbed in the grass. Hagens Cove half way between Steinahatchee and Keaton beach on the coast road is a good collection place, just wash it real good and he will probably go after it. Wash it in Freshwater to remove any worms.

 

[Macimage1]

How is your tang doing??

Joyce