Is my Blue Tang STUPID?

[KevinATran]

Hi All,
I have 2 Tangs in my tank (1 yellow and 1 blue regal). I feed both of them mysis shrimp and ogo plants. They're very active and healthy. My Blue Tang has nice deep blue (almost purple) and very healthy and active. But, he eats S@!T from the Yellow Tang. As soon as the Yellow one makes a dump, the Blue one goes crazy and eats every single piece of that, even after I feed him. Is it normal ? I have no complain because he actually cleans up that mess for me, but it just WEIRD....The good thing is he doesn't eat his OWN "stuff"
Has anyone seen this ?

Thanks,

KT

 

[Anonymous]

Yup it's common.
Try a more varied diet consisting of different types of algae and other meaty foods besides mysis such as chopped squid, shrimp, mussels etc. Your Blue Tang is trying to supplement it's diet by eating undigested foods, parasites, etc. in your other fishes feces and detritus.
btw How often are you feeding your tangs and are you leaving algae in the tank for them to graze on all day?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[gregx]

Nori processed sea weed is good . You could name your tang s..t lips.

 

[KevinATran]

Thanks all.
Yes, I left ogo algea in my tank to feed my tangs. Is that ok ? I have read book that Tangs have short guts, so they need to eat little by little and many times a day, once a day is the same as we (human) eat once a week. Is it true? I do feed mysis once a day.

KT

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, they do need to eat often, if they have something to graze on all day, that is the best. Also, I have found my blue tang to need tons of food. I have a sailfin that is twice the size of my blue, but the blue tang needs way more food. My blue tang will eat sailfin tang poo also.

Do keep in mind too that the blue tang, (Paracanthurus hepatus), is a bit different that other tangs in that he needs some meat in his diet as well. I feed mine a diet of nori, silversides, flake food, and chopped salmon. If I slack off and just feed him algae for a while, he starts eating soft corals and looking poorly.