Question on Chevron tang.

[eddi]

Hi all,

I have a grape caulerpa outbreak in my 125 and I want to nip it before it overtakes everything. The only fish I have in the tank are a pair of small oscellaris and a pair of gobies. I would like to add a tang and I have the chace to get a Chevron. I don't know much about them; I realize tangs are herbivoures but will Chevrons eat grape caulerpa?

Thanks and may everyone have a safe and happy holiday season.


Eddi

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I think a 125 would be suitable, a wee bit snug, but essentially suitable (you do want to be sure it's got plenty of running room). You probably already know that these have a tendency to be a bit aggressive, so this may be a limiting factor in future choices. As for whether or not they'll eat grape.. in my own experience they tend to at least try everything.. however, for more of a "sure thing" I'd probably go with a purple or yellow. But man, those Chevrons sure are purty, ain't they?

Try searching our library and Advanced Aquarist, and maybe there might be something in the wetwebmedia FAQs.

 

[Len]

I think a 125 is plenty big for a tang

Anyhow, Chevrons won't eat Caulpera. They're bristle-mouthed fish and that means all they do is graze short-cropped algaes, especially diatoms. Purple or Sailfins would more likely eat grape algae.

edit: bristle mouth = comb mouth. I couldn't think of the write adjective earlier

 

[danmhippo]

Right, in my years of keeping chevron, I've never seen it pick on caulerpa. They lack the sharp pointy teeth to snap off or tear away leafy green. It grazes on film algae, and diatoms, They have no problem eat up flakes, and meety food bits that I threw into the tanks.

 

[EmilyB]

I have had a Chevron for years in a 120.

Agree, no eating caulerpa. Will suck on nori like no tomorrow but prefers kisses the glass and rock like it's close relative the Kole.

 

[Anonymous]

My Chevron eats halimeda, but other than that, no macro algae at all. He's three years old now...

Peace,

Chip

 

[JennM]

Siganus sp. will eat many varieties of algae, including caulerpa.

Love Chevrons tho... just because!

Jenn

 

[PopeShawnPaul]

The problem with Chevron Tangs is they tend to forget everything quite often. I'm not sure if it's genetic or amnesia, but they don't have a long term memory at all. I don't know if you've seen Finding Nemo, but that movie illistrates this fact quite evidently.

 

[hfmann]

FWIW,

Foxface rabbitfish - My new one has been in quarantine for 3 weeks now and while in there, the first algae he wiped out was the calerpa (not grape variety though). It wasn't until that was gone did he start tackling bubble algae.

(A Chevron Tang is the next acquisition on my current species plan.)

Good luck.

Hal
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