How To Feed Macro Alage to Marine Fishes

[leebca]

BACKGROUND

I guess I’ve taken it for granted that people know how to feed macro algae to their Tangs, Rabbitfishes, Angels, etc. The hobbyist is probably familiar with seeing the local fish store (LFS) feeding their fishes. But that is a one-shot visual observation.

Unfortunately, most LFSs aren’t into keeping their herbivore marine fishes for a lengthy period of time so they may not really get into feeding them long term on macro algae. So I thought this short post on feeding herbivore fishes marine algae is needed.

One other thing. . .When herbivore fishes are very young, they eat a lot of pods and often benthic creatures. The little fishes can’t swim with the large adult and sub-adult schools of fishes that travel the oceans looking for algae. So a true, absolute herbivore marine ornamental fish is really not very common. As the fish gets larger and matures, it turns more and more to algae. These fishes can travel up to 25 miles per day in search of algae AND they just keep eating it. So the goal of feeding in captive life is to mimic that ‘habit’ as closely as possible.



IT’S SIMPLE

The kinds, amount, and frequency is not that difficult to figure and is straight forward.

What to Feed
There is no reason to feed land lettuce, spinach, peas, etc. It was a poor substitute decades ago when sea algae wasn't available. Now that sea algae is readily available, macro sea algae is the only right choice.

I’m not one to advocate feeding any macro sea algae (e.g., nori) that has been roasted or cooked. Watch out for the products that are for human consumption. Some contain additives, flavorings, and even preservatives. DON’T feed your marine fishes these products.

Look for real macro algae, dried by evaporation, without additives of any kind. If unsure, if the package isn’t clear about this, don’t use it. Also, avoid the conundrum of the package saying it is 'roasted' or implies that it was heated, and having someone tell you, 'That isn't true.' In conflict, pass it up.

The main diet of most our marine ornamental herbivore fishes is green algae. The key word here is main. Don’t feed green exclusively. I like 10 feedings of green, 1 of purple, 2 of red, and 1 of brown as a normal rotation. I mean by this that all 10 green feedings aren’t done back to back. Stagger the feedings.

Note that most Angels should be eating red macro algae. If your community tank includes Angels, up the frequency of feeding red macro algae (20%).

Lastly, vary the source. Don’t just keep buying one brand of macro algae. Switch sources/vendors/suppliers. Don’t buy more than your fish will need for 3 months and store it in the refrigerator as soon as you open the package.


The Amount
You put in the macro algae into the display tank (or quarantine tank) on a clip, banded to a rock, anchored by a rock, etc. in such a quantity that after about one hour, only a little bit of it is left. Have you been feeding less? Then you haven’t been feeding enough. That is the goal, plain and simple. After one hour there should be a tiny bit of the macro algae left uneaten.

You experiment at the start to see how much that macro algae is, in order to achieve the above. Then, you can back off of it slightly (cut back a very little) and that is the proper amount. BUT. . .

You should know that if you haven’t been feeding your fishes enough up to this point, that they will likely gorge and overeat for a few days. Until they come to realize that you will not take it away from them, they will act excited and ravenous. But after a while, they may eat less. Just be prepared to recognize a change in their ‘attitude’ toward the feeding and adjust the quantity again so that only a little bit of it is left after one hour.

As you feed the different colors/types of algae, you may find some of your fishes will not eat it or eat less of a certain color. Be prepared to put in less of those colors and more of the colors they eat. That is, be aware that the fish will eat different quantities of different kinds of algae. Adjust quantities to the above goal.


How Often
No less than twice a day. You want to feed the above quantity no less than twice a day.

Once into the pattern, you should see your fish eating less, their attitude ‘calming down’ and even how they treat each other should show an improvement (more tolerant of their tank mates).


Cha. . .Cha. . .Cha. . .Cha. . .Changes
Everything changes. The quantity of food the fish needs also changes. Monitor the quantity you provide routinely. As noted above, at the start the fish may eat more. After a while they will settle into a ‘quantity’ routine. But don’t let that put YOU into a rut. The fish are growing and will need more over time. Always watch and be sure you are still feeding enough/the proper amount.



Keep you herbivore fishes healthy! Remember to still feed some fleshy foods, especially pods, and check the sticky in this Forum for suggestions on the proper foods, vitamin and fat supplements, etc., under Fish Nutrition.

[Jason25]

Excellent information! I currently do not have herbivore's in my tank but if I ever get any I will use this as my guide to feeding.

[Woodstock]

Thanks Lee!

[yungreefer2410]

could use just grab green algae from the bay and sun-dry it? i don't have any herbivouse yet but i will use this if/when i get one

[leebca]

If your bay is pollution-free and the water doesn't have any known fuel spills in it, I think it could at least be tried to see if the fish will accept it. Wash well in distilled water and let dry out (I'd use a food dehydrator). Refrigerate it and give it a try.

[yungreefer2410]

okay i will do that thanks

[yungreefer2410]

thanks i didn't know that. i'm getting an angel eventually and will try to feed macro algae at least once a day. would growing macro algae then drying it out work? wouldn't it be the same?

[leebca]

You can prepare your own algae like that. It is basically okay, so long as you don't cook or heat the algae. Some macro algae is available (or used to be) just like 'home made.' It should, of course, be an algae the fish likes or will eat.

Angels in particular favor red algae.

[yungreefer2410]

okay thanks i will try to grow some red algae he likes (when i get him) i'll mix some red into my new mush i'm making tomorrw