20+ year old tangs

[Timfish]

Short videos of 3 Zebrasoma sp tangs purchased in 1994.

Sailfin Tang, Z. veliferum Elvis is 20 . . . (at least) - YouTube
Yellow Tang, Z. flavescens Yellow Tang, 20 + years old - YouTube
Purple Tang, Z. xanthurum Purple Tang, 20 + years old - YouTube

 

[shrimplet]

Wow thats great to see a tang that old in captivity

 

[matty0206]

So neat to see, thank you for sharing.

 

[jason g]

Wow just impressive. love the Purple Tang.

 

[luxauterna]

amazing ! I hope to post a video of my yellow tang in 20 years

 

[Eienna]

The sailfin and the purple are gorgeous...

 

[KoleTang]

Those are some handsome fish!

What do you feed them?

 

[Keithcorals]

That is unreal. I didn't think tangs could live that long and wouldn't have ever thought at that age they'd look that good

 

[hybridazn]

Wow congrats! Also curious on what their diet consists of. Thanks for any info!

 

[NeverlosT]

inspiring! Very impressive

 

[passion4reef]

Wow u got some nice fish there. What size tank u got there?

 

[TriggerThis]

Nice! I hope I'm still in this hobby 20years from now...

 

[Timfish]

Thank you ya'all! They get fed New Life Spectrum Marine Pellets and occasionally some frozen food. They started off together in a 75 gallon tank that was upgraded to a 90 corner in 2000. The Yellow Tang is still in the 90 but the Purple has been moved to a 110 and the Sailfin has just recently been moved to a 8' long 240.

An interesting note on the Sailfin is it was very happy in the 90 corner. In fact, one of the more interesting behaviors it demonstrated was recognition of strangers and very typical display behavior trying to chase the "intruder" away. The reason for moving it was not that it was acting skittish being in such a small tank for it's size but that it was very dominate and it was impossible to keep the smaller fish fed properly without the Sailfin getting overweight. It also took an inordinately long time to adjust to the 240 which I attribute to the much higher foot traffic the 240 has in front of it. I don't know how anthropomorphic I'm being but instead of having to chase an occasional "intruder" away it was having to deal with multiple "intruders" on a daily basis coupled with being in totally unfamiliar territory and being old enough it was set in it's ways.

 

[luxauterna]

very interesting

 

[Timfish]

Update video. ;Happy

 

[AtulR]

Incredible! Shows just how long some fish can live in the correct conditions.

 

[Zionas]

Good job! I hope to have some of my fish live that old. Currently on my stocking list the Marine Betta and OSFF look the most likely, the Ocellaris Clowns too.

 

[Timfish]

@ Atul@AmongTheReef Thank You!
@ Zionas Thank you! And plan to put the Marine Betta in your will. I have one that's maybe just a year younger than Elvis and is going strong.

 

[Zionas]

Wow! They can live for a long time!

 

[Zionas]

I love the idea of long-lived, bulletproof fish. Both of which seem to apply to the Betta.