Are there any peaceful tangs?

[tazzy]

Is there any such thing as a small, peaceful tang? I love the look of them, but don't want something that would outgrow the tank or pick on my current or future livestock (lawnmower blenny, silver molly, and 6-line wrasse).

There’s no “small” tang unfortunately. I’d also caution anyone who wants a tang to actually research and view (in videos or in person) the actual swimming and life habits of tangs.

I lived in Hawaii for 5 years and was fortunate enough to see various species of tangs in the wild. After seeing how active they are, their grazing habits and schooling structure/social nature I would never keep another tang in a fish tank ever again. There’s truly no way to recreate the quality of life these fish have in the wild. They swim non-stop and never stop eating. They can swim miles and miles per day. A four or six or even eight foot long tank can never recreate that.

So truthfully if you want a tang it’s for your own amusement, not for the betterment of the animal. With that in mind if you don’t care about the quality of life a tang has then you can keep it in any tank you can keep parameters stable in. Otherwise if you care about the animal leave it in the ocean.

 

[areefer01]

There’s no “small” tang unfortunately. I’d also caution anyone who wants a tang to actually research and view (in videos or in person) the actual swimming and life habits of tangs.

I lived in Hawaii for 5 years and was fortunate enough to see various species of tangs in the wild. After seeing how active they are, their grazing habits and schooling structure/social nature I would never keep another tang in a fish tank ever again. There’s truly no way to recreate the quality of life these fish have in the wild. They swim non-stop and never stop eating. They can swim miles and miles per day. A four or six or even eight foot long tank can never recreate that.

So truthfully if you want a tang it’s for your own amusement, not for the betterment of the animal. With that in mind if you don’t care about the quality of life a tang has then you can keep it in any tank you can keep parameters stable in. Otherwise if you care about the animal leave it in the ocean.

Well by your same logic we shouldn't keep any ornamental fish. You said you lived in Hawaii for a couple years are you a diver? As a seasoned diver I can say your comment holds true for most if not all of the fish in our hobby be it tang or damsel because there are no glass or acrylic walls to bind them. Some fish do stay within an area but others roam. Tang, butterfly, etc.

Seems it is hit or miss working these days but you can always watch MEGA lab's cam / Hawaii live stream if you want to see tangs and other reef related animals in real time.

https://www.youtube.com/MEGALabCam/live

 

[Jesterrace]

Bristletooth Tangs are your best bet or as mentioned go with a Foxface/Rabbitfish. I had a butthead of a Yellow Tang and he was tail slapping and took a chunk out of my coral beauty's lower fin. Gave him the boot and replaced him with a One Spot Foxface and he balanced the tank out pretty well.

 

[i cant think]

Bristletooth Tangs are your best bet or as mentioned go with a Foxface/Rabbitfish. I had a butthead of a Yellow Tang and he was tail slapping and took a chunk out of my coral beauty's lower fin. Gave him the boot and replaced him with a One Spot Foxface and he balanced the tank out pretty well.

+1 to the foxface, my fox will chase anyone whose being aggressive into the rockwork. I caught my Cebu lubbocki flashing at him and instantly he chased the lubbocki into the rockwork.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Tazzy if u turn the flow up enough it's like an underwater treadmill. Besides most of my fish just do laps in my cube.
I adopted A large purple tang and what I think is an atlantic blue tang. I've owned several tangs in the past as well.
I do agree with u though to a point that some fish should be just left in the ocean.
D

 

[i cant think]

Tazzy if u turn the flow up enough it's like an underwater treadmill. Besides most of my fish just do laps in my cube.
I adopted A large purple tang and what I think is an atlantic blue tang. I've owned several tangs in the past as well.
I do agree with u though to a point that some fish should be just left in the ocean.
D

Out of curiosity, how big is your cube? I’m intrigued if you’ve had tangs in it as I always think of cubes as a “max” size of 2’x2’x2’ and not much bigger

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

47.5x48x24"

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I've kept tangs in 4ft and such. 100-150g displays as well.
D

 

[i cant think]

47.5x48x24

I’m not surprised you can have tangs then! It sounds like the perfect tank not just for swim room but also coral placement.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I used to have a glass 5ftx4ft tank long time ago but it blew seam twice. Lol.
I didn't get to make it to vettguy status at the time. But I'm omw now. Lol!
D

 

[ID-Reefer]

Would second those who said Tomini and Yellow Eye Kole - I have one of each together in my tank (along with other tangs) and they are the most peaceful. My purple tang on the other hand....

 

[Paul B]

 

[585bird]

tomini tangs are pretty peaceful. and stay smaller.

They don’t like starry eyed Benny’s though

 

[idal305]

Whitetail Bristletooth and Blonde Naso are extremely peaceful for me.