Best tangs

[Mastino]

Yellow tang - looks stunning and mine has a great personality. Gets along with all in the tank and is reef safe.
I have a kole tang who's looks are more subtle - but I like him too.

 

[albano]

P.s donno how to spell biast buyast baiest

Bias...biased

I would really love a Caribbean (atlantic) blue tang, not the hippo. Does anyone have one? Do they have good personalities? I'm going to have a 130g very soon ...

IMO, 130g is still too small for a Caribbean blue...they get large and aggressive. I've had 2 in past 10yrs, both given to me when owners realized they needed bigger tanks...even in my 450g DT they were a PITA and were rehomed.


In my new 500g 6'x5' DT I currently have 5 tangs...Ebili mimic, lemon peel mimic, Powder Blue, Tomini and spotted squaretail ... Will probably add RS Sailfin, convict, and a yellow

 

[adtravels]

Convict tangs are great and less aggressive but will show some aggression.
Powder blues are real jerks but stunning and cheap.
Yellows are great browsers but can be aggressive to smaller fish and angels

 

[Gil03]

So much depends on what other fish you have in there as well. I too am new to this hobby, but I have researched enough to know, if you put a tang in 55g, get ready to have a similar experience you had with your dwarf angels. Chances are much higher that it won't turn out well for you or the fish versus your tang thriving and being happy in a 55g over the course of time. No "Tang police" here, just solid advice on a widely known fact with little debate really. You will not find a reference anywhere that states tangs will thrive in a 55g tank. There are always cases where others have had success, but that is the exception. I think we can get too caught up in the looks of particular fish and forget that what will ultimately lead to enjoyment of our tanks is all our fish thriving and getting along. I am in the process of figuring my stocking list, and I am trying hard to not get too caught up in how cool a particular fish is and trying to base my decisions on what gives me the greatest chance of success. I would love to have a powder blue, but I know how hard they can be to keep and it is just not worth it to me to go through the money and grief of failing to keep it alive. I know that is not guaranteed, but happens more than with other types of tangs. I personally would not recommend any kind of angel or tang in a 55g. Good Luck with your 55g!

If we're going off what's best for the fish then putting it in a petri dish is kind've counter to that don't you think? The idea that a 55 gallon vs a 100 gallon is of any relation to their natural habitat is laughable at best however, 1 of those sizes is somehow "appropriate" and the other will get you the stink eye by some lol. On top of that there are plenty of species of fish that are "appropriate" for a 10 gallon nano but will show aggression to tank mates for a plethora of reasons same species or not. Successfully keeping a tang in a 55 gallon vs a 100 gallon imo is no different, feed a variety and more importantly keep your params stable and you'll be successful.

 

[ScubaZ]

Yellow tang, powder blues, hippo tang, mimic yellow tang, purple tang

Powder blue are my favorite

 

[Oshengems]

I have a 75g I loveeeeee my tangs but after my 3rd I think I will reserved my love for tangs for my next project 120+, I would normally buy them small the last one was a hippo literally the size of a quarter but they grow faster than you think in 6-7 months he was 3-4” more on the 4” side and his temper grew also sold him last week I could tell he was not comfortable in my tank anymore he was swimming more aggressively and bullying tank mates for fun.

My favorite so far was the chocolate he’s in my friends 160g it was hard letting go he was bright yellow when I got him and he was half way through his morph when I gave him away, he instantly became his favorite tang when he saw him in person the brown/yellow mix looks so smooth the pics don’t do it justice.

But yes we can do tangs in smaller tanks when they are juveniles but not everyone is willing to sell them when they need to

 

[Bradley Keck]

If we're going off what's best for the fish then putting it in a petri dish is kind've counter to that don't you think? The idea that a 55 gallon vs a 100 gallon is of any relation to their natural habitat is laughable at best however, 1 of those sizes is somehow "appropriate" and the other will get you the stink eye by some lol. On top of that there are plenty of species of fish that are "appropriate" for a 10 gallon nano but will show aggression to tank mates for a plethora of reasons same species or not. Successfully keeping a tang in a 55 gallon vs a 100 gallon imo is no different, feed a variety and more importantly keep your params stable and you'll be successful.

You are certainly correct that we cannot even begin to think we can provide anything close to a "natural habitat", and I certainly did not mean to imply that by putting them in a larger tank that you were providing a fish with that. I respect your point of view, but I do disagree. I believe in the case of many different species of fish, both fresh and saltwater, the size of the tank does matter in the long-term health of the group of fish you keep. If it did not matter at all, there would not be guidelines for minimum tank sizes. I understand what you are saying though. If you maintain good water quality, you certainly could keep a tang perhaps, but depending on the tankmates, problems with aggression are a definite concern. I wish the OP the best of luck with it if he decides to go for it, but I just cannot say you will have no problems keeping a tang in a 55 gallon tank.

 

[David S]

I'd like to see it everyone can decide upon the best tangs based on a few rules, because I have been thinking about a powder blue and I happened to see some others that looked awesome.
1. Absolutely reef safe
2. Under $300
3. good cuc
3. Looks awesome

Number 3 has 2 options as one can sometimes overpower another option all though awesome is biast to everyone I'm sure this could be awesome.
P.s donno how to spell biast buyast baiest

I've had my Yellow Tang in a 38 gallon for 6 1/2 years now. Seems quite happy.
Also have Flame Angel for nearly 6 years. Doesn't bother corals or my clam.
Obviously, I think you can be successful with a Yellow Tang in a 55 gallon tank; provided...
1. Start with a juvenile
2. Provide as much open space as possible
3. Try to create at least 2 caves in the rockwork.
The YT likes to explore and it will feel more secure.
Just make sure that the cave size allows for growth.
While I can't make a comparison with other Tangs, my Yellow is constantly grazing for algae.

 

[Colin Fowler]

I'd like to see it everyone can decide upon the best tangs based on a few rules, because I have been thinking about a powder blue and I happened to see some others that looked awesome.
1. Absolutely reef safe
2. Under $300
3. good cuc
3. Looks awesome

Number 3 has 2 options as one can sometimes overpower another option all though awesome is biast to everyone I'm sure this could be awesome.
P.s donno how to spell biast buyast baiest

1. Blue Hippo
2. Powder Brown
3. Yellow Eye
4. Yellow

Not a very eclectic list, but all awesome Tangs.

 

[Stanzo13]

I've had my Yellow Tang in a 38 gallon for 6 1/2 years now. Seems quite happy.
Also have Flame Angel for nearly 6 years. Doesn't bother corals or my clam.
Obviously, I think you can be successful with a Yellow Tang in a 55 gallon tank; provided...
1. Start with a juvenile
2. Provide as much open space as possible
3. Try to create at least 2 caves in the rockwork.
The YT likes to explore and it will feel more secure.
Just make sure that the cave size allows for growth.
While I can't make a comparison with other Tangs, my Yellow is constantly grazing for algae.

I found some huge dry rocks for sale I'm going to spend a LOT of time trying to make a perfect aquascape, thanks for the comment :)

 

[Stanzo13]

You are certainly correct that we cannot even begin to think we can provide anything close to a "natural habitat", and I certainly did not mean to imply that by putting them in a larger tank that you were providing a fish with that. I respect your point of view, but I do disagree. I believe in the case of many different species of fish, both fresh and saltwater, the size of the tank does matter in the long-term health of the group of fish you keep. If it did not matter at all, there would not be guidelines for minimum tank sizes. I understand what you are saying though. If you maintain good water quality, you certainly could keep a tang perhaps, but depending on the tankmates, problems with aggression are a definite concern. I wish the OP the best of luck with it if he decides to go for it, but I just cannot say you will have no problems keeping a tang in a 55 gallon tank.

I love this post, I'd suggest a read it's perfect. I'm sure it's well known that people have kept almost any fish in about any size tank

 

[Manny'sReef]

Yellow Eye Kole Tang is an awesome fish and it's reef safe. They graze all day and are fun to watch.

I use Grammarly and it's great.

 

[PhreeByrd]

For most tangs, the whole minimum water volume thing is very misleading. Powder blues (or browns) pace back and forth pretty incessantly, so tank length is more important than volume. In that regard, a standard (4'L) 55 gallon is not much different from a standard (also 4'L) 90 gallon tank. I've kept these fish in 4'L tanks, but never felt that it was good for them, and I'd consider a 6' long tank to really be the minimum to keep any acanthurus comfortable.

Tomini tangs (Ctenochaetus spp, sometimes called 'bristletooth') are IMO gorgeous fish, very active, and generally do well in smaller tanks. I'd still consider a 55g to be the minimum for any surgeonfish.

 

[ReefWithCare]

I would put a rabbitfish over a tang myself. As long as you can keep them well feed they should be reef safe. Far more hardier and less aggressive. Also - better CUC. Bristletooths do compliment them well though.

 

[Neo Jeo]

I would really love a Caribbean (atlantic) blue tang, not the hippo. Does anyone have one? Do they have good personalities? I'm going to have a 130g very soon but am going to start with smaller, easier fish first, but I've read that the blues are easy to care for and good for beginners. Just wondering if that's true. I would also like a lavender and a purple tang. These are the only larger fish I'm getting will that be ok?

Caribbean blue Tang are difficult. They are prone to diseases like a powder blue I introduced one and it’s spread Ich like a wildfire . He was the host.

 

[Neo Jeo]

I’m looking to add another tang.

I got a yellow tang, Tomini and I want a Kole tang but it’s fje same family as the Tomini so would that be a big problem? I can’t get a purple work my yellow I also assume bc my yellow can be aggressive.

Convit tang I read don’t do well and stop eating them parish.

What tang should I add next?

 

[Reefcowboy]

Thompson Tang is a very underated tang. Lots of personality

 

[PigFarmer]

Blonde Ambition Naso!

 

[Neo Jeo]

I got a 120g so both of those won’t work :)

 

[Neo Jeo]

I’m looking to add another tang.

I got a yellow tang, Tomini and I want a Kole tang but it’s fje same family as the Tomini so would that be a big problem? I can’t get a purple work my yellow I also assume bc my yellow can be aggressive.

Convit tang I read don’t do well and stop eating them parish.

What tang should I add next?

Any idea on what I said?