Bristletooth Tang Selection ?

[SaltyPotato]

I have a 65 gallon tank (48x20x17) with very light stocking:

2 x Clowns (two years old)
Fuzzy Dwarf (2 inches)

And I want to add a tang from the Bristletooth family. Either the tomini, two spot, or white tail tang (All of these would be 2-3 inches at purchase). I’m leaning on the white tail alone for color as it is dull on the fish side. Anything I should know searching on the forum isn’t telling me? Is it also possible to add anything else? Everything I’ve found with Bristletooths is they don’t like bottom dwellers too much like a goby or blenny.

 

[blaxsun]

With a 65-gallon you want the absolute smallest tang you can find that has the potential to grow to the smallest size. And be prepared for a visit from the tang police.

 

[SaltyPotato]

With a 65-gallon you want the absolute smallest tang you can find that has the potential to grow to the smallest size. And be prepared for a visit from the tang police.

Everything points to these guys being the smallest at max 6.5-7 inches and the tank is still 48x20. I’m specifically asking for anecdotal experience and differences between them. The tang isn’t gonna be 6 inches tomorrow morning and I don’t need the tang police telling me buy for the tank you have, my stocking is minimal.

 

[blaxsun]

My personal feeling is that you should look for a different type of fish, because tangs do quickly outgrow their environment - and they're one of those funny fish that seem to need a lot of swim room. Even a small version of that 7" fish will be 4-5" within 2 years.

That being said, far be it for me to try and persuade you otherwise. Good luck in your quest!

 

[Jubei2006]

Flame tang? Smallish size relatively mild temperament. Does chase my lawnmower blenny from time to time. Good flash of color with grey/tan body orange tips and white tail. Not as active all over the tank as my other tangs (naso, desarjini, purple)

 

[stovenut]

You can definitely house a healthy bristletooth tang in a 65g no problem. It will not grow to be 6" in the tank that size. I had a tomini and a purple tang in a tank around the same size for over 7 years. Both remained under 4" yet were fat and active. Both had plenty of caves, along with open swimming space at the top of the tank. More space is certainly preferred, but if you bought a bigger tank you would simply fill it with more fish, including more tangs. Am I right?? Your bristletooth tang should be added last as you probably know, after you add any other smaller tankmates.

 

[i cant think]

Everything points to these guys being the smallest at max 6.5-7 inches and the tank is still 48x20. I’m specifically asking for anecdotal experience and differences between them. The tang isn’t gonna be 6 inches tomorrow morning and I don’t need the tang police telling me buy for the tank you have, my stocking is minimal.

My two spot has been with me for 2 years, I got him at 1 inch and he’s about 2.5, if not 3 inch currently. They’re not slow growers or even a slow swimmer! My tank is 4’x2’x18” and he uses ALL of it.

 

[littlebeard]

Jay Hemdal wrote an interesting article about fish sizes and relative tank space needed.

Check it out.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/estimating-the-need-for-swimming-space-for-aquarium-fishes.801/

It's slightly different to some of the older rules on tangs and tanks that I've heard about.

 

[Lavey29]

I have a 65 gallon tank (48x20x17) with very light stocking:

2 x Clowns (two years old)
Fuzzy Dwarf (2 inches)

And I want to add a tang from the Bristletooth family. Either the tomini, two spot, or white tail tang (All of these would be 2-3 inches at purchase). I’m leaning on the white tail alone for color as it is dull on the fish side. Anything I should know searching on the forum isn’t telling me? Is it also possible to add anything else? Everything I’ve found with Bristletooths is they don’t like bottom dwellers too much like a goby or blenny.

I have a 65g DT with 15gs and I tried a bristletooth in mine and they did not do well at all. To small for him. Needs a lot of low green algae to graze all day too.

 

[SaltyPotato]

I have a 65g DT with 15gs and I tried a bristletooth in mine and they did not do well at all. To small for him. Needs a lot of low green algae to graze all day too.

15gs?

 

[Lavey29]

15gs?

15g sump

 

[bnord]

I have a flame and blue eye bristle in a 90 lagoon - with plenty'o hiding places and channels to maneuver - and mangrove stems as well
got them small and might have gotten them smaller, but they are active. and un-cramped
they are a year in the tank and I think they will be there for a couple more.
Have a lawnmower and a red spot hawkfish and have never seen them pay the least bit of attention to the bottom dwellers
so I think a tank is not a tank is not a tank, and habitat design and swim space will be critical
BTW the Blue eye is pretty bland, but a great workhorse

 

[Barb0713]

With a 65-gallon you want the absolute smallest tang you can find that has the potential to grow to the smallest size. And be prepared for a visit from the tang police.

Then you have the guys with the big shows saying get a tang that’s small to control the algae in your smaller tank and when they grow some, either upgrade your tank or rehome them. The tang police are probably really upset with them but, I plan on upgrading in a year or so … so that might be a plan for me. Police or not no harm in doing that tho . they are about to come for me now lol