Hi folks!
When looking at information for a fish that i may want to buy, it usually has a minimum tank size for that fish. I understand all fish have different requirements, but, for example, according to Liveaquaria, the Yellow Tang's max size is 8" Liveaquaria has a minimum tank size of 100 gallons for it.
Now, I have a few questions.
1. Does that mean one Yellow Tang per 100 gallons? If I want two, does that mean I need a 200 gallon tank. Can I not put anything else in there with it? Or is it because that particular fish just needs that much room to be able to swim more than it could using a say, 50 gallon tank?
2. I realize the one inch per gallon rule of thumb is flawed, but if I were to hypothetically follow that, that would mean I could put that 8 inch Yellow Tang in an 8 gallon tank (no, I would never do that...just a hypothetical). However, even if I used a one inch per 5 gallons calculation, that would mean I could put that 8 inch Tang in a 40 gallon tank, which, again, I would not do. However, at least in theory,, a 40 gallon tank should be plenty for an 8 inch fish.. So why does that particular 8 inch fish need 100 gallons of water when a different 8 inch fish might not necessarily need 100 gallons. I realize that different fish have different swimming habits/needs, but is that it?
3. Using the hypothetical one inch per gallon, if I were to have a 40 gallon sump tank, does that (hypothetically) mean that I could add "40 more inches" of fish to my display tank, considering size of the display tank?
4. Is one 8 inch fish the same as two 4 inch fish, or four 2 inch fish in terms of size requirements?
5. What other thing should I consider when thinking about the number and size of fish? What "rule" do you follow?
Thanks!
Ed
When looking at information for a fish that i may want to buy, it usually has a minimum tank size for that fish. I understand all fish have different requirements, but, for example, according to Liveaquaria, the Yellow Tang's max size is 8" Liveaquaria has a minimum tank size of 100 gallons for it.
Now, I have a few questions.
1. Does that mean one Yellow Tang per 100 gallons? If I want two, does that mean I need a 200 gallon tank. Can I not put anything else in there with it? Or is it because that particular fish just needs that much room to be able to swim more than it could using a say, 50 gallon tank?
2. I realize the one inch per gallon rule of thumb is flawed, but if I were to hypothetically follow that, that would mean I could put that 8 inch Yellow Tang in an 8 gallon tank (no, I would never do that...just a hypothetical). However, even if I used a one inch per 5 gallons calculation, that would mean I could put that 8 inch Tang in a 40 gallon tank, which, again, I would not do. However, at least in theory,, a 40 gallon tank should be plenty for an 8 inch fish.. So why does that particular 8 inch fish need 100 gallons of water when a different 8 inch fish might not necessarily need 100 gallons. I realize that different fish have different swimming habits/needs, but is that it?
3. Using the hypothetical one inch per gallon, if I were to have a 40 gallon sump tank, does that (hypothetically) mean that I could add "40 more inches" of fish to my display tank, considering size of the display tank?
4. Is one 8 inch fish the same as two 4 inch fish, or four 2 inch fish in terms of size requirements?
5. What other thing should I consider when thinking about the number and size of fish? What "rule" do you follow?
Thanks!
Ed