Sailfin tang smaller alternative

[ismira]

So I absolutely love the look of the Sailfin Tang but I could never hope to have a tank large enough to properly keep one of these guys. Are there any fish out there that resembles the look of one of these that don’t get so big, specifically the tall fins ( they remind me of freshwater angelfish, which are one of my favs). Doesn’t need to actually be a tang either, just after the big fins. Looking at like a 3-4Foot tank.

 

[L0L_Z]

So I absolutely love the look of the Sailfin Tang but I could never hope to have a tank large enough to properly keep one of these guys. Are there any fish out there that resembles the look of one of these that don’t get so big, specifically the tall fins ( they remind me of freshwater angelfish, which are one of my favs). Doesn’t need to actually be a tang either, just after the big fins. Looking at like a 3-4Foot tank.

Scopas? Yellow? An actual fw angelfish?

 

[ismira]

I have freshwater angels. Getting ideas for the reef. Thank you I’ll look up those fish

 

[L0L_Z]

I have freshwater angels. Getting ideas for the reef. Thank you I’ll look up those fish

Anything from the Zebrasoma species is good. scopas, purple, gem, yellow, black tang

 

[ismira]

The Scopas tang looks like a great alternative, thank you.

 

[i cant think]

So I absolutely love the look of the Sailfin Tang but I could never hope to have a tank large enough to properly keep one of these guys. Are there any fish out there that resembles the look of one of these that don’t get so big, specifically the tall fins ( they remind me of freshwater angelfish, which are one of my favs). Doesn’t need to actually be a tang either, just after the big fins. Looking at like a 3-4Foot tank.

In a 4’ tank you can’t really have any Zebrasoma tanks and you’re limited to the Ctenochaetus genus. Zebrasoma get way too nasty and active for a 4’ tank - I’d aim for a 5-6’ tank personally.

 

[Doctorgori]

The mimic tangs are usually a lil smaller than most

 

[L0L_Z]

A yellow would do fine, anything else needs bigger UNLESS your tank is 2ft wide

 

[SoFlo Reef]

Any of the bristletooth tangs (tomini,kole etc.), or yellow/scopas would be ok. Also look at dwarf angelfish. Multibar angels in particular have that similar body shape, and all of them will do well in a tank that size. If you do go multibar though get a captivce bred one, as they are difficult when wild caught.

 

[ismira]

I adore most all of the salt water angelfish but it’s their coral nipping nature that concerns me.

 

[Leo_ian]

I adore most all of the salt water angelfish but it’s their coral nipping nature that concerns me.

most captive bred angels are reportedly more reef safe than their wild counterparts

 

[i cant think]

A yellow would do fine, anything else needs bigger UNLESS your tank is 2ft wide

I highly disagree with this.
Yesterday I saw a beautiful yellow tang that was a good 5 inches, they really don’t do well in a 4’ tank and need a 6-7’ tank along with purples. When these tangs are fed well, they grow a lot. Purples can get to the size of a tea plate (possibly even bigger) when under the right care.

 

[Lineatus]

A yellow would do fine, anything else needs bigger UNLESS your tank is 2ft wide

A yellow tang would not be fine in a 3-4 foot tank. They are bigger and more active than you think.