Tang question

[ccombs]

For the last time a tang cannot go in a 20 gallon! jkjkjkjk.

4 tangs is too much. I would say one smaller type tang max would be your limit and is still probably pushing it from a swimming room standpoint.

No worries about being that guy, we are glad that you are asking for questions and looking for honest input! Best of luck!

 

[Rjramos]

3 in a 120 gal. Eating Nori together since 2006 when they all went in. That’s 12 years old now.
Healthy and not stressed, but I realize a bigger tank would be better believe me. Just haven’t gotten around to set up a 175 bow front I have.‍

 

[DSC reef]

3 in a 120 gal. Eating Nori together since 2006 when they all went in. That’s 12 years old now.
Healthy and not stressed, but I realize a bigger tank would be better believe me. Just haven’t gotten around to set up a 175 bow front I have.‍

Very nice!

 

[Arricefe]

OK... notwithstanding the fact that no tang belongs in a 4 foot tank... ;)

The problem with "re-homing" is that for a lot of people it never happens.

They start off with good intentions - but then when the time comes to re-home they either are too attached to the fish that they don't...

Or they say to themselves that it seems "happy" in the small tank so it's no big deal.

If you want tangs - get a 6 foot long tank! :)

So that logic seems sound but it could apply to every fish in our tanks, it could be argued that any tank is too small for any fish. I'm not attached, I like them, I enjoy watching them swim around, but I think I would enjoy my tank more if it had more fish. I moved from a 6 foot tank to a 4 foot tank now the have a deeper and wider tank to swim around in so there's that.

 

[FishDoc]

OK... notwithstanding the fact that no tang belongs in a 4 foot tank... ;)

The problem with "re-homing" is that for a lot of people it never happens.

They start off with good intentions - but then when the time comes to re-home they either are too attached to the fish that they don't...

Or they say to themselves that it seems "happy" in the small tank so it's no big deal.

If you want tangs - get a 6 foot long tank! :)

So two foot is the tipping point between inhumane and perfectly content? With all do respect, where does this logic come from? Is it based on anecdotal consensus or simply personal observation? I like many fully agree that we will never truly be able to mimic our fishes natural environment but many fish can become perfectly acclimatized to a variety of different situation and remain perfectly content. This is not meant to come across as judgement I’m honestly just curious how you’ve reached such a resolve...

 

[Stigigemla]

I had four tangs in my 5 foot tank and thought it was good for them.
Then I started my 10 foot tank and transfered the fishes. The use every inch of it. They were calmer and did hardly ever fight.
Totally different fishes from day one.
Today I recommend only 1 tang for a 6 foot. A yellow or one of the smaller bristletooth.

 

[Kmsutows]

I would go with the smaller tangs , ( Kole or Atlantic blue ) for your size tank

I would have to highly disagree with the Atlantic blue tang. They get MASSIVE, over a foot, the size of a dinner plate. Kole would be a good choice. Adding another yellow tang to that existing yellow will not work and like others stated sailfins get huge as well. I would not think about more than 2 ... 3 is possible if the right species (kole tang) and nori is available 24/7

 

[Jon Fishman]

I asked elsewhere, but do you think I would be ok with a powder-blue (with a sharpnose puffer and 2 flurry clowns) in a 96” x 16x16 ?

Total volume is about 106g for display. The interwebs tells me they are “shallow reef swimmers”

Thanks

 

[OrionN]

At the risk of ridicule I'm asking a tang anyway. I have a 120 (4x2x2) and currently I have a large yellow and large sailfin tang. I'd like another yellow and one other TBD tang for a total of 4. I'm thinking of rehoming the 2 tangs I have and starting with 4 small ones, is this a bad idea? I'm thinking of getting all at the same time and I'd also rehome them when they got big. Thoughts? BTW the tangs I have now are the best of frenemies.

If you want several yellow tangs, I would get two or three captive bred Yellow tangs from Live Aquaria. Right now hey have a sale plus 15% off for the whole shipment (>159.99) for Biota CB yellow tangs. This would be perfect. In addition to Yellow tangs, I would recommend smaller tangs. Total of 3 possible 4 grazer that mature on the smaller size, is all that can go in a standard 120 gal tank.
I would not put a Sailfin tang in a 120 gal.
Also Atlantic Blue tang gets huge.

 

[McPuff]

I would go with the smaller tangs , ( Kole or Atlantic blue ) for your size tank

I would have to highly disagree with the Atlantic blue tang. They get MASSIVE, over a foot, the size of a dinner plate. Kole would be a good choice. Adding another yellow tang to that existing yellow will not work and like others stated sailfins get huge as well. I would not think about more than 2 ... 3 is possible if the right species (kole tang) and nori is available 24/7

Agree!!

Atlantic blue tang are certainly NOT small fish. Blue hippos aren't either. Perhaps you were thinking of something entirely different? Blue eye kole tang perhaps? Those stay smaller.

I probably not go more than 2 smaller tangs in a 4ft tank. Scopas, tomini, kole, etc. Personally would not want to catch and rehome a fish. It's relatively easy with some species (e.g., vlamingi) but can be very hard with others (e.g., small tangs!). Perfect scenario, you can get a bigger tank and keep more, and larger, tangs. That was one of the biggest reasons I upgraded to a 300... and wishing I could go to an 8' tank! :0)

 

[Rjramos]

Where and who established the 6 foot tank rule for tangs? No doubt, my tang as well as any fish would be happier in a bigger tank, and even happier if they were released back in the wild, of course they would be exposed to more competition and the possibility of predation. Linear swim space is great, but most reef fish have large pectoral fins that enable them to turn tight spaces and even swim backwards. These fish don’t swim across the front glass all day, instead they swim through many holes and crevices I have provided in the rock work. At night, all of them disappear into the their sleeping spot in the rocks and remain there all night till the light come on. Sharks, definitely need a lot of linear space, they tail swim and only use pectorals as stabilizers. I have a 6 foot 175 bow front I want to set up, and transfer this tank’s inhabitants to, but I haven’t had the time or the money to do so now. In the meantime, I’m not taking them back to a store, or trading them to some unknown with no guarantees that they will be better. ‍

 

[Jesterrace]

Seriously...?

Not to be "that guy" but a 4 foot long tank is no place for one tang, much less 4.

I agree with that for the most part but a larger 4 foot long tank is fine for one of the smaller bristletooth tangs (ie Tomini, Kole, Two Spot, Squaretail, White Tail Bristletooth).

Either way not a fan of buying a fish and then simply "rehoming" when they get too big. Stressful for the fish (and often the owner). Just buy a fish that is appropriate for your size tank long term and all parties will be better off.

 

[Arricefe]

I agree with that for the most part but a larger 4 foot long tank is fine for one of the smaller bristletooth tangs (ie Tomini, Kole, Two Spot, Squaretail, White Tail Bristletooth).

Either way not a fan of buying a fish and then simply "rehoming" when they get too big. Stressful for the fish (and often the owner). Just buy a fish that is appropriate for your size tank long term and all parties will be better off.

Yeah, I agree. I actually did my rock-scape, rack and stack really, with plenty of room for the yellowtail to be able to swim between the rocks and he does. I really don’t like to stress them out so I am dreading catching him because he has plenty of places to hide and it’s going to be stressful to all the fish, I’m in no hurry so I’m going to try and trap them to minimize the stress. I think I will go with bristle-tooth tangs with the intent of keeping them “forever”. I’m going to just let them live in peace, as much as they can in a glass box anyway. Thanks for the input.

 

[vetteguy53081]

At the risk of ridicule I'm asking a tang anyway. I have a 120 (4x2x2) and currently I have a large yellow and large sailfin tang. I'd like another yellow and one other TBD tang for a total of 4. I'm thinking of rehoming the 2 tangs I have and starting with 4 small ones, is this a bad idea? I'm thinking of getting all at the same time and I'd also rehome them when they got big. Thoughts? BTW the tangs I have now are the best of frenemies.

Rule of thumb on alike/similar tangs: Have them in ODD numbers. .. . 1,3,5 and so forth

 

[Jon Fishman]

I asked elsewhere, but do you think I would be ok with a powder-blue (with a sharpnose puffer and 2 flurry clowns) in a 96” x 16x16 ?

Total volume is about 106g for display. The interwebs tells me they are “shallow reef swimmers”

Thanks

Anyone???

 

[Kmsutows]

Where and who established the 6 foot tank rule for tangs? No doubt, my tang as well as any fish would be happier in a bigger tank, and even happier if they were released back in the wild, of course they would be exposed to more competition and the possibility of predation. Linear swim space is great, but most reef fish have large pectoral fins that enable them to turn tight spaces and even swim backwards. These fish don’t swim across the front glass all day, instead they swim through many holes and crevices I have provided in the rock work. At night, all of them disappear into the their sleeping spot in the rocks and remain there all night till the light come on. Sharks, definitely need a lot of linear space, they tail swim and only use pectorals as stabilizers. I have a 6 foot 175 bow front I want to set up, and transfer this tank’s inhabitants to, but I haven’t had the time or the money to do so now. In the meantime, I’m not taking them back to a store, or trading them to some unknown with no guarantees that they will be better. ‍

They aren't swimming the length of the tank because it's not even long enough to swim up to any normal speed they'd be at int he wild... I have strong continuous flow on mainly one side of my 6ft 150gal tank and they love darting into the flow and fighting it then swimming the length of the tank. Mostly my Achilles anyway. My hippo is too big now but used to do the same. Now he really needs a larger tank. I definitely think they benefit greatly from it. Is something going on with your hippo or is it healing? Its gut looks an odd shape and that facial mark

 

[drblakjak55]

Standard 90g. 110 lbs rock. First two tangs were 2 inch yellow and a Tomini. Six months to add a 4 inch purple. Fit right in. Purple eats nori first. Four inch blu hippo and a large Foxface next. All doing well together with lots of places to hide and sleep

 

[Bob Weigant]

I would have to highly disagree with the Atlantic blue tang. They get MASSIVE, over a foot, the size of a dinner plate. Kole would be a good choice. Adding another yellow tang to that existing yellow will not work and like others stated sailfins get huge as well. I would not think about more than 2 ... 3 is possible if the right species (kole tang) and nori is available 24/7

My bad. Ive never seen a big one. Not to say they don't get big

 

[McPuff]

My bad. Ive never seen a big one. Not to say they don't get big

They are a very pretty fish as juveniles and as adults. Doesn't seem that many people have them in their reefs/aquaria. I had considered getting one for my own tank, but their size and relatively quick growth rate held me back. Now that my tangs are getting pretty large themselves, I realize I'm done adding large fish altogether. Just not enough space even in a 300.

 

[Sashaka]

Kmsutows wrote: "Is something going on with your hippo or is it healing? Its gut looks an odd shape and that facial mark"

I wondered about the same thing. The hippo's belly is very thin. I see you have some beautiful coral, so you're probably protecting water parameters but feed that baby. It looks hungry! :eek:;). Honestly though, your other fish look to be a good weight. Is the fish sick?