Tangs… What do you see in them?

[dvgyfresh]

I like fish that that are like goldfish lol , tangs fit that for me , always follow me around , swimming around , not stationary. Dory can be seen in almost every pic I take always curious and watching

 

[Miami Reef]

I like fish that that are like goldfish lol , tangs fit that for me , always follow me around , swimming around , not stationary. Dory can be seen in almost every pic I take always curious and watchinghttps://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/fc6ee06c-9447-47e8-b31a-6cf7f90f0b6e-jpeg.2719185/

 

[Miami Reef]

I like fish that that are like goldfish lol , tangs fit that for me , always follow me around , swimming around , not stationary. Dory can be seen in almost every pic I take always curious and watching

She’s so fat. Haha. Love it.

 

[dvgyfresh]

She’s so fat. Haha. Love it.

Lol definitely , salfin is catching up still trying to get CBB fat

 

[Miami Reef]

Lol definitely , salfin is catching up still trying to get CBB fat

Any tips for getting them fat? How much and what do you feed?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Any tips for getting them fat? How much and what do you feed?

I only feed once a day - half a sheet of nori , 2 cubes of mysis soaked in selcon , and some new life spectrum pellets. The pellets are their favorite they will even eat all the ones that fall to the sandbed. Occasionally I give clumps of bryopsis from refugium and they go crazy for that

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Kind of like clowns, they are just classic reef fish that I picture when I see a true ocean reef.

Not a fan of them. I get it but just too typical. If I could get a latezonatus or some Madagascar then Mayb. Finding that short fin clown which was entertaining kinda left a meh feeling towards them soon after.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Not a fan. They are mostly workers. Lol. Picking rock.
D

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Personally I’m not a fan of many tangs, I really don’t see much in the non-Ctenochaetus species. But I can watch them sometimes, I just don’t find it relaxing how they pace around so much.
So…
1. what do you see in tangs and is there more than good CUC (which even then there’s other fish for that job)?
2. Do you have any alternatives to tangs that you prefer to watch?

P.S. the photo below is when I had a mirror against the wall of my tank for my wrasses and instead attracted my tang to it.

As I read through this I realize my answer that I’m gonna give you is that most the alternatives that have been posted are not reef safe.

 

[i cant think]

Not a fan of them. I get it but just too typical. If I could get a latezonatus or some Madagascar then Mayb. Finding that short fin clown which was entertaining kinda left a meh feeling towards them soon after.

I feel the same with clowns, I only truly enjoy the hybrids and rarer species.
Whereas wrasses and other families have species being separated and discovered every month or even year. There’s also an endless amount of hybrids and each one is different with many making it into the hobby. Whereas tangs and clowns don’t have many hybrids and if they do they rarely make it into the hobby.

 

[Bpp124987]

Cuz they’re so purtty

 

[i cant think]

I’m interested with the answers I’ve gotten as a lot of them are about the colours.
Would you guys say the cons outweigh the pros or the other way?

 

[doubleshot00]

Easy.
Wrasses are too small and not as colorful.

 

[G Santana]

Tangs, what's not to love?!!!

 

[DavidinGA]

Humor me with some wrasses that present as much color to a reef tank as a tang.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I’m intrigued you say that as I have never had my wrasses out right beat up a newcomer to the tank. Skittishness depends on species, most being much more boisterous and out. Spastic behaviour also depends on species but also tank size, if it’s too small then you will see that behaviour.

Definitely agree it’s all on personal taste, I’ve only ever really enjoyed the achilles outside of Ctenochaetus but again, it’s an Ich magnet and aggressive.

In terms of tangs, I'm pretty much a hard pass on anything non zebrasoma & ctenochaetus genra. Too hard to keep unless introduced properly and with other fish that are balanced. I know a lot of folks do well, but regardless of husbandry and stocking decisions, I haven't done so well, lol.

Now with the wrasse issues, I know Im running on the aggressive end on stocking choices but I have a few that are definitely problematic.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I like tangs. They have color and movement different shapes and provide a great service to the system. Fan of the bristletooth specifically the white tail and OG yellow tang just for the pop of color. And the compliment to her would b a purple. So yeah I’d have those 3 but I only keep a yellow tang because of my system size. The other fish add to the color and movement occupying different levels of the tank.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I like tangs. They have color and movement different shapes and provide a great service to the system. Fan of the bristletooth specifically the white tail and OG yellow tang just for the pop of color. And the compliment to her would b a purple. So yeah I’d have those 3 but I only keep a yellow tang because of my system size. The other fish add to the color and movement occupying different levels of the tank.

I was anti yellow and purple tang for SO long... Didn't want to be a bandwagon guy. Ended up getting two yellows and a purple tht were together for years for a heck of a deal almost a month ago and frankly I'm sold now! I had to pull two fish to make it happen, but no regrets.

 

[hart24601]

I agree with you OP, I have never had a tang I liked always pacing the tank just made it seem unhappy or anxious. Thankfully there are many pretty fish out there. But yeah, no thanks tangs.

 

[Bpp124987]

Not just the colors but the patterns and body shape are pretty.
Favorite is blonde naso!