Yet another (dang) tang poll

MnFish1 · Apr 19, 2019

There have been a couple recent threads about the size of tanks (thanks @revhtree) - Here is another poll about tangs - choose each option with which you agree. There are no (absolute) right or wrong answers (unless you want to hash it out in the comments)...

Ron Reefman · Apr 20, 2019

Many of the options in the poll are probably better answered by marine biologists than the general public here at R2R. That is, assuming you would rather have facts than opinions?

SDK · Apr 20, 2019

Ron Reefman said:
Many of the options in the poll are probably better answered by marine biologists than the general public here at R2R. That is, assuming you would rather have facts than opinions?

Agreed.

However, as someone who has done a fair amount of diving, I have seen groups of tangs roaming over a multi hundred yard area while down there.

The thing is, with the exception of certain homebody species like clownfish, morays, etc, most reef fishes do this.

I think the better questions in the poll are looking at how tangs “adjust” to the confines of an aquarium as opposed to how far they roam in nature. If we were looking at wild ranges, we’d all be keeping clowns and gobies.

DSC reef · Apr 20, 2019

@MnFish1 I voted:)

Lovemyreef2015 · Apr 20, 2019

Voted!

MnFish1 · Apr 20, 2019

Ron Reefman said:
Many of the options in the poll are probably better answered by marine biologists than the general public here at R2R. That is, assuming you would rather have facts than opinions?

The reason I asked the question is that all of these things are things I've read as opinions on R2R or other forums. As you can see (which is as expected) - there are almost as many people thinking xxxx as people thinking the opposite of xxxx. Thats the reason I said there aren't really 'right' or 'wrong' answers - its about the general conceptions out in the community about tangs in general.

BTW - of course if you know me and my articles - I do have some information to share about the answers to some of the questions - but even that information will not (of course) completely answer any of those questions. :). Stay tuned.

MnFish1 · Apr 20, 2019

SDK said:
Agreed.

However, as someone who has done a fair amount of diving, I have seen groups of tangs roaming over a multi hundred yard area while down there.

The thing is, with the exception of certain homebody species like clownfish, morays, etc, most reef fishes do this.

I think the better questions in the poll are looking at how tangs “adjust” to the confines of an aquarium as opposed to how far they roam in nature. If we were looking at wild ranges, we’d all be keeping clowns and gobies.

I agree - IMHO (which is why I worded the question the way I did) many people believe that since tangs travel xxxxx distance in 24 hours, they need a huge tank - or not be kept at all. On the other hand plenty of other people say they keep tangs in relatively small tanks - and thus presumedly are 'well adjusted'. The problem with 'well adjusted' - is that both sides of that question have different definitions of what 'well adjusted' means.

SDK · Apr 20, 2019

MnFish1 said:
I agree - IMHO (which is why I worded the question the way I did) many people believe that since tangs travel xxxxx distance in 24 hours, they need a huge tank - or not be kept at all. On the other hand plenty of other people say they keep tangs in relatively small tanks - and thus presumedly are 'well adjusted'. The problem with 'well adjusted' - is that both sides of that question have different definitions of what 'well adjusted' means.

I can tell we are alike in that we both crave hard data. I’m a science minded logical thinker right down to my bone marrow lol.

This is one of many situations in the reef hobby where amateur observational data, otherwise known as opinion, is all we are going to get.

I have been keeping and observing reef fish since the late seventies, so have a pretty fair database of my own opinions. I like to keep tangs and other large fish in tanks no smaller than 6’ in width.

Those who want to keep them in a 55 gallon tank can find plenty who are doing it and will give them the positive reinforcement they need.

I guess it all comes down to doing as much research as you can with what is out there. Success as a provable, peer reviewed set of hard data is not possible in this instance.

I do fully respect your effort to squeeze out what you can. :)

MnFish1 · Apr 20, 2019

SDK said:
I can tell we are alike in that we both crave hard data. I’m a science minded logical thinker right down to my bone marrow lol.

This is one of many situations in the reef hobby where amateur observational data, otherwise known as opinion, is all we are going to get.

I have been keeping and observing reef fish since the late seventies, so have a pretty fair database of my own opinions. I like to keep tangs and other large fish in tanks no smaller than 6’ in width.

Those who want to keep them in a 55 gallon tank can find plenty who are doing it and will give them the positive reinforcement they need.

I guess it all comes down to doing as much research as you can with what is out there. Success as a provable, peer reviewed set of hard data is not possible in this instance.

I do fully respect your effort to squeeze out what you can. :)

Stay tuned:)