tang question

This is the way I look at it.

If you have to ask if a tang is appropriate than the majority if the time it's not.

We can push the envelope all day and try rationalize the reasons to get one, but it usually comes down to same answer time and time and time again.

Research is good but common sense is better. Either get bigger tanks that you KNOW will work or be happy with the fish that are obviously appropriate for the system you have.

 

A Kole tang should be fine in a 55, same with a Yellow. Good citizenship is another story, keep the fish stock low and you most likely will have very few problems. Making sure the tang has sufficient food to graze on also will help.

 

1 tang
1 clownfish (false perc)
1 McCosker's wrasse
1 shrimp goby
is that low stock or are you talking about like the tang and 1 other fish or 2? The whole point of me setting up a medium sized tank would just so I could have a small species of tang.:-/

 

depends where you go for your information 1.0reef

people that sell Tangs on web sites etc - will generally give tank sized guidelines that are lower than many people in the hobby would agree with , after all they want to sell Tangs

there are sites that suggest
Yellow Tangs = 100 gallons or 5ft

that does mean adult size, so many people would buy small with intention to upgrade or trade out when time comes
I dont know for a fact, but I suspect, a higher % of fish in that scenario pass away before they grow large enough for the planned upgrade or trade out


Tangs on the same site suggested for 75 gallon ,4ft tanks are

Striated Bristle tooth Tang
Kole Tang
Tomini Tang

now because the site lists 4ft tanks - many people make the point its swimming length that matters and not width so a 4ft x 55 gallon tank would be suitable for these 3 species

if you do get a 4ft tank - then the Tomini or the Kole Tang would probably be the best options IMO


if you end up with a 40 gallon breeder - then neither of this fish would be ideal IMHO


Steve

 

cool8)

 

Good advice as usual Steve. I would just also like to point out that there is a difference between keeping a fish alive and keeping one alive that is happy.Its not like you can ask the fish so I have always tried to keep in mind how big my animal is going to get when full size. Buying something too big for your tank with the idea that you will upgrade when it gets bigger rarely happens and is not good husbandry IMO.

 

Here is an interesting link.

How much swimming space do your fish need? | Features | Practical Fishkeeping

 

I think the reason tangs are not great for a 40 or 55 is because of the width.

 

That was an interesting read. Has anyone used it?

 

40 breeder tanks are pretty wide though.
and some tangs like going in and out of the rocks and others prefer to swim in the front of the tank back and forth. every fish has it's own personality