What Kinda Tang Should I Get???

[djdubdub]

Ok...

I have been looking to get a Tang... But most that I've seen require 70gallons and up...

Any suggestions for a good "starter" and/or one that will tolerate a 55gallon???

I like the Blue Tang... Anyone have any experience w/ this one in a "smaller" tank???

Thanks...

[Henry]

hey djdubdub

I have a blue(hippo) tang in my 65gal tank. Haven't had any problems with him/her. Very cool fish, but somewhat timid. There is another thread that might help you as well.

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic& t=572&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0


Henry

[djdubdub]

Yeah... I was following the last thread... Just didn't see anything about tank size... Just fish size...

Thanks for the info... Im tempted to get one and just "raise" it in my tank... They maybe sell/trade if it gets TOO big...

I'm just curious if SW fish are like FW fish... The larger the tank, the larger the fish gets... Maybe it'll stay small... Yeah, right...

[Chris]

Nope... saltwater fish grow and grow.... the only things that will stop them is poor genes, poor health, or poor water conditions.

You can get away with a few of the zebrasomas.. (yellow, purple, scopas).. I generally like to think a 55G would be the bare minimum for one of these though... preferably something bigger but a lightly stocked tank and proper care can keep your fish healthy and happy for quite a long time.

;)

[Troy Valentine]

Dj

One of my first fishes I bought in this hobby was a blue tang. I kept him in a 29 gallon and he was perfectly fine, infact once he was "fully"acclimated to my tank I found him to be on of the hardiest fishes I have ever had. He was the ruler in my tank for approx 5 years, until his demise at the hand of his owner :cry: ..... Make sure when you add him to your tank, you take extra care, so that the transition is as stress free as possible, because the blue tang is very prone to ICK, In fact IMO I would recommend buying a Cleaner shrimp before you by your tang, this will help get rid of any ICK before it becomes a problem. In my tanks I have at least on cleaner in there at all times to remove any sudden parasites that might occur... IMO these little cleaners are worth there weight in gold.....

[Sherri]

Dj I can agree with Troy by experience. One week ago I bought a sm Blue Tang, he stressed upon introduction and had ick the next day. If ick happens, stay away from Greenex as I learned and get a cleaner shrimp. Since my blue tang is small...his first experience with a cleaner shrimp was quite entertaining. Now he looks for the shrimp.

They are really pretty fish and kinda shy. But I'm really glad I got him. In fact, he thinks he's a clown fish now...he's following my sm clowns I got yesterday...doing what they do...buddies you might say.

Sherri :rotf:

[Richard]

Blue Tangs are exceptionally hardy and beautiful. They are however very prone to ick. I would strongly recommend quarantine before introducing to your tank. I always treat them as if they have ick when I get them in. My "standard" treatment of all tangs is 10 - 15 minute Freshwater dip when they come in followed by organicure at 1/2 recommended dosage/daily for four days. If they show any signs of ick on the 3rd day I do another FW Dip and complete the treatment with organicure. Works every time! I use organicure in this manner because I have "burned" fish a couple of times using it at the recommended dosage. It contains formalin which can be very harmful but I have had no problems using it at 1/2 recommended dosage daily.

[Isis]

There are a few good books out there that could give you more details on the recommended tank size for various tangs...

But IMO, I will have to agree with Chris on staying with the zebrasomas, they do really well in your "smaller" tanks. And like he said, your fish will not have a "stunted" growth because of a smaller tank, they will eventually die at an earlier age because the stress of living in a smaller home will take its toll. Imagine living in something smaller than your bedroom for the rest of your life, it just isn't something you can really enjoy for ever, let alone 70 years. There is a reason why some healthy fish have shorter life spans than their wild counterparts when you take out all other factors.

[captexas]

I have a blue hippo tang in my 58. It is only about 3 or 4 inches so he has plenty of room for now. Blue tangs are very shy. You may see them swimming around with others at the LFS, but once you get them home, they will run and hide when anyone approaches the tank. Mine has a little hideout between some live rock. Very pretty fish and fun to watch them dart around without any effort. I'm planning on moving up to the 75 sitting in my garage so it will have plenty of room as it gets older. I think as long as you know you will be upgrading tanks in the future, it will be fine. Just make sure the the size you are wanting to eventually upgrade to will still be big enough for the fish as it reaches full size.

[Sherri]

So a 100 gal should be OK when mine is full grown? How big do they get...about 5"?

Sherri

[utmachete]

You know Tangs are pretty active fish so I have no suggestion as to a type that is small enough for a tank that size. I wonder though because it seems like fish in smaller tanks seem to be more timid. I had a small tank when I first started and the fish were always hiding and were not as healthy. When I put my first set of fish in my 180 they were shy for a couple of days and then they hardly ever hid. They'll eat out of my hand and if I have my hand in the tank to get something or clean the glass they'll just follow it around the tank like they are curious or something. Even my Hippo tang is not shy at all. Sometimes the friendliness of the fish can even be annoying its like they are face invaders. When you put your face up to the tank to look at corals they get in front of you like they want attention or something.
Seems like gobys, clowns, damsels, dwarf lions and other smaller fish that don't need a lot of swimming area would be best for that size of tank. A hippo tang would certainly be miserable in that tank when It grew up mine is about 6" now it would die in a tank that size.
I have seen this shy fish small tank pattern even in freshwater fish, I wonder if fish are clousterphobic (sp error).

[z28pwr]

So a 100 gal should be OK when mine is full grown? How big do they get...about 5"?

Sherri

Sherri My Naso Tang (may he rest in peace) was 7" and growing. I had him in a 180 and he was always swimming.

[Sherri]

Mine isn't shy...he thinks he's one of the clowns...but I did notice tonight that he still has ick. Guess the 2 cleaner shrimp aren't going to be able to control the situation. He is cruising the tank and is eager to eat. Any other suggestions as to get rid of the ick. Now it's scaring me. I haven't been able to set up my quarantine 30 gal yet as I got my sand today....Help!

Sherri

[captexas]

Sherri -
I'm not so sure that cleaner shrimp are able to cure a fish that is already infected by Ich. I believe they are more apt to cleaning/removing parasites and such and preventing such outbreaks. I (knocking on wood) have not had to deal with ich in a marine tank yet so I am not sure what is best. I have heard that using garlic mixed with food is one of the better ways to fight it. Hopefully someone else can provide some info from their experiences and help you get your little guy healthy again.

[djdubdub]

Well... I'm sitting here, searching the web for info on Tangs and reading up on them...

I was also reading up on some of the Angels on the LiveAquaria site (just out of curiousity)...

I happened to stumble apon the Interruptus Angelfish...

For those of you who may not be familiar w/ the Interruptus Angelfish (and by no means am I claiming to be an expert), this is a $799 fish... Yes, that's right, SEVEN hundred and NINETY NINE DOLLARS!!!

Holy Smokes!!!

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1407

[Troy Valentine]

It is important to remember that ICK can also be a stress induced sickness the fish can aquire. Like a human, when a fish is stressed out the immune system takes a beating. Which in turn makes the fish more prone to ICK. So it is important to let the fish get established, and take its time doing this. From your previous post you said that your tang seeked out your cleaner shrimps, then this is a good sign, the tang is beginning to acclimate to his surroundings. IMO I feel that having a separate tank to quaranteen a fish in after he is already been in your main tank, will cause unneeded stess to the fish, and prolong the ICK accurance.
With my first blue tang every time he came down with ICK I would fresh water dip him. The ICK would go away temporarily, but would flair up after a couple of days. I did this several times with the same response from the fish. Then I said the hell with it and left him alone, it cleared up with in a week. So this is one case where I found that less is more.
Give the cleaner shrimp time to work their magic, and like Josh said try the garlic food. ;)
IMO some fish take longer than others to acclimate. Some do it in a few weeks. Others it might take months, but once a fish has fully acclimated they become very hardy, and resistant to their owners foolish mistakes.

[Sherri]

I've had him 10 days now...he & the mandrin were the 1st fish in the tank...once I added the 2 clowns (Thursday) he's been a different fish. He's all over the tank instead of one end...he's coming to the front glass when I approach unlike back corner the first week. He hangs with the clowns like he's part of their group...Hardy appetite...Seems very content at this point but for the ick. He only approaches one of the cleaner shrimp as the other is prob bigger than he is! Concerned that it may spread to my clowns & mandrin. Use to freshwater all these yrs.

I really don't want to have to take him out of the tank at this point since he has adjusted very well. That would prob freak him out so I'll go the garlic route in the AM. Patience I do have, just don't want to lose him or infect the others. Getting use to this "natural" way of taking care of things. :roll: Will post progress?! Thanks all...

Sherri