Hawaiian Sailfin Tang

[Thunderkat]

When I lived in Hawaii I would see tons of fish on the way to work every day. My favorites were the sailfin tangs.

Does anybody know what the scientific name is for that fish? I have seen sailfin tangs before in stores and they look nothing like the Hawaiian version. Has anybody here ever kept one or has one atm that can give me a little info on them?

[Tim Marvin]

SamIAm can probably get one for you in a group order. He is in Hawaii.

[Polkster13]

Zebrasoma veliferum

[Thunderkat]

I know I can't put an adult in my tank (50 gallon) because the adults were huge. Are they hardier than blue hippo tangs? Would sailfins get along with the blue hippos?

[Polkster13]

50 gallon tanks are too small for most Tangs unless you get a very small one (you will also need to have a plan for when they out grown your tank). However, babies don't tend to fare as well as adults. Blue hippos are one of the more delicate species and I wouldn't house it in anything smaller than a 135. The sailfin is also a delicate fish but not nearly as much as the hippo. If you want to keep both together, it is best to get both at the same time that are very close in size to each other and introduce them to the tank together.

[GaryP]

Hippos aren't nearly as much of a problem introducing with other tangs because the body shape is different.

Hippos are very susceptible to Ich when introduced to a tank. That is probably what Polkster was referring to when he called them less hardy. Sorry if I misquoted you Polkster. I can't tell you how many I bought before I got a pair to survive in my tank. Of course that probably has something to do with my experience level too.

[Thunderkat]

Ok, hehehe, going to break the news to the girlfriend that she can't have a blue tang. I thought a yellow tang would do best anyways, all the other tangs get to be very large in size.

[GaryP]

The Yellow tangs can get very large as well. Unfortunately I don't know of a dwarf tang.

[Polkster13]

Gary,

Yes, that is what I meant. I should have clarified myself more on that last post. Most fish get Ich because they get stessed out or their protective slime coat gets damaged. Stress can come from the tank being too small or one or more water parameters not being to the fishes liking. In the ocean, if the water gets too warm or too cold the fish just swim to someplace else where they are more comfortable. They can't do that in a small captive system.

I was also thinking that the sailfin might get aggressive towards the hippo. But Thunderkat, remember that we can only give you what a "typical" fish will do based on what we have read and our own personal experiences. There are always exceptions to the rule. What works for me may not work for you.

There are several on this board who have hippo tangs. And they are housed with other tangs. However, I don't believe anyone here has one in a 55 gallon tank. But I could be wrong. At any case, it will out grown that tank and you will need to plan for that if you intend to keep one of these beautiful creatures.

[mathias]

no dori? she is going to be upset....

[alton]

Get with Richard or Mark at CB Pets. They are the only provider that Quarantines Hippo's before they sell them that I know of?

[GaryP]

Also remember that over crowding creates stress too.

[Dozer]

Sailfin is definitely too big for your situation.

I too have had poor luck with blue tangs. I've likely given up on them for good. It is so disheartening to go through more than one of the same species like that. I am going to go with a Naso for my next Tang I think, but I have a 125 and only 3 other fish. I think a 50 would be small for a Naso.

If you definitely want a tang, I would go for a yellow- realizing he will outgrow what you currently have eventually. I've had pretty good luck with yellows, and they are very readily available and tend to be fairly hardy usually. Also, you can't beat the bright yellow color in the tank, they really pop out. Start with a smaller to medium sized one. Down the line a yellow would eventually outgrow a 50gal, definitely, but you can enjoy him for a while, and then upgrade to a bigger tank later or trade him to someone with a bigger tank.

Btw, remind the wife that one of the characters in Finding Nemo is a yellow tang if that helps your cause any ;)

[Thunderkat]

Btw, remind the wife that one of the characters in Finding Nemo is a yellow tang if that helps your cause any ;)

She is not the wife yet, I guess its just a matter of time though but I couldn't stop laughing when I saw that. I guess I will have to watch the entire movie instead of saying "real fish don't do that, this movie sucks!"
Makes me sick hearing people in a store saying "look its Nemo look look look!".

I had a small yellow tang when I was in hawaii in a 20 gallon aquarium (don't beat me that was my first salt water tank) and it did fine.

[Polkster13]

I actually have a yellow in a 29 gallon that is shared by two other fish and one urchin. And yes I am well aware that it will eventually need to be moved. My wife really likes it and wants to keep it where it is. Can we say upgrade?

[Thunderkat]

I actually have a yellow in a 29 gallon that is shared by two other fish and one urchin. And yes I am well aware that it will eventually need to be moved. My wife really likes it and wants to keep it where it is. Can we say upgrade?

You know it, its time for a fish room! Need at least 250 gallons for a yellow tang! :lol

[Polkster13]

I have a fish room. It is my 2 car garage! In it I have a 1200 gallon tank, a 300 gallon tank, 3 - 55 gallon tanks, a 150 gallon frag tank hooked to a 30 gallon sump and a 40 gallon fuge and an 18 gallon mini. I also have a 30 gallon short that I am thinking of setting up as a clam tank. All of these are dedicated to my wholesale/retail business.

I also have a 135 gallon dutch reef, 29 gallon mini reef and 20 gallon long in my dining room. I want to move the tang but the wife likes him where he is.

[CD]

I want to move the tang but the wife likes him where he is.


LOL...the question is, does the *tang* like where he is located? :P

Wendy