To Tang or Not To Tang

[Dean]

That is the question.
I understand that there are many different types of Tangs that grow pretty large and are only suited for large systems but also know that there are some species that do not grow so large. Regardless of their size are they just too active of a fish to have in a medium sized tank? I am considering a Flame Fin or Yellow Eye Kole for my 65 tall which is 36 x 19 x 24. Some people are very adamant about not housing ANY type of Tang in a set up smaller than 125 gallons yet I see them housed in tanks even smaller than my 65 all of the time. I do not want to buy a fish and watch it stress out and die either. All of the sites that I can find the Flame fin available on say that they are well suited for tanks as small as 50 gallons. Of course they are also in the Tang selling business so it's likely all about the sell to them. Please help me decide whether going the Tang route would be a mistake or not. What experiences have you had (both good or bad) with different types of Tangs in tanks of sizes LESS THAN 125 gallons.

PS.
BBQHILLBILLY and nanoreefer,
Please do not think I am dismissing your advice from the Sponsors thread. It is very much appreciated and noted. It spurned this thread. I am looking for as much knowledge as I can gain so thank you both!

[350gt]

1 at the most in your tank, and the smaller species...

[polarbear]

I have a hippo tang and a yellow tang in my 90 gallon. I've had them for about a year or so and haven't had any issues with them. They don't seemed stressed either.

[Scutterborn]

It's really all about how you set up the tank. I have a yellow tang in my 28 gallon nano cube. It's got one column structure in the middle so he has a race track all the way around the tank. He doesn't always use the racetrack but he knows he can. Still waiting on my Achilles to get shipped in from KOA25

I think I can already hear the sirens...


-Ben-

[Bill S]

I see no problem with Kole or something similar, that doesn't get so big.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

It's really all about how you set up the tank. I have a yellow tang in my 28 gallon nano cube. It's got one column structure in the middle so he has a race track all the way around the tank. He doesn't always use the racetrack but he knows he can. Still waiting on my Achilles to get shipped in from KOA25

I think I can already hear the sirens...


-Ben-


:ph34r:

[Zack]

No problem dude that's what this forum is all about!! I had a yellow tang in a 75 gallon for a few weeks but as time went on he quickly got more and more stressed till I had to give him away. A few months ago I tried a flame tail tang in a 40 breeder that was peninsula style with tons of swimming room (very similar footprint to your setup) and it died shortly there after from ich and was aggressive enough from the lack of room that it took almost the whole tank with it.. as seen in Ben's case, it can be done but I'd say this is the exception not the norm. I've seen some success with refers in Asia and Japan making it work due to the premium of square footage in most residential areas so I'd try to see what those have done to accomade their tangs to living in a smaller tank

[alton]

Add a baby knowing in a year or two you will have to rehome them. I recently did this with a baby Chevron, placed him in a 40 gallon for a year before moving him into my 300. IF I would of put him in my 300 as a baby my male Flame Angel would of tormented him. I think the biggest issue with any tang is adding them to a well established tank with plenty of live rock and algae to graze on daily. If you decide to do this, build yourself a fish trap or use your wife's Tupperware bowls, I try not to use nets unless all else fails.

[edshas2]

I have a 75g tall tank 3ft long, have had a yellow eye kole tang in there since it was little. hasnt grown much, is not aggresive to other fish and picks at the rocks all day. So yellow eyes seem to be good as long as you get them small

[aceer15]

I have a hippo in my 40 breeder with very minimal rock structure. He's got plenty of swimming room and places to hide, very happy and healthy fish.

[Dean]

I ended up going with a Tomini (Flame Fin) Tang. Hes been in the tank for a little over two weeks and is doing great so far. Beatiful fish! Hopefully he will live out a stress free life. We shall see, but for now he is doing great. Thanks for all of the input on both of the Tang threads I started!

[koa25]

It's really all about how you set up the tank. I have a yellow tang in my 28 gallon nano cube. It's got one column structure in the middle so he has a race track all the way around the tank. He doesn't always use the racetrack but he knows he can. Still waiting on my Achilles to get shipped in from KOA25

I think I can already hear the sirens...


-Ben-

I got the hint Ben ha ha. As soon as your setup is ready I will do an order and get a Achilles out to ya and a couple others to people.

[koa25]

I say go ahead and toss a small tang in there. Just remember that once it get big enough to give him away to someone else or a store. Do the responsible thing. I had a Tang the size of a quarter in a 10 gallon. Did just fine until i moved him to my 92 corner.

[Flyride95]

I have a yellow tang currently in my 90gal and he is very happy. He did not look like he was too happy though in my 55gal.

[Dean]

Bumping an old thread to share my experience here.

I still have the same Tomini (Flame Fin) Tang in my 65. Over the last 15 months he has gotten hyper aggressive to ANY new additions to the tank and also does a terrible job of house keeping where algae is concerned. I introduced a Flame Hawk along with a Lawnmower Blenny about a month ago and the Tang still relentlessly chases them around the tank every chance he gets. I am thinking that the Tang just does not have enough room to establish a territory within the tank while still leaving space for other inhabitants.

So for me, lesson learned. In my experience, a 65 gallon tank is too small to home a Tang in long term if there may be new additions added along the way. Now for the task of trapping the dang thing. It is super skiddish when anything foreign is in the tank. I am going to move some stuff around on the sand bed and see if I cant get my trap in there and settled for the long haul until the fish no longer recognizes it as a threat and hopefully trap it out. Wish me luck!

[DTdr2]

^^^^ Keep us posted on the capture method. It's always good to know how to catch a fish without having to remove, or move everything around. I've seen traps made of 1 liter coke bottle for smaller fish, but for larger ones???

[Dean]

Will do.

I have an acrylic fish trap I bought a while back to catch a problematic 6 line wrasse with that I will be using.

[Dkray944]

I trapped my powder blue at night. It always swims around a little bit when the moonlights are on. I've also done it in the past with putting algea on a clip. Tangs love to eat. If you're looking for a good home let me know. I'm thinking he'll be fine in my system once reality sets in that he's no longer the big fish on the block.

[Dean]

I trapped my powder blue at night. It always swims around a little bit when the moonlights are on. I've also done it in the past with putting algea on a clip. Tangs love to eat. If you're looking for a good home let me know. I'm thinking he'll be fine in my system once reality sets in that he's no longer the big fish on the block.

He's yours for sure David. He will get lost in your ocean. Lol

Did you use a trap for the powder blue or block him in and netted? My Tomini is out late also I that may work.

[alton]

Since this thread has come back the Chevron I spoke about is now in my 300 and 4"+. I have never had one grow so fast, I think it is the food available today. Sorry about the dirty glass!

[Bill S]

Ace had the best method for catching big fish. Just pop open a cold one, and attempt to touch the fish. Not chase him, but every time he stops, try. At some point, and it might take a second beer, they give up. Be careful handling a tang, they call them surgeon fish for a reason.

[Dean]

I think I have all of the escape routes plugged. He slides by one to come out but when in panicked mode won't go back to it so hopefully I can catch his butt tonight.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/15/665a78c17ed8cf442b5a6573f84441b3.jpg

And didn't forget the cold one. Fingers crossed!

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/15/ad18b0983d2a253a0cd5362c658577c4.jpg

[Dkray944]

Be nice to him... He'll soon get a taste of his own medicine and he needs to be healthy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Scutterborn]

Ace had the best method for catching big fish. Just pop open a cold one, and attempt to touch the fish. Not chase him, but every time he stops, try. At some point, and it might take a second beer, they give up. Be careful handling a tang, they call them surgeon fish for a reason.

Lol. I remember when Ace didn't use that tactic while catching his vampire tang. He showed up at my house later with a busted nose from chasing him around the tank barefoot on tile. (Chuckling still)

[leliataylor]

Lol. I remember when Ace didn't use that tactic while catching his vampire tang. He showed up at my house later with a busted nose from chasing him around the tank barefoot on tile. (Chuckling still)

Now that smarts!

Hey Dean, where is the tang in the pics? Also, I love the PVC and net aquascaping.

[Dean]

Now that smarts!

Hey Dean, where is the tang in the pics? Also, I love the PVC and net aquascaping.

Thanks!
The Tang was hiding in the rock work.
I was unsuccessful. Going to put my trap in today.

[Dean]

Phase 2
AquaMedic Fish trap

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/16/9e72dd28da9e22faf1ad30fac4dcd91f.jpg


When I've used this in the past on other fish the Tang has never come out of hiding while it was in the tank. :/

[Dean]

The Tang actually swam up to the trap a few times yesterday. I will feed the fish directly out of the trap today and see if I can get any to swim into it to help bring his guard down.

[Scutterborn]

I would always put an algae clip with some Nori inside the trap. Worked rather well for me.

[Dean]

After seeing the Flame Hawk perched on the clip full of fresh nori at the back of the trap the Tang could no longer fight the temptation. Success and lesson learned. Tangs are not fit for a 65 gallon tank long term. :)

[Scutterborn]

Glad that you got him