ATTENTION TANG POLICE!

[Wick3d_1]

Now that I have your attention, will a Red Sea Sailfin be happy in my 180? I've had conflicting info. I've been told yes and I've been told no. So, which is it? Thanks!

 

[Billldg]

Yes it will be happy for a while, but eventually you may have to re-home it. I plan on putting one in my 225 gal 72x30x24 tank, but eventually I may have to re-home it. When I say a while, I mean a few years down the road, not next week.

 

[Wick3d_1]

Yes it will be happy for a while, but eventually you may have to re-home it. I plan on putting one in my 225 gal 72x30x24 tank, but eventually I may have to re-home it. When I say a while, I mean a few years down the road, not next week.

I may have to pass then as much as I HATE to say that. I get attached to my fish, and I love sailfins I guess I'll just have my purple and a couple of bristletooths. ☹

 

[Billldg]

I may have to pass then as much as I HATE to say that. I get attached to my fish, and I love sailfins I guess I'll just have my purple and a couple of bristletooths. ☹

A standard sailfin tang will work in your tank, and they are beautiful as well. I have never seen a D. Sailfin tang fully grown, but they say it gets as big as a dinner plate.

 

[Wick3d_1]

A standard sailing will work in your tank. I have never seen a D. Sailfin tank fully grow, but they say it gets as big as a dinner plate.

Yes. I've seen a dinner plate sized D. Sailfin. She was beautiful and fat But she was in a pool with a shark, and massive porcupine puffer at the LFS.

 

[Billldg]

Yes. I've seen a dinner plate sized D. Sailfin. She was beautiful and fat But she was in a pool with a shark, and massive porcupine puffer at the LFS.

Like I said, a standard sailfin tang will work, and they are beautiful as well.

 

[Wick3d_1]

Yes. I've seen a dinner plate sized D. Sailfin. She was beautiful and fat But she was in a pool with a shark, and massive porcupine puffer at the LFS.

I may try to locate a standard sailfin instead of a Red Sea

 

[Billldg]

I may try to locate a standard sailfin instead of a Red Sea

It's funny, when you Google search both of them, they say they get the same size, but the D. Sailfin is recommended for a bigger tank, go figure. ;Hilarious

 

[Wick3d_1]

It's funny, when you Google search both of them, they say they get the same size, but the D. Sailfin is recommended for a bigger tank, go figure. ;Hilarious

It is. That's why I was so confused. I want a fish I can keep for its life in my tank. I don't want to trade out fish. Thats not fair to them

 

[Billldg]

It is. That's why I was so confused. I want a fish I can keep for its life in my tank. I don't want to trade out fish. Thats not fair to them

Much respect!!!

 

[Wick3d_1]

Anyone who reads this, please do not misinterpret my comment on not wanting to trade out fish. I am not bashing those who do.

 

[mmorriso]

It'd be happy for a good while and you may get lucky and get one that doesn't reach max size. With that said, they can definitely get as large as a dinner plate even in a home aquarium, at which point a 180 would be on the small size.

 

[nereefpat]

My sources say Z. desjardinii and Z. veliferum grow to the same size. They are sister species, replacing each other in different locations; similar to Halichoeres chrysus and H. luecoxanthus, if that helps.

In big, more public aquaria, I agree I have seen bigger Rea Sea than Indian ocean sailfins. Not sure why that is. Those 30-40 cm specimens cited would be the biggest fish collected, and most fish we keep only reach about 3/4 that max size. I would plan on a 10+" fish eventually. So think about a yellow tang, but twice as big, give or take.

Hope that helps.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

It's funny, when you Google search both of them, they say they get the same size, but the D. Sailfin is recommended for a bigger tank, go figure. ;Hilarious

My D is more active than my regular sailfin, this may be why or it could just be my fish.

They also do get quite large. Mine is in a 180 and has no issues in there, even at a portly 11-12”. He will be going to my 500 shortly, but only due to the 180 being moved soon. For reference he has been in this tank for 9 years and was 2-3” when I got him. He is also more personable than my regular. Again, may just be my fish.

Here is the fat terd getting his monthly strawberry treat.

 

[nereefpat]

Nice fish, @Eagle_Steve !

 

[ca1ore]

No idea how to tell if my fish are happy. I can tell if they are stressed, but beyond that the various levels of euphoria are beyond my ability to assess. As noted, a 180 will be an acceptably sized home for a sailfin tang for a while. Mine has mostly stopped growing at about 9". Too big for a 180, in my view, but just perfect in a 450.