Blue and yellow tang questions

Dustinba · Jan 16, 2015

I've been looking around and doing research on these fish and I really want them, or just one or the other, and it seems you need at least a 100 gallon tank. I have seen these fish in a lot smaller tanks, close to half the size. If I have a 40 gallon tank, does anyone see a problem putting them in there? There will also be a few other clownfish in there as well.
Thank you

Dustinba · Jan 16, 2015

Or possibly clownfish and sea horses in the tank. Thoughts?

Jc_ellis · Jan 16, 2015

The tangs should not go in your tank. They need larger like you've stated. Sea horses are very slow eaters, easily bullied, and need specific flow requirements. Not ideal clownfish tank mates. Look at going bigger for the tangs and doing a species specific tank for the seahorses.

Reefing Madness · Jan 16, 2015

Tangs would be to big for your size aquarium. Wouldn't be advisable to put them in.
Clowns would be fine
Seahorses tend to need thier own tank, or whats called a species only tank, as they are a bit touchy to care for.

fishroomlady · Jan 16, 2015

+1^^ to comments made.

Dustinba · Jan 16, 2015

Awesome. Thanks for the help. I was only wondering because I've seen tangs in smaller tanks on YouTube, also the clowns and seahorses mixed tanks. The fish must not be happy in that sized tank then, or the seahorses being mixed.

Dustinba · Jan 16, 2015

What about a fox face? Still to small?

Palting · Jan 16, 2015

There are a lot of fine marine fish that can go into a 40 gallon. Unfortunately, a foxface isn't one of them. Examples for the 40 gallon are clowns as you've mentioned, several types of colorful wrasse, firefish, cardinals like the pajama cardinals...just to name a few.

It seems you like the bigger fish. You may be unhappy with that 40 gallon in the long run if that's the case. I suggest you consider getting a 75 gallon instead. If you like tangs, the minimum would be a 6 foot long 125 gallon, but even that may limit you for tangs.

Dustinba · Jan 16, 2015

Yeah I am a fan of some of the bigger fish, but this 40 gallon will be great for starting off. I just want to make sure I get the "right" fish. In the long run i want to make sure the fish will be happy and have plenty of room. So yeah I was looking and the cardinals as well. Maybe a chocolate sea star, and a clam. Or keep it all fish that like being in a reef setting with a bunch of soft corals and anemones.

carl page · Jan 17, 2015

Ironically I have clown(2) and a seahorse in my biocube... 20/gallon. Been there for a year almost. No issues. I do feed seahorse with baster to make sure he gets his share

eatbreakfast · Jan 17, 2015

Dustinba said:
Yeah I am a fan of some of the bigger fish, but this 40 gallon will be great for starting off. I just want to make sure I get the "right" fish. In the long run i want to make sure the fish will be happy and have plenty of room. So yeah I was looking and the cardinals as well. Maybe a chocolate sea star, and a clam. Or keep it all fish that like being in a reef setting with a bunch of soft corals and anemones.

Chocolate chip sea stars are not compatible with clams. They eat sessile inverts.

Dustinba · Jan 17, 2015

And seahorse pretty much eat the same thing? Like brine shrimp and mysis? I heard of people mixing them before. It all comes down to a hit or miss how the clown fish will act towards them. If I went with the seahorse route though, I also heard that they don't like reef tanks just because a lot of the some corals will sting them and hurt them.