Fish Capabilities.

[Nano0424]

Can they all be in the same tank?

- Yellow Tang
- Hippo Tang
- Sailfin Tang
- Dwarf Lionfish (undecided)
- DRAGON WRASSE
- LEOPARD WRASSE

The reason I put those 2 wrasses in all caps is because I couldn't really see if the can co-exist with each other. Ill try to get them in the same size but what would happen if one of them got bigger than the other? Will there be conflict?

 

[Trex]

What size tank?

 

[Mike&Terry]

Novaculichthys taeniourus (Dragon Wrasse, Rockmover Wrasse):
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Dragon Wrasse

 

[Nano0424]

I have a 55g I know you are going to say its too small but if I get smaller tangs it would be the same ratio as it would be for a full grown tang in a larger tank.

 

[Trex]

I have a 55g I know you are going to say its too small but if I get smaller tangs it would be the same ratio as it would be for a full grown tang in a larger tank.

You aren't accounting for growth -- Would be lucky to get 6 months, assuming you could find all 3 tangs at 1-2 inches.

 

[Nano0424]

6 months for what? For the fish to outgrow my tank?

 

[Liquid360]

I'd drop the yellow tang. Hippos are relatively easy to find around the size of a quarter. The sailfins are harder to find tiny. Assuming your planning on upgrading to a larger tank in a year or so you'd be fine with 2 "tiny" tangs... IMO. Here's my tiny tang...they're awesome fish! Mine mimics the behavior of his tank mates. Funny to watch.

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[Trex]

6 months for what? For the fish to outgrow my tank?

Yes, to outgrow the tank.

IMO/E, it is best to stock for the tank that you currently have, and not one that you hope to have one day --- trust me, life will get in the way. Was suppose to have my "big" tank about 7 years ago.

 

[Eggs]

6 months for what? For the fish to outgrow my tank?

Hippo's grow pretty quick.

 

[rworegon]

Too many tangs in a small tank. The sailfin will get to 12" to 14" and will grow fast. Not enough real estate for them to coexist peacefully. You will likely have tang wars. Sorry.

 

[mcarroll]

I agree - if you aren't setting up a really big tank (55 is a nano) why bother with all the big fish? Be a naturalist instead of a stunt man!

In the end you'll either kill them, have to give them away or - best case scenario - upgrade to a 200-300 gallon tank. Most likely it will be one of the first two.

Why not just select fish that can be happy in your tank?

-Matt


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[Mike J.]

I agree. ^^ Due to the narrow size of a 55 it's hard to get the amount of rocks you should have in it and still have swimming room all around them that the tangs should have. I'm not the tang police - I'm a tang lover.

 

[Liquid360]

I think it's important to note how easy it is to make the argument that tangs shouldn't be a part of the aquarium trade in any way in any size tank. The community draws a line in the sand which is really quite arbitrary. I agree that a 55g is too small for three tangs however I've seen it done quite successfully. I just think it's important to note. Nobody here wants to see any form of sea life contained in tight quarters. I'll get railed upon for keeping a baby quarter sized hippo in my 60g... but I plan for the future and I CARE about the sea life I'm responsible for. I don't believe anyone on R2R does anything less. We all demonstrate our passion just by posting here. Good luck to you!


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[alliecat]

i bought my baby hippo literally the size of a dime. everyone at the LFS told me it was a crap shoot. i've had him in my 55 for a year and he is very healthy and a good 4" long. im sure a lot of people will disagree with this, but i know someone whos had one in their 55 for years until they gave it away when they took the tank down. i do plan on upgrading when i move out of my parents house in about 2-3 years

 

[Nano0424]

I understand and I have another question I'm replacing the blue hippo with a blue powder tang, can these 3 tangs co-exists without too much bickering?

 

[Liquid360]

I've yet to personally observe tangs exhibiting violence. I've heard stories though. I believe it's dependent on the specimens. I'd be sure to keep a very close eye. There are many variables at play here not the least of which are tang size, age, tank size, who's been there longer, etc... I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority here will say absolutely not.

I understand and I have another question I'm replacing the blue hippo with a blue powder tang, can these 3 tangs co-exists without too much bickering?

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[Trex]

I understand and I have another question I'm replacing the blue hippo with a blue powder tang, can these 3 tangs co-exists without too much bickering?

IME, the powder blue is more aggressive than the "hippo", and the small tank would make that aggression even worse.

For a 55, even one tang would be pushing it, let alone 3. If you "have" to have a tang (( not something I would recommend )) would look into one of the common Ctenochaetus type tangs.

 

[rworegon]

Your best bet would be to introduce them all together at the same time. Less chance of territorial disputes, at lease initally. I still think that many tangs in a 55 is a bad idea but you are welcome to try it.
On another note, depending on the size of the leopard wrasse, it is likely to become a meal for the (undecided) dwarf lion. They tend to eat anything they can fit in their mouth.

 

[Liquid360]

I second this assessment.

Your best bet would be to introduce them all together at the same time. Less chance of territorial disputes, at lease initally. I still think that many tangs in a 55 is a bad idea but you are welcome to try it.
On another note, depending on the size of the leopard wrasse, it is likely to become a meal for the (undecided) dwarf lion. They tend to eat anything they can fit in their mouth.

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[evolved]

None of those fish belong in a 55.

You will likely cause yourself a lot of grief if you try to raise a single tang in a 55, let alone multiples.