Help me pick which tang

AngryMike2016 · Apr 26, 2019

Hi folks,

I am ready to get a tang for my Red Sea 425 (90 gallons). SPS & LPS corals, no softies. Current fish list is (1 of each):

Chromis
Bangai Cardinal
Midas Blenny
Lawnmower Blenny
Pink spotted goby
Blackstorm clown
Black lightning clown
Royal gramma
Bullet goby

I only want one tang, and I have narrowed it down to either a yellow eye kole tang, or a bristletooth tomini, but I can not decide which one to choose. Would like to hear everyone's thoughts.

Jholli90 · Apr 26, 2019

AngryMike2016 said:
Hi folks,

I am ready to get a tang for my Red Sea 425 (90 gallons). SPS & LPS corals, no softies. Current fish list is (1 of each):

Chromis
Bangai Cardinal
Midas Blenny
Lawnmower Blenny
Pink spotted goby
Blackstorm clown
Black lightning clown
Royal gramma
Bullet goby

I only want one tang, and I have narrowed it down to either a yellow eye kole tang, or a bristletooth tomini, but I can not decide which one to choose. Would like to hear everyone's thoughts.

I had the same dilemma, and have ultimately decided on the tomini. I like the adult colors better, and it's a little bit smaller. I have a 90 gallon too. I haven't purchased it yet, bc I'm adding it last.

ReefSCTim · Apr 26, 2019

AngryMike2016 said:
Hi folks,

I am ready to get a tang for my Red Sea 425 (90 gallons). SPS & LPS corals, no softies. Current fish list is (1 of each):

Chromis
Bangai Cardinal
Midas Blenny
Lawnmower Blenny
Pink spotted goby
Blackstorm clown
Black lightning clown
Royal gramma
Bullet goby

I only want one tang, and I have narrowed it down to either a yellow eye kole tang, or a bristletooth tomini, but I can not decide which one to choose. Would like to hear everyone's thoughts.

I have:

1 lawnmower blenny
1 filefish
1 yellow tang
1 fire shrimp
2 chromis
1 ocellaris clownfish
1 Picasso clownfish
3 pajama fish

Pretty basic I guess. Surprisingly, they all get along great. I started with five chromis, but the dominant one killed three of the others. I have a 75 gallon tank with a 35 gallon sump. I intend to get 150 gallon by the time the yellow tang gets larger. probably in two years. i’m done with fish unless something changes. I had a clown fish that jumped out of the tank and I didn’t find it until too late. She was replaced. Investing in corals now til I go broke.

Filefish is interesting but he killed a duncan and a feather duster coral. So I have to watch him closely when I’m feeding the corals. The fire shrimp's multing creeps me out but he’s an interesting one too. He’s really really good at cleaning the other fish.

WVNed · Apr 26, 2019

I have had both. Both are wonderful fish. The personality of the Tomini seems little easier going. But that could just be the one I got.

408Dartfish · Apr 26, 2019

I’d pick either a yellow eye kole, or a whitetail bristle tooth.

Flippers4pups · Apr 26, 2019

White tail is the smallest of the tangs, next is a Tomini. I have the Tomini in my 125 gallon. He’s the only tang I have and ever plan on having do to space.

Having only one in a 90 is the best for the tang.

AngryMike2016 · Apr 26, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
White tail is the smallest of the tangs, next is a Tomini. I have the Tomini in my 125 gallon. He’s the only tang I have and ever plan on having do to space.

Having only one in a 90 is the best for the tang.

Agreed, hence why I only want one tang.

Flippers4pups · Apr 26, 2019

AngryMike2016 said:
Agreed, hence why I only want one tang.

Wise choice.

Jesterrace · Apr 27, 2019

The Tomini would be the most sensible choice since it stays a bit smaller than the Kole but either would be a decent choice for a Tang in your size of a tank. One word of caution though, you are placing a fish that is somewhat aggressive and significantly larger in a tank with a bunch of smaller fish. It's entirely possible that they will be bullied without something else to keep the tang in check. I'm not saying don't do it, just keep an eye on it.

cracker · Apr 27, 2019

Is a Tomini in the bristle tooth family ? If so, a good choice . They are avid algae eaters I believe.

AngryMike2016 · Apr 27, 2019

Jesterrace said:
The Tomini would be the most sensible choice since it stays a bit smaller than the Kole but either would be a decent choice for a Tang in your size of a tank. One word of caution though, you are placing a fish that is somewhat aggressive and significantly larger in a tank with a bunch of smaller fish. It's entirely possible that they will be bullied without something else to keep the tang in check. I'm not saying don't do it, just keep an eye on it.

Yeah, that certainly does give me pause. I really do want a tang, but it is more important to me to do right by my current fish and not create a problem situation.

jt17 · Apr 27, 2019

Seems I’ve heard more tales of kole tangs being mean than tomini. My tomini is a model citizen but he’s also not in charge.

Flippers4pups · Apr 27, 2019

cracker said:
Is a Tomini in the bristle tooth family ? If so, a good choice . They are avid algae eaters I believe.

They are.

FoxyFace · Apr 27, 2019

Yellow eye kole. The contrast and coloring is more attractive to me. I had them in the past. Great fish. I don't see it being a bully as it's the low man on the totem pole being added last.

AngryMike2016 · May 2, 2019

I ended up choosing a Tomini tang. Received him/her yesterday, and is presently in my QT tank.

nereefpat · May 3, 2019

cracker said:
Is a Tomini in the bristle tooth family ? If so, a good choice . They are avid algae eaters I believe.

Same genus, yes.

@AngryMike2016 , good choice on the tomini. But you couldn't have gone wrong with kole, or any of them in the Ctenochaetus genus. The only one that gets large is chevron.

Jesterrace · May 3, 2019

I think he made the right choice with the Tomini. It stays smaller and there are more instances of the Kole being aggressive than the Tomini. Either way keep an eye on it's interactions with the smaller more timid fish in that tank.

AngryMike2016 · May 3, 2019

I reall

Jesterrace said:
I think he made the right choice with the Tomini. It stays smaller and there are more instances of the Kole being aggressive than the Tomini. Either way keep an eye on it's interactions with the smaller more timid fish in that tank.

Certainly will. Hopefully for now with him being no more than 1 1/2" himself he shouldn't be much of a bully.