Help me succeed with an Achilles tang please

[4FordFamily]

I like how you think sir! I do love to save a dollar when and where i can. I think ill borrow my sister's prime subscription and order these things from there. I have tons of totes in the garage... maybe i can clean one of those to help me out. I can always get another if they arnt usable. Those are cheap.

Yup! Don't reinvent the wheel. A dollar saved is another dollar spent on unnecessary fish as my wife would say!

 

[melypr1985]

Lol. Its going to feel good doing things the right way from now on. A lot of work, but what isnt a lot of work in this hobby? Im so glad yall are here to help! Ill be back with more questions and updates im sure! In the mean time i have a long list of stuff to prepare!

 

[4FordFamily]

Lol. Its going to feel good doing things the right way from now on. A lot of work, but what isnt a lot of work in this hobby? Im so glad yall are here to help! Ill be back with more questions and updates im sure! In the mean time i have a long list of stuff to prepare!

You bet. You'll be glad you did. I was stubborn for so long and killed so many fish being a hard headed moron. Not proud of it at all but hope maybe I can convince others not to be such a tool!

 

[FarmerTy]

Melypr1985, great advice is given here indeed! I think the one we're all dancing around is the achilles in a 40 gallon. I could see it feeling cramped in that in no time and being stressed from the size constraints of the tank.

I've had a large number of tangs myself and I will say that the sohal, achilles, powder blue, and clown tang are just super active tangs that I always feel extra swimming room for these species always eases their stress level. Otherwise, you'll see this repetitive pacing in a corner of the tank and the occasional dashing across the length of it.

I'm not looking to be Captain Buzzkill but I just wanted to mention it for the sake of the animal involved and for your thought consideration.

 

[4FordFamily]

A good point is brought up, many have qt them in smaller tanks however. Pet store tanks are pretty small generally - during the dollar per gallon sale should you wish to buy a 55 gallon it's a great size for this purpose IMO. That said, if not a 40 gallon as a temporary solution will suffice. I agree long term you will need at least a 180.

 

[FarmerTy]

My apologies if I'm mistaking the 40-gallon as the DT volume and that it is really the QT volume.

If the QT is 40-gallons then I don't see too much of a problem and agree with the above. If it is indeed the DT volume, then an upgrade is needed down the road very quickly IMO.

 

[4FordFamily]

My apologies if I'm mistaking the 40-gallon as the DT volume and that it is really the QT volume.

If the QT is 40-gallons then I don't see too much of a problem and agree with the above. If it is indeed the DT volume, then an upgrade is needed down the road very quickly IMO.

Oh yeah an Achilles tang belongs in no tank long term anywhere near 40 gallons in size! You may be able to get away with 75 gallon until the tang is 4" or so and then it will need 180+.

 

[FarmerTy]

So what is the DT volume of Melypr in case I missed it?

 

[melypr1985]

So what is the DT volume of Melypr in case I missed it?

The QT is a 40 gallon and what I upgraded from... so I have it laying around. My new tank is a 75 gallon. I'm getting in a juvenile and hoping to be able to upgrade before he outgrows the tank. Now, I've been told that it could take a few years for him to outgrow my tank... but I will not hesitate to find him a larger home if he grows more quickly than I can upgrade again. How fast do they grow? You guys would know better than me.

 

[Humblefish]

How fast do they grow? You guys would know better than me.

Assuming you get a juvenile, expect about 2" growth rate for the first year and then 1" per year after that. It varies somewhat because males get bigger than females (or it may be the other way around - I don't think that's been conclusively decided yet.)

But as a general rule, most fish grow 90% of their body length in the first 10% of their expected lifespan. Acanthurus can live 20-30 years (or more) in captivity. Good read btw: http://www.tfhmagazine.com/saltwater-reef/feature-articles/the-achilles-tang-acanthurus-achilles.htm

 

[melypr1985]

Thanks for the article Humblefish! It was a great read as promised. The more i learn and read the more nervous i get. I was totally confident when i started on this road. Now, not as much. Should i just forget this idea for a while and try something smaller and less fragile? I dont want to get too far down the road before realizing i need to turn around.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks for the article Humblefish! It was a great read as promised. The more i learn and read the more nervous i get. I was totally confident when i started on this road. Now, not as much. Should i just forget this idea for a while and try something smaller and less fragile? I dont want to get too far down the road before realizing i need to turn around.

I know how beautiful they are, but being you only have a 75 gal I would recommend forgoing an Achilles for now. Ctenochaetus tangs (exs: Kole, Tomini, Bristletooth) are best suited for your size tank. I've owned 5 or 6 Achilles over a span of 35 years now, and they can get temperamental if not given enough room to swim. You can just see the fish is not happy... like a bird trapped in too small of a cage.

 

[melypr1985]

Well ive always wanted a helfrichi firefish also. Probably best to go that rout for now. Ill get a bigger tank in a few years, and by then I'll be more confident in my abilities with sensitive fish. Thanks yall. Glad i didnt make a mistake and torture this fish. Ill make sure my friend doesnt order it.

 

[Humblefish]

Good luck! Get a lid for that firefish. They like to jump.

 

[FarmerTy]

Great decision! I never want to say someone shouldn't get a fish as I hate to discourage people's passion and excitement for the hobby but I think you made a selfless decision and thought more of the fish than your own desires. Kudos!

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree that it's best to hold off on the Achilles. Good choice and good on you for caring.

 

[melypr1985]

Thanks guys. I've never been one to hurt any animal. There's no reason for it. I do have a screen top I made already for my jawfish, so it's been tested and approved lol.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks guys. I've never been one to hurt any animal. There's no reason for it. I do have a screen top I made already for my jawfish, so it's been tested and approved lol.

That's good! And for what it's worth, I know many will disagree but I kept smaller sailfins, purple tang and yellow tang trio in a 75 gallon tank for a few years and everyone seemed pretty happy.

I agree though that acanthurus tangs are far more busy and need more room. I consider zebrasoma tangs pretty much beginner fish. A tiny hippo may work too, but it will grow fast depending on how much you feed. If you plan to upgrade in a year or two it may work out. I kept my baby girl in a 54 corner for about 1.5 years until she grew from quarter size to 3", then she went in to a 125 for a year, then at 4" she went in my 180.