Hey Tang Police...

4FordFamily · Dec 3, 2017

HB AL said:
Nothing snide, no matter what size tank any fish much rather be in the ocean than in an aquarium, think about it, tangs aren't some special fish there all equal.

Tangs aren’t special but different fish have different attributes and needs.

Syed123 · Dec 3, 2017

Hey op. Like others said Purple tangs can be mean. If you want 3 Purple tangs you can, when at the fish store, watch all of the purple tangs. Try to find the least aggressive ones. Like not displaying alpha or dominating characteristics. Basically get the most shy and timid ones you can. Next you'll have to feed them quite a bit when you get them. Algae sheets everyday and algae pellets. More variety the better. Feeding aggressively will curb their aggression.

Purple tangs are the more aggressive tangs. So be wary that 1 or more may snap as they get older. However, 3 of them will make a really nice display. Also make sure to keep up with nutrition for them. Purple's are notorious for getting hlle. So excellent water quality and nutrition is a must.

FlyinBryan · Dec 3, 2017

Go nuts!! They’ll be fine!

Having fun all!

eatbreakfast · Dec 4, 2017

HB AL said:
Nothing snide, no matter what size tank any fish much rather be in the ocean than in an aquarium, think about it, tangs aren't some special fish there all equal.

Not really, many species of aquarium fish live their life in a patch of ocean comparably sized to most moderate fish tanks, some fish in areas even smaller. Now contrast that with a tang, which covers miles in absingle day.

When dealing with active, territorial fish, while multiples can work, the op will increase his success and minimize stress by exercising caution.

Roberts reef · Dec 4, 2017

My tanks is a 210 and I put three yellows in along time ago they keep to one side or the other and they do chase each other out of their self designated territory ,never had any damage to any of them have a blue hippo tang that's in there too.different body shape though.theres lots of different kinds of tangs, purple being one of the nicer ones ,don't one to get hurt so I'll wait till spring when I thin the herd ha ha

Jerry Barnes · Dec 4, 2017

Hate to post as I’m going to get hate mail. I ordered Purples last year when they were $69. Got them and boy were they small but looked perfect. I put them in a 40 for a couple months to get them started on my local diet.
Put them in my 150, in six months they just exploded with growth. Absolutely stunning. In with an Achilles, regal and Tomini tang a couple small angels, some butterflies and my blue throat trigger. I feed four times daily and they seem to tolerate each other.
You’ll really enjoy growing them to adult size, even if you need to reduce the number you eventually keep.

Jerry Barnes · Dec 4, 2017

I’m not good with pictures but here is shot of the tank.

4FordFamily · Dec 4, 2017

Jerry Barnes said:
Hate to post as I’m going to get hate mail. I ordered Purples last year when they were $69. Got them and boy were they small but looked perfect. I put them in a 40 for a couple months to get them started on my local diet.
Put them in my 150, in six months they just exploded with growth. Absolutely stunning. In with an Achilles, regal and Tomini tang a couple small angels, some butterflies and my blue throat trigger. I feed four times daily and they seem to tolerate each other.
You’ll really enjoy growing them to adult size, even if you need to reduce the number you eventually keep.

What size is the tank?

chipmunkofdoom2 · Dec 4, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Not really, many species of aquarium fish live their life in a patch of ocean comparably sized to most moderate fish tanks, some fish in areas even smaller. Now contrast that with a tang, which covers miles in absingle day.

When dealing with active, territorial fish, while multiples can work, the op will increase his success and minimize stress by exercising caution.

+1. An interesting anecdote to go along with this, at the National Aquarium, our main exhibit on the first floor is Black Tip reef. The exhibit is a huge artificial coral reef with a large open space in the center. Most of the animals (the tangs, triggers, rays, sharks and Calypso, our turtle) spend their time out in the middle of the exhibit or in the sunken underwater viewing area. There are a few clownfish, however, that hang out in one spot, and only one spot. Here's a rough picture of the layout:

The large red circle is where most of the animals can be found. The tiny, tiny red circle in the top right hand corner is where these few clownfish can always be found. To be honest, I'm surprised they don't starve. All the food is broadcast over the red circled area and where the sharks are in the picture above. No food is given to any animals on the periphery. Yet, they've survived for months in the exact same spot. I can always find them there, in the same exact artificial Acropora colony.

I don't mean to say the clownfish never move. They obviously have to go get food since they're not target fed. But your point is very accurate and germane to the conversation. These clownfish probably spend more than 99% of their time in an area smaller than that of a standard 10 gallon tank. I can't say whether they'd "rather" be in the ocean. I doubt clownfish are even self-aware, and such philosophical questions require self-awareness, and the knowledge that they are not, in fact, in the ocean. I can say the Black Tip Reef is over a quarter of a million gallons of seawater. It's probably as close as you're going to get to a real coral reef in captivity. Yet, these clownfish choose to live in a dark little corner of the exhibit by the escalators.

EDIT: that's not to say that any fish can be shoved in any space and survive. I'm merely echoing the statement that the natural behaviors of some fish occupy very, very small areas. Tangs are not one of these fish. Their natural behavior can have them travel dozens of miles a day.

4FordFamily · Dec 4, 2017

chipmunkofdoom2 said:
+1. An interesting anecdote to go along with this, at the National Aquarium, our main exhibit on the first floor is Black Tip reef. The exhibit is a huge artificial coral reef with a large open space in the center. Most of the animals (the tangs, triggers, rays, sharks and Calypso, our turtle) spend their time out in the middle of the exhibit or in the sunken underwater viewing area. There are a few clownfish, however, that hang out in one spot, and only one spot. Here's a rough picture of the layout:

The large red circle is where most of the animals can be found. The tiny, tiny red circle in the top right hand corner is where these few clownfish can always be found. To be honest, I'm surprised they don't starve. All the food is broadcast over the red circled area and where the sharks are in the picture above. No food is given to any animals on the periphery. Yet, they've survived for months in the exact same spot. I can always find them there, in the same exact artificial Acropora colony.

I don't mean to say the clownfish never move. They obviously have to go get food since they're not target fed. But your point is very accurate and germane to the conversation. These clownfish probably spend more than 99% of their time in an area smaller than that of a standard 10 gallon tank. I can't say whether they'd "rather" be in the ocean. I doubt clownfish are even self-aware, and such philosophical questions require self-awareness, and the knowledge that they are not, in fact, in the ocean. I can say the Black Tip Reef is over a quarter of a million gallons of seawater. It's probably as close as you're going to get to a real coral reef in captivity. Yet, these clownfish choose to live in a dark little corner of the exhibit by the escalators.

EDIT: that's not to say that any fish can be shoved in any space and survive. I'm merely echoing the statement that the natural behaviors of some fish occupy very, very small areas. Tangs are not one of these fish. Their natural behavior can have them travel dozens of miles a day.

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Luke Schnabel · Dec 5, 2017

I have a 125 gallon tank as well, I’ve always been told never to put the same Tang in a tank unless it’s more then 3 and you have a large tank (300+ gallons). I have a yellow Tang, blue Tang, yellow eye kole tang and a naso Tang in my tank. Everyone gets along great because they are all different types. My goal is to get a 400 gallon tank next year and have 3-4 yellow tangs in there with the others.

azbigjohn · Dec 5, 2017

chipmunkofdoom2 said:
+1. An interesting anecdote to go along with this, at the National Aquarium, our main exhibit on the first floor is Black Tip reef. The exhibit is a huge artificial coral reef with a large open space in the center. Most of the animals (the tangs, triggers, rays, sharks and Calypso, our turtle) spend their time out in the middle of the exhibit or in the sunken underwater viewing area. There are a few clownfish, however, that hang out in one spot, and only one spot. Here's a rough picture of the layout:

I can say the Black Tip Reef is over a quarter of a million gallons of seawater.

I love the perspective of that photograph, knowing just how large the area that looks so small really is...

azbigjohn · Dec 5, 2017

Jerry Barnes said:

Totally off topic question, but do you have any heat transfer issues with that tank placement if you use the fireplace?

Just had a funny mental picture in my head...