It's worth getting a tang?

racoloish · Jul 13, 2014

I was wondering if it's worth to get a blue tang. I read that they get sick faster than other fish and that are ich and other disease magnet.

Tell me story's about problems that are happening or had happen to your tang.

footballdude2k3 · Jul 13, 2014

There are a lot of theories going on with this right now, so there are going to be a lot of changes in the coming years. Some people are saying that Ich is in almost every tank anyway, tangs can get stressed fairly easily, but I think that only comes down to the fact that they are fish that swim an insane amount, and they are being pent up in a small tank where they cannot get a good head of steam anymore. If you have a properly sized tank, they are a joy to have, beautiful fish, and very active, if not, they are going to be stressed and aggressive.

I am guessing you are talking about a hippo tang when you say blue, and not an Atlantic Blue Tang or a Powder Blue, but regardless, all of them can grow to be close to a foot, and the minimum suggested tank is 180 gallons, in order to have the best chance at keeping these fish until their natural life cycle is over, which has shown to be 20-30 years or even more, just make sure you do a proper QT, and have a tank large enough for the fish you get.

You did not mention anything about your personal tank, how large is it and what is in there currently? Those are going to be some of the biggest factors in this decision.

jordan banks · Jul 13, 2014

If you quarintine and use coppersafe, follow the instructions. You won't have a problem. Anyways my honest opinion about tangs is that they will never be happy in captivity and don't need to be in the trade.

Lesley · Jul 13, 2014

I have 2 blue ( hippos) and a lipstick tang. They are HAPPY healthy eat well and constantly surf the tunze wave makers. Tangs are the reason I got into this hobby and I can assure you they are thriving. I agree as above. A small tank is not fair and they can stress easily ! but with the right diet and environment they can stay healthy.

jt17 · Jul 13, 2014

When I got my hippo tang he was as small as a chromis. In fact he schooled with them for his first year. One good thing about hippo rands is you can buy maricultured ones so there's less impact on wild populations. What size tank do you have? If it's not at least 100 gal. Then the tang police might come after you

Lesley · Jul 13, 2014

I have 260 gallon DT so hopefully police won't be interested. Lol.

jordan banks · Jul 13, 2014

You have a very nice aqua scape and coral arrangement Lesley. Off topic but I just had to say.

Lesley · Jul 13, 2014

jordan banks said:
You have a very nice aqua scape and coral arrangement Lesley. Off topic but I just had to say.

well thank you for the compliment. Much appreciated.

Z06-Hec · Jul 14, 2014

i bought 2 tiny ones, the size of a penny....
they were in my tank for about 4 weeks doing fine, and they both decided to move to the other side of the tank (150gal) and be buddies with my 2 Wyoming Clowns... Well the bigger of the 2 clowns, I assume the female, didn't like that too much and kept bullying them both... 1 of them was perfectly fine and it didn't phase her any, but the other one got stressed, started hiding, got ich, and hid till her death. It was definitely ich she was covered in spots. I did nothing to treat anything and she died but everyone else is fine. 2 wyoming clowns, 1 blue tang, 1 adult majestic angel.... The other tang looked like it had some spots on it as well but they went away after the other died.

By the way the other tang has grown a bit already, about the size of a quarter now, and she is aggressive at feeding time.

revhtree · Jul 14, 2014

Beautiful tank!!

Lesley · Jul 14, 2014

revhtree said:
Beautiful tank!!

Thanks. And full of healthy tangs. Lol

AceHogarth · Jul 14, 2014

not a single problem

You know, I have never had any issues with blue tangs. I have a 360 liter tank with one blue tang... to be honest, I guess it's the oldest fish I have! I have had yellow tangs, clown tangs and others and they have come and gone and the blue one is still there. It only happened once that it got itch but with higher temperature it quickly got back to normal.

SuperDave531 · Jul 14, 2014

I attempted to take care of a baby one last year, and I kept it for a few months. It stressed when I was doing a water change once, and that lead to an outbreak of ich and killed every fish in my system. I waited 3 months before I put another fish in the tank again after treatment. Figuring I'd put that to experience, keeping a tang probably just wasn't for me.

Lesley · Jul 14, 2014

If you have lots of hiding places they don't stress when doing things in tank. Mine both go in a cave and hide. Yet lipstick always tries to help me. Dam nuisance really !! Lol

Pninja24 · Jul 14, 2014

I have being keeping marines for 14 years now and one of the first fish I bought was a blue tang and still have him today, and yes he got ich when we got him but quaratine works as I quaratine everything and have never had an out break in my display tank ever

noobofthereef · Jul 14, 2014

I have two tangs- a yellow tang and a blue tang in a 90 gallon tank (tang police please don't kill me) with 6 other fish. I've had the yellow for 3 years and the blue for 1.5 years. I run a very low maintenance tank and have never encountered any problems whatsoever. I would say the yellow tang is about 5 inches long and the blue is about 3 inches. I got them both when they were only the size of a 50 cent coin. I think you should just make sure that each fish can have its own hiding place and feed plenty of food.

specvjeff · Jul 15, 2014

I picked up a small Hippo Tang from a friend a couple of years ago. About 4 months later I noticed my Wellsophyllia stopped opening. Couldn't figure it out. Everything in the tank was perfect. I moved and the tank was placed in an area where I could see it when watching TV. Sitting on the couch and see the Hippo Tang cruise over and start nipping at the Wellso. Thought that's strange. Gave him a little more time and he continued. Out he went! Around that time, a read a few other stories about people having trouble with them nipping at coral. I've heard lots of people keep them with no trouble so not sure what it was that caused mine to go after coral. He had a very well balanced diet and was very healthy. Haven't tried again with a Hippo Tang.

mcarroll · Jul 15, 2014

Most fish and inverts will steal food from LPS like that....even if the food is already inside the coral. Tangs are just really good at nipping - built for it.

-Matt