Least Active / Small Tang

[tdileo]

My new tank is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide and I would love a tang for it. I currently have a blue tang in my 46G (tang police don’t kill me lol, she was a rescue and is still only like 2.5”) and I absolutely love the personality and watching them eat nori. I know that tangs love to swim and to be honest I think even a yellow tank is too big for that size tank and they are one of the smaller species. The achilles, desjardini and Sohal tangs are my favorite, but unfortunately they all get too big for a 90 when full grown. I would prefer to get a fish that I can keep for life, rather than 2-3 years then trade it in for a smaller one.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

maybe a Tomini Tang?

 

[Crabs McJones]

My new tank is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide and I would love a tang for it. I currently have a blue tang in my 46G (tang police don’t kill me lol, she was a rescue and is still only like 2.5”) and I absolutely love the personality and watching them eat nori. I know that tangs love to swim and to be honest I think even a yellow tank is too big for that size tank and they are one of the smaller species. The achilles, desjardini and Sohal tangs are my favorite, but unfortunately they all get too big for a 90 when full grown. I would prefer to get a fish that I can keep for life, rather than 2-3 years then trade it in for a smaller one.

So if it's a 4x2 i'm assuming its a 75 gallon? At that size you could do a Kole Tang which has a minimum requirement of 70 gallons, or a tomini tang which has the same requirement. I wouldn't do yellow tang or bigger as you will have to rehome him

 

[tdileo]

So if it's a 4x2 i'm assuming its a 75 gallon? At that size you could do a Kole Tang which has a minimum requirement of 70 gallons, or a tomini tang which has the same requirement. I wouldn't do yellow tang or bigger as you will have to rehome him

It’s a 90G. I’m not a big fan of zebrasomas except for the purple tang, but I hear the tangs of that genus do well in tanks around this size.

 

[Chac317]

You’d probably be fine with any of the bristletooth tangs. Ctenochaetus genus. I had a two spot (C. Binotatus) in a 4 by 2 for years and it was my favorite fish to watch. Stayed around 3-4” head to tail.

 

[tdileo]

You’d probably be fine with any of the bristletooth tangs. Ctenochaetus genus. I had a two spot (C. Binotatus) in a 4 by 2 for years and it was my favorite fish to watch. Stayed around 3-4” head to tail.

My favorite Ctenochaetus will end up running be like $200, I’m sure you can guess which one haha.
White tail bristletooth is my second favorite but also sooo expensive. I could settle for a cheaper bristletooth though

 

[reefndude]

I love my tomini tang. Up there as one of my favorite fish I have had. This guy is still small but has big attitude.

 

[tdileo]

I love my tomini tang. Up there as one of my favorite fish I have had. This guy is still small but has big attitude.

I hear that Tomini’s get into fights with blennies a lot and have a few friends that have that problem. You have any experience with it?

 

[reefndude]

Haven't witnessed anything serious but yes I have seen him charge my tailspot a few times. Nothing serious just being a jerk. The blenny still swims around the tank freely.

 

[biomek]

my kole is a model citizen with all of my smaller fish. real goofballs too and fun to watch.

 

[Bdrake]

I'm gonna second the Kole Tang. Personally my favorite fish. They're beautiful fish and i rarely need to clean the glass, as he's taken that responsibility from me

 

[ntayler]

+3 for the kole tang. Just got one recently, and it hasn’t stopped picking at the glass and rockwork. Real character, and doesn’t bat an eye when my larger yellow tang tries to pick a fight

 

[Bdrake]

Mine is mentoring a juvenile foxface. They're nearly inseperable

 

[tdileo]

So for my zebrasoma fans, do you think one would be happy in my 90? I didn’t really want to do it but lots of people say that a tank this size is fine for them. Of course not as happy as in the ocean, but my rockscape is pretty open and there is going to be lots of flow. Purple tang has just always been one of my favorite fish so I’m curious.