Recent Tang Death, Remaining Tang Question

[Young@Heart]

I should probably already know this, but what is the chief factor that would tell me when you need to move your Blue Hippo Tang to a Larger Tank. I just lost my Blonde Naso and I am trying to keep from loosing "Dorie" - yes, my daughter named her. I figure that I have some time, but the death of "fishlips" (Blonde Naso) has got me thinking.

Specifics:

180 Gallon Peninsula Tank (60 inches Length, 29 inches deep x 24 inches wide)
Dorie is about 6 Inches Long
Other Tank mates
- Tomato Clown - 2.5 Inches
- Ocellius Clown - 2.25 Inches
- Sixline Wrasse - 2 Inches
- Pygmy Angelfish - 3 Inches
- 5 Turbo Snails
- 1 Velvet Hermit Crab
- 2 Narcius Snails

and about 75 lbs of Live Rock and a 2-3 Inch Sandbed

Also I want to add 2 Goldhead Sleeper gobies

I figured the Gobies, Snails, Crab don't really matter when considering the space available to Dorie for swimming. She is rather skiddesh (seems appropriate).

I have been in this hobby on/off for about 7 years (3 different tanks - the 180 has been up for about 18 Months.

What ever thoughts you have would be appreciated.

 

[BestMomEver]

If I may ask, what happened to the naso? As for dori, if she’s the only tang in a 180, she may be ok. How long has she been in the tank? IOW, how long has it taken her to get to her current size?

 

[Young@Heart]

Not sure what happened to the Naso. I did replace the Wavemaker in the tank a few weeks ago (bought the one recommended by the LFS - arrgh, should have done more research on GPH and what my tank size needed, but started thinking Upgrade of tank in the future) - Anyway was thinking he might have gotten caught by the new current and pushed into a Rock. I had seen him successfully swim against the current previously. I never found the body, so I can't be sure.

Dorie is the Only Tang
I have had her for about 14 Months now - I think she has grown about 2 Inches since I got her. She eats well and I see her picking at the Algae on the Rocks. and When I feed Frozen Mix - she is there eating with the rest.
I am not thinking of Replacing the Blonde Naso - I was getting concerned about room for the Tangs to Grow.

 

[4FordFamily]

Any symptoms?

IMO a 6 inch blue hippo would be ready to move but as a sole tang you may be OK for some time longer.

A naso and hippo both are generally better suited for 8 foot tanks but that’s almost certainly not the reason for the naso tang’s death.

 

[Young@Heart]

What would be a typical sign it is time to move her?

 

[Dkeller_nc]

Well, aside from the general signs that you have too much fish load in a given aquarium, which would be difficulty in keeping dissolved nutrients under control (nitrate, phosphate) and difficult-to-control algae outbreaks, you'd have to judge that question on a behavioral basis. One of the behaviors that would indicate insufficient space would be "pacing" - swimming the same route over and over with little to no variation and ignoring other external stimuli like other fish in the aquarium, owner's presence, presence of food in the aquarium, etc... Another one would be head-butting the glass.

But to be quite honest, judging these sorts of behaviors in fish is quite difficult, which is why you see such raging arguments about the appropriate tank size for housing large, active fish. There are some obvious limits on either end, with an enormous gray area in between. Most folks will realize that it's inappropriate to house a large hepatus in a 50 gallon cube, and that a 12 foot by 4 foot by 3 foot tank could house a small school of them comfortably. But everything in between is a matter of debate.

I suppose if you have room for it, and it's your daughter's pet, then it's a perfect excuse to the C.F.O. to get a truly monster tank in the 8' to 10' range.

 

[ZoWhat]

I have the exact 180 you have. I dont think your tank size had anything to do with the Naso death....

I have:
*one adult sized Hippo (master of the tank)
*one coral hogfish
*one adult Yellow
*two adult Anthias
*one young adult BlueJaw
*three clowns
*two wrasses
*one blennie

I have plenty of rock and hiding space.

Little to no fighting. They all have their territory marked out.

Yeah I'm about TWO FISH over the limit IMO but what the heck. They all get along. PLUS there is always swimming activity to watch. They all swim randomly and no one is bothered by anyone else

I'm only worried about the coral hogfish as it gets bigger it might torpedo to death more submissive fish. Cross that bridge in time

>>>>> I do believe your Naso died of natural causes or a swing in water parameters...not tank size

 

[Young@Heart]

Well She seems Ok and Happy for Now. I just don't want to loose another one. By the Way I like your Avatar Pic - Amateur Astronomy has been a long time hobby of mine. You would think that Living in AZ I would take more advantage of the night sky.

 

[Young@Heart]

Well She seems Ok and Happy for Now. I just don't want to loose another one. By the Way I like your Avatar Pic - Amateur Astronomy has been a long time hobby of mine. You would think that Living in AZ I would take more advantage of the night sky.

I have the exact 180 you have. I dont think your tank size had anything to do with it.

I have:
*An adult sized Hippo (master of the tank)
*one coral hogfish
*an adult Yellow
*two adult Anthias
*a young adult BlueJaw
*three clowns
*two wrasses
*one blennie

I have plenty of rock and hiding space.

Little to no fighting. They all have their territory marked out.

Yeah I'm about TWO FISH over the limit IMO but what the heck. They all get along.

I'm only worried about the coral hogfish as it gets bigger it might torpedo to death more submissive fish. Cross that bridge in time

>>>>> I do believe your Naso died of natural causes or a swing in water parameters...not tank size

 

[Young@Heart]

My water parameters are been pretty much in the safe range for a while now, so I don't think that was it. Natural Causes was my other thought, but I only had him for a about 18 Months- not sure how old he was when I got him though. I guess I just have to Chalk it up to Life.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

Well She seems Ok and Happy for Now. I just don't want to loose another one. By the Way I like your Avatar Pic - Amateur Astronomy has been a long time hobby of mine. You would think that Living in AZ I would take more advantage of the night sky.

Yeah, Astrophotography's another really inexpensive hobby.