Tang in a 50.3 gallon

[bsap]

I know this is going to get the police sirens sounding but worth a shot. I’m in the process of picking out fish for my Waterbox 50.3 and I would absolutely love a tang as the centerpiece fish. I know I’m extremely extremely limited and would have to likely go out and get a juvenile and trade it back yada yada. I wanted to see what others thought about a Tomini Tang as a full time member even when it’s fully grown or a juvenile Yellow Tang. I’ve seen many in this forum say their YTs didn’t grow that fast and wondering if that’s worth the chance and have a YT for longer as a juvenile.

 

[shakacuz]

tomini would be fine if you get small/juvenile. it will eventually need more room. a suggestion is to leave space on all side of the glass so it could swim around rather than back and forth. i had one do just fine in a 40B, but then it did get too big so i sold it off. a good replacement fish would be a blenny (most nip at algae on glass/rocks) and court jester goby for constant grazing.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

To me if they’re small 2-3” why not.

 

[Uncle99]

I know this is going to get the police sirens sounding but worth a shot. I’m in the process of picking out fish for my Waterbox 50.3 and I would absolutely love a tang as the centerpiece fish. I know I’m extremely extremely limited and would have to likely go out and get a juvenile and trade it back yada yada. I wanted to see what others thought about a Tomini Tang as a full time member even when it’s fully grown or a juvenile Yellow Tang. I’ve seen many in this forum say their YTs didn’t grow that fast and wondering if that’s worth the chance and have a YT for longer as a juvenile.

Yes to the yellow tang.
Mines in 60.
Never grew past 4”.
Enjoy

 

[exnisstech]

I keep a yellow and a two spot bristle tooth in a reefer 300 36x22x22" and they do just fine. Cruise around grazing the rocks all day. No fighting and no nervous swimming like I've seen some fish do when stressed

 

[Formulator]

There is a difference between whether you can or whether you should keep a tang in an aquarium that small. I can do a lot of things, but I have a moral conscience that prevents me from doing whatever I want. Yes, some species may survive and have acceptable lifespans in smaller tanks, but what is their quality of life? Personally I wouldn’t put one in anything smaller than a 120g. I appreciate there are different perspectives on this. I’m just sharing my own.

 

[i cant think]

There is a difference between whether you can or whether you should keep a tang in an aquarium that small. I can do a lot of things, but I have a moral conscience that prevents me from doing whatever I want. Yes, some species may survive and have acceptable lifespans in smaller tanks, but what is their quality of life? Personally I wouldn’t put one in anything smaller than a 120g. I appreciate there are different perspectives on this. I’m just sharing my own.

May I just say, if Powder Blues and Hippos can ever hybridise that’s exactly what I imagine the hybrid to look like

 

[ryanjohn1]

If you start off with the knowledge and intent to rehome when it is too big. And can provide a happy home I see no problem. I started with a 3/4 inch hippo tang who’s between 3-4 now and will have to rehome in the not too distant future. A2 inch scopus who’s only 3 1/2 after a few years.

 

[littlefoxx]

No tangs in a 50 gallon, way too small for then

 

[i cant think]

I know this is going to get the police sirens sounding but worth a shot. I’m in the process of picking out fish for my Waterbox 50.3 and I would absolutely love a tang as the centerpiece fish. I know I’m extremely extremely limited and would have to likely go out and get a juvenile and trade it back yada yada. I wanted to see what others thought about a Tomini Tang as a full time member even when it’s fully grown or a juvenile Yellow Tang. I’ve seen many in this forum say their YTs didn’t grow that fast and wondering if that’s worth the chance and have a YT for longer as a juvenile.

The only issues you’ll come across with this are;
- Aggression will be very high - I’ve had tangs murder fish in 4 foot tanks, let alone smaller.
- Activity - these guys can very quickly make a tank into a whirlpool with their activity. When they’re stressed for swim room they make it clear and constantly pace.
- Size - Just because they stay 4 inches doesn’t mean it’s right, a 4 inch tang will make a tank look small and not right.

If you must have a fish like a tang in this size tank go for a Foxface/Rabbitfish temporarily, you’ll have to rehome them but their growth is slower than tangs and they do a better job at algae clean up IME.

 

[Formulator]

May I just say, if Powder Blues and Hippos can ever hybridise that’s exactly what I imagine the hybrid to look like

LOL, I didn’t even realize they looked off! That photo is apparently what AI thinks tang police should look like

 

[i cant think]

LOL, I didn’t even realize they looked off! That photo is apparently what AI thinks tang police should look like

I would support them if they looked like that! Would be interesting to see if they get ill quickly and became aggressive even quicker.

 

[Tamberav]

I would not trade it in, asking for disease.

Aggression may be the main issue.

 

[littlefoxx]

Your tomini would probably be around 5-6 inches fully grown. No tangs in a 50, not good for the fish. And I wouldnt do a foxface, you would need to rehome in 3 months. Mine went from an inch to 6 in 4-5 monts

 

[i cant think]

Your tomini would probably be around 5-6 inches fully grown. No tangs in a 50, not good for the fish. And I wouldnt do a foxface, you would need to rehome in 3 months. Mine went from an inch to 6 in 4-5 monts

Dang, I have had slow growth rates from my guys, I’ve got one that’s been maybe 2-3 inches from 1 inch in around 6 months. And my magnificents have only had growth spurts.

Guess the commons grow incredibly quickly whilst the rest grow slowly then - I’ve had magnificent take literally 4-5 years before they’re 4 inches from 2-3 inch specimens and my uspi was an inch in October/November (he was in my LFS’s display) to then be 2-3 inches currently if that.

 

[littlefoxx]

Dang, I have had slow growth rates from my guys, I’ve got one that’s been maybe 2-3 inches from 1 inch in around 6 months. And my magnificents have only had growth spurts.

Guess the commons grow incredibly quickly whilst the rest grow slowly then - I’ve had magnificent take literally 4-5 years before they’re 4 inches from 2-3 inch specimens and my uspi was an inch in October/November (he was in my LFS’s display) to then be 2-3 inches currently if that.

Thats crazy cause mine is a magnificent! He is HUGE. Biggest fish. Bigger than Gemma, my naso tang!

 

[i cant think]

Thats crazy cause mine is a magnificent! He is HUGE. Biggest fish. Bigger than Gemma, my naso tang!

I ended up buying a 7-8 inch magnificent after I lost my big boy during the transfer to a new tank.
I’ve yet to have rapid growth and instead my foxfaces always have grown in spurts more than anything.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Hi there!

I also have a waterbox 50.3 & i am also looking for a centerpiece fish, sadly tangs are out of the question for us.
It's just not a right thing to do!
I have been looking into alternatives & i stumbled upon dwarf angelfish, there are some species that stay rather small (proportional) & could do pretty well. They are known to nibble on corals & stuff, but i would advice to have a look at them!

 

[VintageReefer]

A fox face was the most aggressive fish I’ve ever owned in my life, and it was in a 75g tank. He legitimately scared me, if I put my hand in the tank he would furiously and rapidly swim all over the tank, stir up the sand so you couldn’t see, flare out his spines and dart in and out of the sand clouds trying to stab me. I dealt with him for a month hoping it would subside but it didn’t and I traded him in at the store.

 

[VintageReefer]

I just put a tomini, 3 inch maybe 3.5 inch in my 75, and he’s friendly and shy and doesn’t bother any other fish (or me!)

I have had a yellow tang and hippo tang in the past, both were bought young, they never bothered anyone and were rehomed when they got too big. They both did grow to a size where I felt my 75 was not large enough for them to be happy