Tang in a 55 gallon? Vote!

[danenelsen]

I've been noticing a lot of different opinions on this topic, so I wanted to see what everyone thought!

 

[Kfactor]

for me it depends on what tang you want

 

[danenelsen]

for me it depends on what tang you want

Yellow.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've been noticing a lot of different opinions on this topic, so I wanted to see what everyone thought!

4 ft and 1 foot width- Yes but of course be sure to maintain good water quality and provide proper diet
Of course you dont want a dussomieri, powder blue, sohal or vlamingi that can grow an inch every 6-8 weeks

 

[Kfactor]

Yellow.

am no fish expert but i would pass if its a standard 55 its pretty narrow tank , maybe like a tomini tang or something might be better

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Any tang other than a tomini (maybe) wouldn't thrive in a 55

 

[Dave1993]

just get a 75 gallon

 

[dstockwell]

I have Bristletooth in 55

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I have Bristletooth in 55

Same here

 

[Eddielg]

I've been noticing a lot of different opinions on this topic, so I wanted to see what everyone thought!

I have a Yellow Tang that has grown up in a 55 for 11 years. Seems happy and super healthy. Will upgrade to 90 eventually.

 

[vtecintegra]

Could you live in a closet permanently? Of course. Would you thrive and have good quality of life? Doubtful.

 

[theMeat]

Think it depends on the individual. Personally wouldn’t do it. Have seen tangs get bored and stressed in tanks bigger than what’s ‘recommended’, and have seen perfectly happy tangs in tanks smaller than what’s recommended

 

[chipchipbro]

Could you live in a closet permanently? Of course. Would you thrive and have good quality of life? Doubtful.

Every tank is a closet compared to the ocean tbh
Imo with this argument we shouldnt even keep tanks with fish, right?

 

[Tanglover1]

It depends on individual. I think tangs seem to be happy if they have plenty of food, algae and territory and good tankmates

 

[i cant think]

just get a 75 gallon

This. In a 75-90G tank you have all the room in the world for larger fish!

Every tank is a closet compared to the ocean tbh
Imo with this argument we shouldnt even keep tanks with fish, right?

I think if we’re saying larger vs small closets we could use this metaphor - you would live in a small closet but survive and in a larger closet you could thrive.
I agree with you in the way the phrase was originally stated though.

 

[i cant think]

I have a Yellow Tang that has grown up in a 55 for 11 years. Seems happy and super healthy. Will upgrade to 90 eventually.

Out of curiosity, how fast has the growth been?
Usually fish will get stunted growth in too small of a tank (My Naoko got stunted in my Nano but in my 4’ tank seems to have continued growing).

 

[Tamberav]

A baby captive is probably fine in there for awhile but 55g tanks have horrible dimensions to scape and meh... Just get a different tank

 

[danenelsen]

Also, would a Purple Tang be the same? It would work but not thrive? Thanks for all the great feedback!

 

[theMeat]

No

 

[i cant think]

Also, would a Purple Tang be the same? It would work but not thrive? Thanks for all the great feedback!

This is what will really confuse you, a Yellow Tang supposedly works in a 55G whilst a Purple Tang (which gets the same size) won’t work. Make it make sense… I just think we should stop making one Zebrasoma different to the others that attain a similar max size, they really have the same care.