Tang Question!

[AydenLincoln]

I just want your thoughts because people are the tang police on social media. What is the minimum you can keep a tang in? I think it’s 50 gallons and I’ve seen it done successfully. Someone wants to put an Achilles Tang in 125 gallon tank and I said it was plenty of room especially when they are smaller. But someone just wrote an entire essay at me telling me why it’s bad. I know tangs need a big tank but I think people are overly offended when a tang (at least a yellow or blue one) is kept in a 50-60 gallon tank longterm. And yes the more room the better but I still think it can be done successfully. I just find it interesting that this is such a hotly debated topic.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I would say a bristletooth tomini tang and I wouldn’t put him on a tank smaller than 75 gallons. On top of their bio-load being pretty high they’ll also get aggressive as they get settled in and if there’s not enough space for other fish to swim that might be your only fish in the tank.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I would say a bristletooth tomini tang and I wouldn’t put him on a tank smaller than 75 gallons. On top of their bio-load being pretty high they’ll also get aggressive as they get settled in and if there’s not enough space for other fish to swim that might be your only fish in the tank.

What if it was a long tank as opposed to a cube which is better for a tank anyway? I’m just wondering.

 

[njtiger aquariums]

I know I will be blackball for this. I had a yellow and a powered brown tang in a 54g corner tank for 2 years with no issues. I broke the tank down and sold the live stock (both tangs were alive when I sold them) due to some person life things. I also ran a very high bio-load on the tank (again I’m sure I will be blackball for it) but like I said tank ran for 2 years with no issues. No ick or sickness breakout, no random/unexplained deaths. All my fish were nice and fat (not skin and bone). Now my channel is pretty old but here my YT channel when the tank was running. https://youtube.com/channel/UCDgF3m4_PJoYdJM3CU1eOhA

 

[Andresnyc93]

What if it was a long tank as opposed to a cube which is better for a tank anyway? I’m just wondering.

What’s the foot print on the tank? I’m not saying keeping him there won’t be possible cause it is. I just think since the fish is meant to be in the reefs of the ocean and then they go into this tiny ecosystem is a bit cruel for them.

 

[areefer01]

I just want your thoughts because people are the tang police on social media. What is the minimum you can keep a tang in? I think it’s 50 gallons and I’ve seen it done successfully. Someone wants to put an Achilles Tang in 125 gallon tank and I said it was plenty of room especially when they are smaller. But someone just wrote an entire essay at me telling me why it’s bad. I know tangs need a big tank but I think people are overly offended when a tang (at least a yellow or blue one) is kept in a 50-60 gallon tank longterm. And yes the more room the better but I still think it can be done successfully. I just find it interesting that this is such a hotly debated topic.

There is no tang police. Just name calling to other hobbyists who have an opinion that disagree with yours. I'm more curious why you are asking if you have your mind made up already.

There is isolation
There is QT
There is grow out
Then there is final home

Do the right thing.

 

[Duncan62]

I just want your thoughts because people are the tang police on social media. What is the minimum you can keep a tang in? I think it’s 50 gallons and I’ve seen it done successfully. Someone wants to put an Achilles Tang in 125 gallon tank and I said it was plenty of room especially when they are smaller. But someone just wrote an entire essay at me telling me why it’s bad. I know tangs need a big tank but I think people are overly offended when a tang (at least a yellow or blue one) is kept in a 50-60 gallon tank longterm. And yes the more room the better but I still think it can be done successfully. I just find it interesting that this is such a hotly debated topic.

If you buy a tang for a smaller tank as a juvenile with plans for him to graduate when the time comes it's fine. I've seen a 6 inch yellow in a 75 and I understand why people don't like it. If you've got a 55 and the skills to raise a juvenile then fine but be ready to find him a home. They really do need to swim.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I am only going to speak for an Achilles tang, as I have 3 of them.

Even when small a 6’ x24” tank is the minimum I feel that they should be in. Even in a 6’ you will need to feed a ton and feed numerous times during the day/have macro available to them. They are also a “high flow” fish and do better in a higher flow tank, ime. They are also a “roaming” fish and roam long stretches of reefs looking for food.

I do currently have a 7” male in a 6’ tank, but the flow is crazy, there is a macro garden behind the rock structure and it gets fed 6 times a day. When it gets to about 9” it will go into my 500 and hopefully get along with my 11” female. That tank is almost all macro and this will provide a large area for them to constantly graze like they do in the wild.

With all that said, it is best to keep smaller tangs in smaller tanks and larger tangs in larger tanks. Not always will someone be able to rehome a fish and then things get interesting.

 

[njtiger aquariums]

There is no tang police. Just name calling to other hobbyists who have an opinion that disagree with yours. I'm more curious why you are asking if you have your mind made up already.

There is isolation
There is QT
There is grow out
Then there is final home

Do the right thing.

For the most part you are right. But there are folks who do it disrespectfully and ‘attack’ someone cause they have a different opinion which gives the community a bad eye. Everyone has their opinions and if done in a respectful manner than that great

 

[AydenLincoln]

There is no tang police. Just name calling to other hobbyists who have an opinion that disagree with yours. I'm more curious why you are asking if you have your mind made up already.

There is isolation
There is QT
There is grow out
Then there is final home

Do the right thing.

Oh not for me. Someone else asked about keeping an Achilles Tang in 125 gallons and I said they could and I got lectured. I was just wondering what people’s thoughts were in here.

 

[AydenLincoln]

What’s the foot print on the tank? I’m not saying keeping him there won’t be possible cause it is. I just think since the fish is meant to be in the reefs of the ocean and then they go into this tiny ecosystem is a bit cruel for them.

I’m not sure this isn’t for me.

 

[areefer01]

For the most part you are right. But there are folks who do it disrespectfully and ‘attack’ someone cause they have a different opinion which gives the community a bad eye. Everyone has their opinions and if done in a respectful manner than that great

Fully understand the hostility. It is something I don't understand in forums.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Fully understand the hostility. It is something I don't understand in forums.

It doesn’t happen on here which I love.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

It doesn’t happen on here which I love.

It does, but usually gets nipped in the bud real quick lol.

 

[AydenLincoln]

It does, but usually gets nipped in the bud real quick lol.

True it’s the internet thanks admins!

 

[areefer01]

The way I see it is that the onus is on the hobbyist to do the right thing, whatever that is. Sort of like the title of the book by Mr. Fenner - The Conscientious Marine Aquarist.

Sort of like having a great dane, whippet, or a greyhound in an apartment and not walking them 3 times a day. Or some other high drive animal. Just because you can one begs the questions should we? Right?

While not accurate because our glass box or acrylic doesn't come close to replicating it just watch some of the Hawaiian mega lab live stream once it is back operational. The tangs and others just graze all day all the time non stop. It is crazy. Or if you scuba dive then of course there is that.

So ignoring all that crap and my opinion you asked for a friend who wants to keep a Achilles Tang in a 125 gallon display. Here are some known points to consider:

1. Care level - expert / advanced fish
2. Most retailers list 180 gallon min
3. 8 to 9" fish - not sure how that translates to captivity
4. Constant grazers
5. Some say prone to disease (ich, head and lateral line)
6. Depending on source I believe surge zones / reefs

I don't know how long your friend has been keeping marine aquaria but knowing the top 5 alone would keep me away. Hell I have a 210 gallon display and I don't even keep one. Not that this is about me. I'm just trying to answer your question as to why I would say no. Avoid the fish regardless of future upgrade paths.

 

[AydenLincoln]

The way I see it is that the onus is on the hobbyist to do the right thing, whatever that is. Sort of like the title of the book by Mr. Fenner - The Conscientious Marine Aquarist.

Sort of like having a great dane, whippet, or a greyhound in an apartment and not walking them 3 times a day. Or some other high drive animal. Just because you can one begs the questions should we? Right?

While not accurate because our glass box or acrylic doesn't come close to replicating it just watch some of the Hawaiian mega lab live stream once it is back operational. The tangs and others just graze all day all the time non stop. It is crazy. Or if you scuba dive then of course there is that.

So ignoring all that crap and my opinion you asked for a friend who wants to keep a Achilles Tang in a 125 gallon display. Here are some known points to consider:

1. Care level - expert / advanced fish
2. Most retailers list 180 gallon min
3. 8 to 9" fish - not sure how that translates to captivity
4. Constant grazers
5. Some say prone to disease (ich, head and lateral line)
6. Depending on source I believe surge zones / reefs

I don't know how long your friend has been keeping marine aquaria but knowing the top 5 alone would keep me away. Hell I have a 210 gallon display and I don't even keep one. Not that this is about me. I'm just trying to answer your question as to why I would say no. Avoid the fish regardless of future upgrade paths.

This is true too!

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

I think that it is best to get our fish a tank that suits their maximum size. We owe it to the fish to try and give it the best life possible, and a tiny tank isn't going to give it enough swim space to stretch its fins. However, you can certainly keep a smaller tang in a smaller tank while the fish still has space. Saying that any tang at any size for any length of time needs a 4', 5', or 6' tank does not take into consideration the fact that a smaller tang is, indeed, smaller. For example, my old LFS back in NM had a 3" Biota cb yellow in a three foot display tank. While it wouldn't be very spacious if the tang was twice that size, it had plenty of space at that age, and would for another year or two. We should also consider the different behavior of juvenile fish in the wild. For example, take the pacific blue tang. While adults hover many feet above the reef patrolling an area the size of a football field, the babies hide inside the heads of branching corals. These two do not require equally sized tanks. Other juvenile tangs exhibit similar behavior. Personally, I think that if you have a foolproof plan for rehoming your fish before it outgrows your tank, go for it. Provide plenty of nori/algae, good flow, open areas of water, and habitat. If these needs are met, a small tang should thrive in a smaller tank. This article is a great read about sizing tanks for marine fish.

Estimating the Need for Swimming Space for Aquarium Fishes

Estimating the Need for Swimming Space for Aquarium Fishes Jay Hemdal For those not wishing to read the entire article, here is the basic formula for calculating the swimming space needs for active swimming species (tangs, wrasses, fusiliers, etc.) Look up the maximum adult size of the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MaxTremors]

I agree with the consensus here, minimum tank sizes exist for a reason. I’m not a fan of keeping juveniles in nanos unless you have solid, realistic plans to rehome or upgrade (not some vague future plan).

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I think it’s 50 gallons and I’ve seen it done successfully. Someone wants to put an Achilles Tang in 125 gallon tank and I said it was plenty of room especially when they are smaller.

Fyi there are literally dozens of identically titled threads asking the exact same where it has been discussed and fought about, if you are looking for more info.

What is the basis for Your opinion of 50g minimum? What specific Tang do you Think that is suitable for living a lifetime in? Is this based on experience keeping tangs? Have you ever owned an Achilles?