Tang Questions

4FordFamily · Nov 5, 2015

I love my magnificent foxface.

BryanS4 · Nov 5, 2015

Bubba12 said:
The White Tail is very cool!!! Probably expensive

White tail bristletooth? Good luck tracking that down. I've had ever high end lfs in my area looking for it for six months.

One store around me has one in their display and I try and buy it every time I go in.

shred5 · Nov 5, 2015

Bubba12 said:
Thanks guys! I do like the Kole, I just like others better and want to limit regrets with this tank. The Purple Tang may be my favorite fish I've seen. My LFS says she gets them in but they are pretty expensive, which is why the Yellow Tang is also a consideration.

I have a kole in a 90 gallon tank. He is fat and happy but I can not say that for some of the other fish he terrorizes. I have a extreemly hard time adding fish.. I tried adding a Kaudern's Cardinal and he almost killed it in 15 minutes. The cardinal was so stressed I picked it up with my hand to put it in another tank. The problem with tangs is they have huge territory and nothing is allowed in it especially new fish. People say add them last well that is fine if you never plan on adding fish because you could have that fish 10 years and the older they get the worse they get. A kole would be happy in your 90 you just got to have lots of hiding spots for your other fish and if you add fish it is best not too add them alone. Also a acclimation box is a good idea for new fish.

A purple would be way to aggressive for a 90 gallon..

Some people will say I have no issues and 6 months latter they do. I just saw a thread on another forum and this guy had two tangs in a 120 and he used to say I keep them just fine.. Well this thread was asking how to catch one of his tangs because now it was killing the other. Were fine for a while and then bam. Who knows why? maybe one hit sexual maturity.

Also a one spot foxface gets to be 9 inches and they grow fast, way too big for a 90 gallon..

3dees · Nov 6, 2015

one spots usually won't go after coral. like dwarf angels, they need to be well fed. my one spot and coral beauty get their nori every day. neither one bothers any of my softies or lps. one spots are the smallest of the rabbitfish and most suitable for your tank.

Bubba12 · Nov 6, 2015

shred5 said:
I have a kole in a 90 gallon tank. He is fat and happy but I can not say that for some of the other fish he terrorizes. I have a extreemly hard time adding fish.. I tried adding a Kaudern's Cardinal and he almost killed it in 15 minutes. The cardinal was so stressed I picked it up with my hand to put it in another tank. The problem with tangs is they have huge territory and nothing is allowed in it especially new fish. People say add them last well that is fine if you never plan on adding fish because you could have that fish 10 years and the older they get the worse they get. A kole would be happy in your 90 you just got to have lots of hiding spots for your other fish and if you add fish it is best not too add them alone. Also a acclimation box is a good idea for new fish.

A purple would be way to aggressive for a 90 gallon..

Some people will say I have no issues and 6 months latter they do. I just saw a thread on another forum and this guy had two tangs in a 120 and he used to say I keep them just fine.. Well this thread was asking how to catch one of his tangs because now it was killing the other. Were fine for a while and then bam. Who knows why? maybe one hit sexual maturity.

Also a one spot foxface gets to be 9 inches and they grow fast, way too big for a 90 gallon..

I read that One Spots reach a max of 7", whereas all others grow to 9"+

shred5 · Nov 6, 2015

Bubba12 said:
I read that One Spots reach a max of 7", whereas all others grow to 9"+

Yea that is from liveaquaria which is wrong on that.
They get 9" I have seen them, matter of fact there was just thread on another forum which talked about the possibility that a LO and the One spot are the same fish. A few one spots have came in with a spot on one side only and not both. They figure the LO could very well be a One spot that did not develop spots. LA has the LO at 9". If you go to bluezoo they have the one spot at 8". It dont matter a 7 inch fish is going to look funny in a tank that size.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/hcs3/ In that article Henry also talks the LO and one spot might be the same also.. I have known Henry a long time and he knows fish. The thing about Henry is he knows what they are like in the wild.

They would be ok in a 90 but who wants a 9" fish in a tank that size. The main problem is the amount of waste it is going to produce.
I have thought about putting a small one in several times but I know in a year or two it will have to go.

Again a one spot would be fine, I don't think foxfaces need room like tangs do, it is just they are going to get big and limit how much else you can put in the tank and a 7" to 9" might look funny. I know allot of people buy them and give them away once they get big. I have thought about doing it several times myself because I love the fish. I haven't though because I know I am eventually going to want to get rid of it.

Bubba12 · Nov 6, 2015

I will likely not be getting one but I don't think it would look funny. I previously had 6 Discus in the tank that were 6-7" each, it was quite beautiful.

Coralfornialiving · Nov 6, 2015

Bubba12 said:
I am seeing some conflicting info here on Tangs, I hoping you guys can explain. I have a 90 gallon cycling right now and have been planning my livestock. I was originally planning for a Kole Tang, which is really the only one I like that is reccommended for a 4 foot tank, but I have noticed several "experienced" reefers are keeping Yellow Tangs, Purple Tangs, etc... in 90's and even 75's. I also read that they are extremely slow growers, like an inch a year. When I see fish profiles the listed size for a fish is the max ever recorded right? So a 8" fish is more likely going to be like 6" in captivity right? Hard to imagine not being able to keep a 6" fish in a 4' tank. Could someone please clear all this up for me, it is very confusing. I realize this is a much debated topic (probably why I'm confused).

I have a yellow tang in a 55 now in a 60 gal had em for about a year no problems

Bubba12 · Nov 6, 2015

I am tempted by a yellow tang. From what I have read they are extremely slow growers, possibly taking 8-10 years before reaching adult size and live up to 25 years (I can't imagine I'll make it more than a few years without an upgrade......I'm addicted). My rocks are setup in way that allows for a great deal of open swimming space.
Let me know if you agree.....from the countless hours I have surfed the Internet and combed over this forum, I have learned much but from what I can tell a reef tank is all about trial and error and every fish has its own personality. A prime example is the dwarf angelfish. I have driven myself crazy over the last few weeks reading threads about flame Angels and coral beauty's, and the best I can come up with is keep my wife happy and give it a try.
If you were me what would you go with? My ultimate stocking list would be as follows....

Pair of snowflake clowns (already have them on hold)
YWG
Pink Spotted Goby (sand sifter)
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Kole Tang
Yellow Tang
Mandarin

Other possibilities would be......

Flame hawkfish
Starry Blenny
Blue spotted Jawfish (worried about temp. Issues or it would be top on my list)...clarification?
Red scooter Blenny
Flasher Wrasse(beautiful but all the wrasse's remind me of FW fish, trying to stay away from this)

Lynn52 · Nov 7, 2015

The mandarin and scooter are both dragonets and will need a large pod population to survive. If you can get them eating prepared foods and set up a feeder like Paul B does they will work.
There has been a lot of talk about the tangs but I'm not sure how well a flame angel and a coral beauty will do in a 4 foot tank. I would actually like to do the same combo in my 125. I already have a flame that is fat and healthy but would love to add a coral beauty, just don't want one to kill the other so I haven't done it.

Naiad · Nov 7, 2015

BryanS4 said:
White tail bristletooth? Good luck tracking that down. I've had ever high end lfs in my area looking for it for six months.

One store around me has one in their display and I try and buy it every time I go in.

We will find one! He is on my list for my 220 as well lol.

Bubba12 · Nov 7, 2015

Lynn52 said:
The mandarin and scooter are both dragonets and will need a large pod population to survive. If you can get them eating prepared foods and set up a feeder like Paul B does they will work.
There has been a lot of talk about the tangs but I'm not sure how well a flame angel and a coral beauty will do in a 4 foot tank. I would actually like to do the same combo in my 125. I already have a flame that is fat and healthy but would love to add a coral beauty, just don't want one to kill the other so I haven't done it.

How has your Flame done with corals?