Tangs in smaller tanks

[Zoajohn]

It really should be fine as long as you have actual plans to upgrade or have someone that can take it when it outgrows the 44. I plan on housing a small 2-3” tang in my IM 30L which has 3 feet of lateral swimming room. I wouldn’t do this normally but I have already purchased a Red Sea reefer 350 that everything will be transferred into this fall when I move.

 

[Fishbird]

As others have said you must make your own decisions. For myself, I am not comfortable buying any animal unless I can reasonably commit to providing for it for its whole life. And, as somebody else pointed out, all fish are not the same. The ocean is huge and reefs are huge but there are many fish whose natural territories are 1-4 sq ft. (Clownfish and some gobies are what come to mind immediately but I would guess there are others.). Tangs swim miles every day. Even if I had an 8 ft tank I would never be comfortable housing a tang. On the other hand, I am very comfortable housing a couple of fish that have a naturally small territory. Especially captive bred specimens. My goal is to have a beautiful reef tank that showcases small fish in appropriate habitat. To me that's peaceful to look at because I know I'm not constraining the fish.

 

[AcroNem]

If you must, then pick a type of Bristletooth tang, they are generally better for smaller systems. But I'd still say s 44 is a bit too small

 

[Weevo]

Tang police me. I have a yellow eye kole for the last 2 yrs in my RS 170 and he handles very well with a photon black female clown and blue mandarin.

 

[Tamberav]

Is it okay to have them in a 44gal tank? We figured we could trade them in once they started to get too big for a smaller one again. Bulk Reef supply mentioned doing this in one of their videos and we would love to have a tang.

I don't see why they mentioned this... Tangs are disease magnets, why would a person want to trade one in and risk disease every time?

Dwarf angel would be a good substitute. Prettier too!

 

[Copingwithpods]

I don't see why they mentioned this... Tangs are disease magnets, why would a person want to trade one in and risk disease every time?

Dwarf angel would be a good substitute. Prettier too!

Every tang should come as a packaged deal. A Tang box.

What's included

Tang
Copper power
Hanna copper tester
Aspirin (for the headaches)
A prayer book with 142 prayers from around the world
Soothing tea leaf extract (for the anxiety)

 

[MohrReefs]

I don't see why they mentioned this... Tangs are disease magnets, why would a person want to trade one in and risk disease every time?

Dwarf angel would be a good substitute. Prettier too!

That's actually what we were thinking!

 

[charlesk]

Tangs need room to swim, they naturally swim great distances. Keeping tangs in a small tank as a 44, I feel is cruel. We have a responsibility to our fish to provide a safe and quality environment for them to live. Do the right thing and wait until you get a least a 120 before getting tangs. It’s like keeping a race horse in a closet.

 

[codycolina707]

What type are yours? Ive always wanted multiple yellow. Ive consideres buying multiple at once and throwing them all in at one time. You ever have issues with them fighting?

Best bet is buy them all from same place at the same time I got 3 purples all same size they do occasionally chase each other 2 of them get along really well though I heard yellows are alot easier too

 

[codycolina707]

Is it okay to have them in a 44gal tank? We figured we could trade them in once they started to get too big for a smaller one again. Bulk Reef supply mentioned doing this in one of their videos and we would love to have a tang.

One thing I would say is watch out I feel tangs get a bit aggressive especially in small tanks learned that with my yellow eye kole tang was a absolute monster in my 55 moved him into my 150 fearing he would display the same aggression which he doesn't seems pretty calm now

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I have five fat and happy tangs in a 125. Everyone says that they need so much room to swim, but the funny thing is that mine tend to all hang out in one area of the tank near each other. They do love to duck in and out of the rock work.

 

[cancun]

Is it okay to have them in a 44gal tank? We figured we could trade them in once they started to get too big for a smaller one again. Bulk Reef supply mentioned doing this in one of their videos and we would love to have a tang.

Hi there! I think it is great you came on here to ask opinions. I personally feel that it is your tank and your choice. Just keep the health of the animal in mind, and eaither upgrade to a bigger tank, or trade him in when he gets too big. Keep in mind most grow fast though! (•‿•)

 

[Scotty Buttons]

Just because the tang is small doesn't mean it needs less room to swim.. just my thought.

 

[vetteguy53081]

With the high number of Small Yellow and purple tangs out there as of late, and with your intent to trade, why not. They'll be fine for several months. More than one Do squabble so apply caution.

 

[JCTReefer]

I have a small yellow in a 54 corner. Exhibits no signs of stress as far as I know. It’s been a while since we’ve talked, so I can’t be for certain. Seems perfectly content to me behavior wise. All jokes aside,
I have a very open aquascape with plenty of swimming room. I think this helps. And the tank is way under stocked. At the end of the day, it’s your tank. We all have to decide for ourselves what we think is humane or right. I agree with lots of former post. The Yellow Tang is what got me into this hobby 20 or so years ago! I do have a 240 being built at the moment and I’m sure he or she will appreciate the extra real estate.

 

[Bob Escher]

Is it okay to have them in a 44gal tank? We figured we could trade them in once they started to get too big for a smaller one again. Bulk Reef supply mentioned doing this in one of their videos and we would love to have a tang.

I have a yellow tang in a 45 gallon cube have had him since he was 1/4 in. Now he is 3 1/2 in. The tank has lots of rock half up the tank. He’s sup to be a swimmer. The top half of the tank is wide open but he is never up there not even to feed.
he hovers, he swims in place he swims through the ric. He loves it.

Now I know it’s time I trade him in. believe me I know. And I am.
as others have said. It’s up to you to take care of him and to know when it time
trade it.
if you really want one, buy the smallest one you can find.
it will be long time before it gets big enough for you to trade in. Make sure you can trade him in. make sure you learn about him, he’s happy in your tank

 

[ca1ore]

I see people say ‘fat and happy’ all the time. Fat is not good and no way to really know if they’re actually happy. Perhaps people mean they just don’t appear stressed. Some tangs are disease magnets, but most are not. I have kept small tangs in smaller tanks before, but as they grow and become cramped stress increases .... which can mean aggression or disease.

 

[wrasse hole]

Unpopular opinion:

A single tang in a smaller tank (40g - 100g) can be happier than a tang crammed into a 300g with 40 other fish. I've seen smaller tangs in 40g breeders that looked very healthy.

I see these "dream tank" builds that are incredibly overstocked with fish basically bumping into each other and wonder how anyone could be satisfied with meeting an arbitrary tank size rule while their fish clearly aren't happy. Use some personal judgement and pay attention to your fish. The bottom line is no tank replicates a tang's natural habitat, and the best we can do is work on factors other than swimming space such as other fish, rock work, and proper diet.

 

[Marc2952]

Everytime i add a tang to my 20 gallon QT i feel bad for the poor fella, he freaks out and starts going crazy for a few hours when the lights are on.

 

[X-37B]

I have a tomini and a convict in my 120.
I definitly feel the convict will need a bigger tank down the road. It never stops swimming.
It also keeps my 6 blue green chromis inline. Got lucky on that one I think.
Tomini swims around but nothing like the convic.
They both get along but its only been a month.
The tomini does not like my lawnmower blenny.
The convict was way thin when I got him but was eating at the lfs.
He has put on weight from 4 feedings a day.
Both are constant rock pickers too.