What Tang would you recommend for a first-timer?

[Zionas]

I see. Do you mean there would likely be issues of aggression between the Yellow Tang and the OSFF?

Also, I do intend to have my Betta settled before adding any Tang. The Tang will be the last, or second last addition to the tank.

So the OSFF will work either way with the Tangs, but do you see a Yellow Tang causing trouble for the Marine Betta more so than a Kole or other Bristletooth?

 

[mort]

Potentially foxfaces and tangs will have some aggression yes but they normally work it out. By having both so similar it does compound the problem a little but the two often become buddies that follow each other around the tank. You are going to get a dominance hierarchy with whatever fish you add so that's not my worry really.
My less scientific reason for not mixing them is they are both big yellow fish and I couldn't really think of a good replacement for the foxface. If you are happy with two big yellow fish then it shouldn't be much more of a problem than any Foxface zebrasoma/ctenochaetus combo.

 

[Haydn]

OK I'll throw a spanner in- forget tangs get a Genicanthus species angelfish. Colourful, not an ich magnet, hardy, not aggressive, will swim in open water like tangs, eats frozen, flake and pellets. No compatibility issues unless you put two males together. You can keep a pair or trio, won't outgrow the tank, won't touch corals.
If one of the reasons you want a tang is to eat algae, get a couple of Molly Millar blennies as well- tank bred, hardy, good CUC, may eat aiptasia, not ich magnets.

 

[ReeferPat]

Everyone says that but I went against the grain and my powder blue is amazing and healthy as could be and I’ve had a long time I think there are a lot of factors that can make or break a fish just my two cents

Absolutely. The powder brown I had was beautiful, until I stupidly added a cardinal from a new fish store. I freshwater dipped (didn’t have a quarantine setup). Ich exploded, particularly on the powder brown. I set up a medical tank to treat him and everything was almost immediately back to normal in the display. After a month I tried reintroducing the powder brown, ich came back immediately. I nursed him back and returned him to the fish store since I now have ich in my tank and he would undoubtedly get it again.

I should’ve qualified my remark with: powder browns and blue are beautiful and vibrant fish but should probably only go to homes that have stringent and immaculate quarantine setups. Not for me obviously. I’m just glad I was able to nurse him back to health.

 

[Vakko]

Just like BRS said, there's no reason to put a utilitarian fish at the end. Why wait until you have a ton of algae to add an algae grazer?

First fish in my tank was Scopas tang followed by a Squaretail. I recently added a Lavender and Atlantic Blue.

IMO, bristletooth spend the most time grazing. Zebras are the most aggressive. Acans just love to swim.

Absolutely. The powder brown I had was beautiful, until I stupidly added a cardinal from a new fish store. I freshwater dipped (didn’t have a quarantine setup). Ich exploded, particularly on the powder brown. I set up a medical tank to treat him and everything was almost immediately back to normal in the display. After a month I tried reintroducing the powder brown, ich came back immediately. I nursed him back and returned him to the fish store since I now have ich in my tank and he would undoubtedly get it again.

I should’ve qualified my remark with: powder browns and blue are beautiful and vibrant fish but should probably only go to homes that have stringent and immaculate quarantine setups. Not for me obviously. I’m just glad I was able to nurse him back to health.

I would suggest to add Powder Blue/Brown/Achilles last.

 

[Zionas]

The only reasons I plan to put them at the end is because they’re all listed as “semi-aggressive” by LA and I read they have lower tolerance for unstable water conditions. I could be wrong and wrong though.

The rest of my planned stocking list seem to be fairly peaceful (OSFF, Ocellaris pair, Marine Betta, Flame Hawk pair, PJ Cardinals etc.)

 

[RtomKinMad]

My tomini is staying smaller than my other tangs and would do well in a 5 foot tank. He is about the size of a dwarf angel and is growing very slowly.

Mine too! Hasn’t really grown in five years. But stays beautiful and hardy.

 

[Acrocrazy725]

How can you not think this fish is beautiful:
He had rainbow outlines on every fin and bright yellow eyes. I miss him soooo much. My ultimate favorite fish for over 12 years. I have not been able to keep one since this one. Tried twice now. One got through QT in DT for 2 months, then disappeared overnight. Only thought the H. malu got it.

Edit: my other one was an orange strip not a kole in qt. Sorry.

I’m with you. the yellow eyed kole was always the fish that drew me into tangs. I think they are one of the prettiest. couldn’t find a good picture of mine or I would have posted it.
They are the perfect tang for a smaller tank. They don’t grow fast, they are a work horse, and I enjoy watching him work. All tangs have their issues, some are more susceptible to ick, some are more aggressive, some just get to big to fast For your tank.
I have always had luck with trying to get them as small as I can, specially with a smaller tank. Not just for the reason of our growing your tank but also because they FOR ME seemed to always adjust much better, they aren’t as used to the ocean as a bigger fish would be since they haven't spent A lot of time there. they acclimate faster to captivity, In my opinion.

 

[Zionas]

Yeah. I like getting my fish small, or just at half their maximum size take or give an inch.

Which genuses of Tangs from your experience are the least and the most susceptible to Ich? Or are they about the same? I know they can get HLLE and lympho too but usually they can be treated with good water quality and good diet.

 

[van7271]

Yellow tangs are very durable and will tolerate less than ideal water parameters.

 

[OrionN]

There is such a thing as over research. IMO and IME, tangs except for a few species, are among the easiest fish to care for. I guess I a pretty good at keeping fish. Provide plenty of food, not a significant of fish that fight with him and stress him out, and plenty of room to swim in, and good clean stable water and they will reward you with long carefree life of 25+ years. If the tank is slightly small, then don't crowned them with multiple tangs and they will be happy.
5 foot tank, I would just have 1 tang of a species that is small on maturity.
Of the Zebrasoma, only Yellow tang is suitable for such a small tank. Any of the Ctenochaetus are fine other than the Chevron. I afraid most of the other genus are not really suitable for your tank.

If you don't have any other herbivores, (that mean the Foxface) you can even keep the ONE medium size tang like the Powder Blue tang in a 150 gal tank. He will be the king of his domain, plenty of food and he will be fine, a little cramped but will be fine. Add another Herbivores and "all hell break loose"

 

[Zionas]

Thanks for all the replies, I am very happy at the support I’ve received. I have already decided to go with a Yellow (have considered Purple but heard they are much more aggressive, Scopas and Sailfin get too big, Gem and Black Longnose too expensive and not worth it), and if I get a second it will be a Bristletooth, which judging by availability will most likely be a Yellow Eye Kole.

Suppose I do up to two Tangs and a Foxface would there be too much aggression due to competition over Herbivorous foods?

 

[neltel_7]

Yellow eye kole tang!!!! My favorite free swimming fish ( I really like gobies). He’s so fun to watch and eats anything I feed (but also eats algae off rocks all day). He’s best friends with my yellow tang but they have their fair share of tussling every once and a while.
Sorry for the blurry pictures They are screenshots from videos.

 

[Zionas]

That’s really nice!

Did your Kole Tang have more trouble accepting prepared foods compared to the Yellow though? It’s definitely a combo I am considering! Any physical damage?

 

[OrionN]

Kole Tang and Tomini Tang are really easy to get to do well in captivity. In scale from 1-5 where 1 is beginner's fish and 5 is nearly impossible, Yellow tang is 2 (mostly hardy) and Kole and Tomini tangs are 3 (generally hardy)
Look for a book by Scott W. Michael tittle: Reef Aquarium Fish, A PocketExpert Guide. When I was a newly, I always have a copy of this book in my hand when go to a LFS

 

[neltel_7]

That’s really nice!

Did your Kole Tang have more trouble accepting prepared foods compared to the Yellow though? It’s definitely a combo I am considering! Any physical damage?

Thanks! He did have trouble at first for sure but he quickly learned from the yellow tang that the floating beads in the water were food lol. I got them at the same time so all I had to do is not feed the yellow tang for a day or two (not giving him seaweed) and then when I put pellets in he attacked them and the kole tang soon followed. So IMO he will probably take a little interest in dry food or mysis naturally but kole tangs will devour it if they see what all the other fish are doing to eat haha
In regards to aggression, definitely get them at the same time and try to get them small. The first two days were very stressful because the yellow tang as much more aggressive (even tho smaller). What to combat this is place lots of large pieces of pvc in my QT for them to hide in and obstruct their view of each other and I also did the mirror trick for 8 hours for 2 days straight. It definitely helped that they were added to both the QT and DT at the same time. Every now and again iIl see small cuts or scratches on the kole tang from the yellow tang getting feisty but they heal within a couple of days. They really only "fight" if the tang gets to close (he loves following the yellow tang).

I took extra precautions putting these fish in the tank but I genuinely believe that even if I had not taken all these preventative measures things would have worked out between them. I love this pairing so much and their colors and personality complement each other so well!

 

[Zionas]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Going by availability and the ability to choose the size of the fish, I am most like to end up with a Yellow and a Yellow Eye Kole as they are by far the most commonly imported Tangs where I am along with the Pacific Blue but I’m a bit concerned about their reputation as ich magnets.

With regards to size, I plan to add the Yellow and Yellow Eye Kole at the same time, they’ll be going in the tank together. Both will be 5-7cm or 7-9cm to make sure they’re about the same size.

My tank will be 6 foot instead. If I do, say, a Yellow, Yellow Eye Kole, AND a Foxface (that’s 3 herbivores) would there be too much competition for food as they all fill the same niche, being algae grazers?

 

[neltel_7]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Going by availability and the ability to choose the size of the fish, I am most like to end up with a Yellow and a Yellow Eye Kole as they are by far the most commonly imported Tangs where I am along with the Pacific Blue but I’m a bit concerned about their reputation as ich magnets.

With regards to size, I plan to add the Yellow and Yellow Eye Kole at the same time, they’ll be going in the tank together. Both will be 5-7cm or 7-9cm to make sure they’re about the same size.

My tank will be 6 foot instead. If I do, say, a Yellow, Yellow Eye Kole, AND a Foxface (that’s 3 herbivores) would there be too much competition for food as they all fill the same niche, being algae grazers?

Great choice! I think that they would be fine food wise as the yellow tang and foxface eat different types of algae. Yellow tangs and foxface feed Primarily on seaweed so those will be the only ones in competition. To reduce the chance for aggression you should put a veggie clip on opposite sides of the tank. This will significantly help with aggression.

 

[nereefpat]

My tank will be 6 foot instead. If I do, say, a Yellow, Yellow Eye Kole, AND a Foxface (that’s 3 herbivores) would there be too much competition for food as they all fill the same niche, being algae grazers?

Assuming the other dimensions are reasonable, that trio should be completely fine.

 

[Zionas]

Sounds great. Good news is the Yellow Eye Kole Tang is almost always available where I am. The Tomini, not as much but when they arrive they arrive in decent numbers.