Why Tang(s)?

[Daniel91]

Just out of curiosity. I can definitely see the appeal of look/color but why?

From research majority of tangs can/is a huge hassle. Size requirements, aggressiveness, messy eaters etc. etc.

Please do share good as well as bad stories.

 

[Antics]

Tangs are great at mowing down algae in the tank. They also have unique body shape(s) and a wide variety of colors and sizes. They are also relatively cheap as far as "show fish" for people who want to have one or two "big" fish in their aquarium. On top of that, in my experience Tangs are rarely shy and their high swim and grazing activity makes them very popular.

I would say Tangs in general are NOT a hassle compared to other fish. If you utilize proper quarantine protocols, size your tangs to your aquarium correctly, and actually put effort into mixing them and/or managing their aggression you're golden. All the horror stories you hear about tangs are because a) they weren't quarantined, b) are too big (or too many) for an aquarium, or c) are being thrown into an aggressive population without proper husbandry in general.