yellow tangs

[jayu_patidar]

Hey guys,

I'm quite new to the saltwater hobby so please don't attack me on this question haha. basically in my LFS there are all sorts of yellow tangs available that are kept individually in 5 inch acrylic cubes that are suspended in a larger tank until they are sold off, they even have adult Emporer angelfish in a 12 inch cube!, I asked the people that work there and they said that some of the tangs have been there for over 6 months, they look healthy and they all eat as the shop worker showed me. to sum this up I have a 30 g tank that is only coral with the exception of 1 blenny. would it be possible for me to put one of those tangs into my 30g, i just feel so bad for them and want to try and get them out of those tiny cubes.

let me know what you think please

 

[jayu_patidar]

and considering they already seem to have stunted growth from being in those tight conditions would that be a problem keeping it in a 30g

 

[Krully]

Yes it would be. There’s a reason everybody advise against it and because you’ve seen people do it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. You wouldn’t keep a husky in an apartment its whole life, same thing for the tang. Because they’re alive doesn’t mean they’re well, doesn’t mean they’ll still be in a few months. They can’t grow because they don’t have room, it’s not a good thing and it won’t stay that way forever, they’ll outgrow your 30g in a few months.
You’re not saving them by pulling them out of their cube to put them in a 30g, you’re preventing someone with a proper tank from buying them and rewarding the fishstore for not properly caring for them.

 

[SPR1968]

That size tank is to small for a yellow tang, their very active and also grow quickly

I have to say they are my favourite fish, I have 7 (so far!) so I do understand.

Maybe get yourself a bigger tank, but the minimum requirement is 100g really.

And welcome to R2R as well by the way!

 

[Zionas]

I would not keep the Yellow Tang in a tank under 130 gallons and under 5 foot long. 150 gallons and 6 foot would be ideal.

I have to agree with the Tang police when it comes to Tangs. Considering they’re active swimmers that produce a lot of waste, no way I’m getting any Tang until I’m able to upgrade to at least 140 gallons and a 5 foot tank. Until then, I’ll stick with dwarf angels and large but not very active fish like the Comet.

 

[jayu_patidar]

thanks for everyone's help!, i have just been doing some research on getting a red sea 119 g setup so I might go ahead and get that, would that be sufficient for yellow tangs?

 

[Cory]

thanks for everyone's help!, i have just been doing some research on getting a red sea 119 g setup so I might go ahead and get that, would that be sufficient for yellow tangs?

Yes. Mine is in 125 gallon. At first he didint even swim around much. Mostly hides in rocks... now hes out.