Are Yellow Tangs just problem fish?

[laredo300c]

i agree with advice, you can keep going to that lfs if they are the only ones around, but always come to this site for questions, trust me, you always get answers, i have had mine for six months in my 55, i know

...feed him nori sheets every day, i would feed hime brine shrimp maybe one a week, mostly greens

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by xDave
Yellow Tangs are far from bullet proof. In fact, a larger number of them die in aquariums than practically any other fish.
Perhaps that has to do with the sheer popularity of them. besides the common hardy easily kept fish like clowns and damsels what other moderate maintenence fish is more popular than yellow tangs? You cant go to a pet store or website that is ever out of yellow tangs. even 13-14yrs ago you could always find a pet store with yellow tangs.
Maybe not bullet proof (as in damsel, clown, triggerfish) but as far as Tangs go and anyone with sound practices keeping fish should have no problems keeping a yellow tang (and most commonly available Zebrasoma's seem to be hardier and less prone to ich/HILLE than other tangs). maybe thats just my perception but its alot of peoples.

 

[xdave]

IMO the reason people have problems with them are due to a few things. LFS tend to stuff them full of inexpensive brine to keep them plump. Most of the ones you see at lfs are adults and then people put them in tanks of 48" or less. A Yellow will do ok in that size tank if you get him when he's small, like 2" to 4" but you just don't see them that size. They seem prone to parasites but they are really just prone to stress out. They sell so fast that it's very likely that the one you buy may have been in the ocean a week ago. Their natural defense is that they can swim far away very quickly, this isn't an option in a tank and they get stressed. Then they get velvet which a beginner may not notice, especially because it isn't as obvious on that color of fish.
But.... if you can find a smaller one, your tank has some algae to pick at so they feel at home, have an open area where they can swim the full length of the tank, and feed them the appropriate food, they are actually pretty hardy.