Can it be done? a Yellow tang in a 30gal?

[tylersalzman]

I've been to 4 different places today just looking at different fish and getting ideas of what I wanted in my tank and I have heard many different opinions on whether a yellow tang can make it in a 30 gallon tank. Most of the opinions said no, but one guy told me how he kept one in a 10 gallon once and it worked for him. Anyone else have any ideas or experience with this? My fiance and I really love the look of a yellow tang and would be so happy if we didn't have to wait til we got a bigger tank. Thanks!

 

[ophiura]

You could do it very short term for a very small tang (and only fish). But the reality is that a HEALTHY yellow tang will outgrow this system.
if you want one, simply, you need a significantly larger tank.

 

[nicetry]

Short answer; No. It won't work long term (or even short term). Even juveniles need a lot of lateral swimming space. The person who told you it worked for him in a ten gallon likely did not keep the fish a long time. Select fish that will not outgrow your tank. There are many beautiful species to choose from.

 

[garnet13aj]

What do you mean by "make it". Yeah, it'd probably survive but it wouldn't be happy or comfortable. They need the length to flush their gills so I would wait until you have a bigger set up. They are still some cool fish out there with out the tang family that will fit in a 30 gallong. I recently got a sixline wrasse and it is now my favorite fish. It has amazing coloring (green tail, pink stripes on a blue background, orange lips) and it's a really fun fish to watch. But that's just one example.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by tylersalzman
I've been to 4 different places today just looking at different fish and getting ideas of what I wanted in my tank and I have heard many different opinions on whether a yellow tang can make it in a 30 gallon tank. Most of the opinions said no, but one guy told me how he kept one in a 10 gallon once and it worked for him. Anyone else have any ideas or experience with this? My fiance and I really love the look of a yellow tang and would be so happy if we didn't have to wait til we got a bigger tank. Thanks!
Welcome to the boards!!! Be carefull of who's advice you take. Was the person who said he had a YT in a 10 gallon a salesperson at the store? Consider the source. People at certain LFS' will tell you anything to get you to buy something. The answer is a plain and simple no. A YT cannot be housed in a 30 gallon tank. They are very active fish and must have space to swim. A 6 foot long tank is recomended.

 

[teen]

i suggest not going back to the one guy that told you he kept one in a ten gallon.
simple answer is no.

 

[tylersalzman]

Originally Posted by garnet13aj
What do you mean by "make it". Yeah, it'd probably survive but it wouldn't be happy or comfortable. They need the length to flush their gills so I would wait until you have a bigger set up. They are still some cool fish out there with out the tang family that will fit in a 30 gallong. I recently got a sixline wrasse and it is now my favorite fish. It has amazing coloring (green tail, pink stripes on a blue background, orange lips) and it's a really fun fish to watch. But that's just one example.

So funny that you mention the wrasse, cause while looking at tangs today I noticed a sixline wrasse and am planning on getting it. They are very beautiful fish, and small enough for my tank.
Thanks to everyone for the advice... I will have to wait a few years to get a YT

But I guess it's better than buying one and having it be unhappy til it dies prematurely. Anyone know of any good angelfish for a 30 gal? I like the looks of some coral beauties and the flame angel, but I'm again not sure if my tank is big enough.

 

[rbrockm1]

you could look at it as you be confined in a jail cell for your life and not coming out. no room to move or nothing

 

[sign guy]

welcome to swf.com when I first started in the hobby I tried a few tangs in my 46 but could never keep one longer than 2 months. without the room to grow the fish will stress out and perish. like sepulation said A tang need a 6 foot long tank imho

 

[ophiura]

You've really made the right decision, thanks for asking and listening

 

[nicetry]

Your profile says you have a hippo tang in your 30. Is this correct?

 

[tylersalzman]

I apologize for my ignorance, but does what you guys say go for all tangs? Say for instance....completely hypothetical... that I ordered a blue hippo tang today... would he survive in my tank, or would I want to get something else instead?

 

[tylersalzman]

Originally Posted by nicetry
Your profile says you have a hippo tang in your 30. Is this correct?

Well.. I actually put the fish in my profile that I'm planning on getting, I currently only have 2 blue damsels in my tank, a chocolate star and 3 turbo snails. The damsels are going to have to go as they won't play nice with others.
I was just realizing that maybe the hippo wouldn't be a good call either.

 

[sign guy]

doubt he would make it more than a month

 

[ophiura]

There is absolutely no tang that can go in that size tank for any significant period of time. Again, very very short term as an only fish (almost as a QT for some of the tiny tangs they bring in these days). But not for one of any reasonable size, for more than a short stint.

 

[nicetry]

Originally Posted by tylersalzman
I apologize for my ignorance, but does what you guys say go for all tangs? Say for instance....completely hypothetical... that I ordered a blue hippo tang today... would he survive in my tank, or would I want to get something else instead?
This is a large open water fish that will grow to around a foot in length if given room. Cramp it and it will likely suffer from suppressed immune function and subsequent illness. They are also very prone to parasitic outbreaks. This would be a worse choice than the yellow.
simply put, surgeon fish (tangs) are fast, open water fish that do best with a lot of lateral swimming room. Six foot tanks are better for even the small species. Please get a different fish.
for a 30 gallon, look at clowns, small wrasses, gobies, basslets, chromis.

 

[teen]

if you want a dwarf angel, i suggest the pygmy.
also look into blennys, clown fish, and of course the sixline wrasse.
i suggest removing the damsels too. they will most likely pick on any new fish you introduce to the tank.

 

[tylersalzman]

Thankyou everyone for being so helpful and welcoming!! You guys have saved us a lot of heartache and pain. I'll just have to dream one day of the big beautiful fish we'll own. This seems like a sort of addicting and expensive hobby.. I can't wait to get into it more, haha