dreaded tang/tank size

apos

apos

Member
Seems pretty simple to me. In the wild, tangs generally patrol a territory of about 6 feet or so, back and forth, back and forth. In tanks 4 foot or less, you are basically denying them any chance of feeling like they control an area, which increases stress. This is why people recommend 6 foot tanks.
Does this mean a tang will keel over and die in a 4ft tank? No. But they are going to be at a significantly higher risk for stress related problems. That's just the way it is.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Footprint is the biggest issue. Tangs don't swim up and down from bottom to surface. They need horizontal space, so IMO it doesn't matter (too much) between a 55,75,or 90.
Given that, I would not keep an adult of any tang family in a tank that size for a long period of time, juveniles yes. The reason people get so heated is because people put them in these tanks and expect them to be fine forever (sometimes it works out but in most cases it doesn't) without planning on upgrading. IMO there is no point in buying a fish that you know isn't suitable for your tank and say "oh I'm going to upgrade in a year" save the money and just buy the bigger tank from square one. 1/2 the people that say they're going to upgrade probably don't, they only say so to get the "tang police" off their butts.
There should be a tang/tank size sticky. This comes up too much.
-Justin
 
coachklm

coachklm

Active Member
do a search on this you'll find everyones opinion on the subject..
I'm not playing 2 nights in a row...
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Don't worry, I have a blue whale in my bathtub

Seriously, if you don't have anything constructive to add, don't post.
-Justin
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
If you want some good info, and reasons behind some people's opinions, check out my thread:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/307649/am-i-a-member-of-the-tang-police
I am one of those that believes size does matter (and yes, I feel that a 55, 75, and 90 are all too small for MOST tangs), but I also don't feel we can force our opinions on others. All we can do is provide information and let the individual decide for themselves what they wish to do, knowing the implications.
 
chrgerondavins

chrgerondavins

Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
http:///forum/post/2489274
Don't worry, I have a blue whale in my bathtub

Seriously, if you don't have anything constructive to add, don't post.
-Justin
My porpose enjoys my glass of lemonade.
Man please, find something constructive to WORRY about. Maybe you need to lose someone close to you, to put things in perspective. If a comment of comic relief gets you upset enough to post about it, please take on another hobby, or create added drama in y our life.
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
Originally Posted by Snipe
http:///forum/post/2488404
I am just simply tired of reading about it and figured I would say something. If you do not like talking about this topic again like said before do not visit this thread its pretty well that easy.

So your tired of reading about it yet you felt the need to stir the pot ? I understand your opinion and can very well agree . I just think starting a fresh tang fight wasnt the best aproch to it . Maybe give advice when it comes up express your opinion and mo ve on instead of whippin up the tang frenzy in yet another post .
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
wasn't ment to bring up a fight arguement or anything. Just posting my two cents on the subject. like I have said one if you dont like the subject keep your nose out of the post and simply stop repling good god ppl its not that freakin hard.
This post was just my two cents on how ppl are saying this and that and a 55 75 or 90 really dont vary in footprint by all that much.
Im done with this site all you ppl know how to do is bash other ppl grow the hell up and get a life dont spend all your free time surfing a fish site to argue. Good lord ppl grow up!!
must be nice to know ya ran a member off that has been here for 5 or 6 years.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by cabin7882
http:///forum/post/2487062
I agree! I have a 46 gal bowfront with a tang and he is perfectly happy! I have had him for almost 2 years. But I agree that if he gets to big I will have to trade him in for a smaller one!
You need to ask yourself why the Tang hasn't out grown your tank yet...
Multiple threads on controversialy topics makes it difficult to get the same point across on each. In the future, it's probably better to post on one of hte active threads.
Tangs need several things; Stable environment, good water quality, Oxygen rich water, room to swim, lot's of rock to feed on and places to hide. These issues, along with the size Tangs get to, point to larger tanks being better.
Tangs, like all fish, need the proper nutrition to grow. If you keep a Tang in a small tank it should outgrow the tank. If it is not then there is an issue like it is not receiving the proper nutrition that it needs to grow.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by Snipe
http:///forum/post/2487022
Alright yall im tired of seeing this about ppl saying tangs cant live in anything smaller than a 75 or 90 gallon tank. Alright yes I agree tangs get rather long and need a bigger tank as of course I wouldnt like being cramped in something small but look at the perspective of things here.
a 55gallon tank on average is 48" long and around 12 to 13" wide. Alright a 75 is still only 48" long and just a few inches wider and most of the 90gallon tanks you see out there are still only 48" long maybe a inch or so wider than the 75 and a few inches taller. So how in tank length are we really improving the space needed for a tang? Just something been resting on me and tired of hearing the ppl say I wont keep my tang in a 55 only a 75 or ninty when there tank is not got really anymore swimming space than the 55gallon tank lol.

Footprint of the tank is everything. As pointed out in another thread, a 4 foot circular tank would be great, IMO, for a "smaller" type of tang.
But if you consider your 55g, put some LR in it. So now the fish doesn't have much room to turn. It gets pretty cramped in there. so the additional width in a larger tank does help that issue, because you can still have a good amount of LR (which IMO is critical for many species of tangs) and still have a comfortable amount of space to turn.
 
jon321

jon321

Member

Originally Posted by Snipe
http:///forum/post/2488410
and from my years of reading saltwater fish in tanks will not stunt there growth. That is the whole point on saying that fish needs a certain size tank. Saltwater fish have been in the ocean's for millions of years in a astonishing amount of space and they are pre programmed to grow to there full length. That is why ppl say they will out grow there tank and need a bigger one after so long or to place it in the appropriate size tank to begin with.
This is not entirely true, ALL fish have what is called indeterminant growth, which means they grow from the day they hatch to the day they die. Fish DO NOT have a "max size" like, say humans, which have determinant growth and completely stop growing at approx 18 years of age. The speed at which fish grow however changes based on age (slows with age), chemical parameters, nutritian, etc. A tang in a small tank WILL be stunted and not grow quickly due to the improper conditions, but it WILL eventually outgrow the tank anyways. A tang still being small when kept in a 46g tank for 2 years is a prime example of this, due to the improper conditions it may take 5+ years for the tang to grow to an average adult size. This is unhealthy and is reducing the potential lifespan of the fish.
Originally Posted by Snipe
http:///forum/post/2488410
Saltwater is not like freshwater in that area.
Not really sure what you mean by this, the ONLY fish Im aware of that actually grow to the size of their enclosure are goldfish and that is because they release growth inhibiting hormones into the water and when these hormones reach high concentrations, due to cramped conditions or infrequent water changes, the fish stop growing. Ive seen MANY oscars, pacu, arowanna, etc that have outgrown their tank.
Jon
 
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