Fish wish list

[heavenly damsel]

Setting up our 105 gallon Oceanic, cycling now. Am putting together a fish wish list.
So far I want 3 Yellow Tangs and some clowns to play in an anemone. Any other suggestions?

 

[moby da goby]

I don't think I would put the three yellows in together. Even if they are small now they will grow and possibly get a little rambunctious with each other. You could get away with something like a yellow tang and a kole tang for example (different species).
But I always wondered, if you shouldn't keep the same species together, why then, can a lfs get away with keeping about a dozen purple tangs in one tank. I know they aren't selling all at once.

 

[heavenly damsel]

From the research I have done the Tangs will be fine as long as they are the same size, added at the same time and enough to call a "school". If you can believe what you read.

 

[von_rahvin]

a flame angel or a coral beauty. Naso tangs are great looking fish. is this a reef tank or a a FO or a FOWLR? all of these things determine your ability to keep different species of fish. some fish (the Mandarin dragonette for instance) have to hev a reef like enviroment that is well established to even survive. while you would neve put a dwarf lion or a voltain lion anywhere near a reef tank. so what kind of system are you thinking about setting up.

 

[heavenly damsel]

We are working on setting up a reef tank. Want just a few fish so I am being very selective. We have an invert package from SWF.com already. Bought a xenia and some mushrooms at the LFS. Thought 3 yellow Tangs and maybe some clarki clowns. What do you think for one other fish?

 

[fish for life.]

I agree with s tangs bing a risk, I would do some research on this. Finding a lfs that has three living together for awhile obviously will decrease your risk.

 

[holacanthus]

Tangs in the wild live in large schools that cruise the reef browsing on algae! I would think that more than 3 would be need for that schooling thing, in my 220g I have 5 and they all get along very well! Why wouldn't one not put a lion near a reef? I've had lace scorpionfish and dwarf lions in reefs, they just create a lot of waste, nothing vigorous skimming and lots of lr with a good clean-up crew couldn't handle but hey evryoneone has their own opinion!

 

[sinner's girl]

"But I always wondered, if you shouldn't keep the same species together, why then, can a lfs get away with keeping about a dozen purple tangs in one tank. I know they aren't selling all at once."
i asked a lfs this and was told since they are in such small space they don't have room to fight...plus they are only there for a short period of time not for live...***** and the lfs i go always has tangs in diff tanks....

 

[kris]

I disagree-the smaller the confines the more likely fish are to fight---However with tangs I was always told either have only one or a school-like over 8 -if they are the same species. different tangs can be kept together better if they have different body styles--like a purple and a naso. Have you ever noticed when reading info on fish it will often say something like...intolerant of same species or species with similar body size and shape?? I guess I would not get the three--but then I also like alot of variety in my tanks.
Good Luck