Purple Tang Tank size

[larryndana]

I'm just curious.
I saw a beautiful Purple Tang today at my lfs. Was the smallest tang I have ever seen someone sell. He couldn't have been much bigger than a quarter, well his body was at least. Oh, my question....Would he be ok in a 24g aquapod for no less than 6 months? I plan on buying a bigger tank, just curious. I know they need bigger tanks, but being so small would he be ok for awhile.

 

[rbrockm1]

should be fine. but hes gon to need a 100+ gallon tank when he gets bigger. your not suppose to keep them in small tanks but it comes down to you. you'll get a lot of diff advice. just make sure you do get a bigger tank for him

 

[drea]

will be fine for a very short period of time......

 

[renogaw]

lfs near me has had the same purple tang for over 2 years in a 75 gallon. its his pride and joy of the store and not for sale.

 

[alyssia]

He will not be okay in a 24.

 

[jacksonpt]

Normally I'd say he will be fine. But tangs are pretty delicate fish, and more prone to ick than other fish. By putting him in a small tank you could be unduely stressing him, making him that much more prone to ick.
Do you really want to risk an ick outbreak in your tank?

 

[drea]

no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF A TANG OR ANY FISH FOR THAT MATTER HAS ICH, IT HAS IT, IF IT DOSEN'T HAVE IT, IT DOSEN'T..... A FISH WILL NOT GET ICH FROM BEING STRESSED UNLESS IT HAS ICH
the purple tang should be fine in a 24 if you know what you are doing! and there isn't any other fish in there! but as soon as the fish gets to like 2.5 - 3 inches i would move him... some tangs can grow really fast!
alwasy quarintine your fish first!

 

[jacksonpt]

Originally Posted by drea
no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF A TANG OR ANY FISH FOR THAT MATTER HAS ICH, IT HAS IT, IF IT DOSEN'T HAVE IT, IT DOSEN'T..... A FISH WILL NOT GET ICH FROM BEING STRESSED UNLESS IT HAS ICH
Right, but fish, especially tangs, can have ick without it being obvious (very light cases, very early stanges, that sort of thing). You stress it by putting it in a small tank and the ick will get worse.
But I see your point - I didn't mean to imply that it could be perfectly healthy then "catch" ick simply by being put in a small tank (assuming ick isn't already in the tank).

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by drea
A FISH WILL NOT GET ICH FROM BEING STRESSED UNLESS IT HAS ICH
I disagree. A stressed fish, especially a Tang, will have a supressed immune system. This will make it more likely that Ick can infect the fish.
In my opinion a Purple Tang should not be kept in a tank less than 6 feet long no matter how small it is.

 

[larryndana]

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm not planning on getting him, he was just so cute.
As far as tank size and ick....
I know that you should keep a tang in a big tank, but being so small I can see the need in it. I do agree my 24g would be to small....but if I had a 55g i wouldn't hesitate. Of course knowing I'd have to upgrade 6months down the road. Am I way off base with this thinking?
Ick, I'm not worried about. I have a qt tank that can be hypo'd and fish being qt'd before putting in display.