Several "Potential" Tang ?s

[nyy fan]

Here goes nothing:
1. How long should a tank be up for (mature) for a Tang to enter the system, while not getting too stressed, and do well from the start?
2. What type of Tang is the most easy to have success with (I realize this is opinion-based, but just pick one)?
and
3. If I start with a really young one, rather small, can I pull this off in a 37G soon to be running a good skimmer and a 20K MH canopy with about 55# in LR?
Who's got the answers?

 

[stacy]

I don't think that I would put any size tang in a 37. I've got a powder brown and he loves to swim. He is constantly moving from one end to the other. Right now he is only around 3". I just added him to my 80 gallon, and plan on moving him to a 135 within the year. I also tried a NASO, but they seem to stress really easy. I beleive that my blenny chasing him around stressed him out and he didn't last long.

 

[kev]

First off, a 37gal is too small for a tang to be happy. PLZ don't cram a tang in it. If you put one in there it will be more likely to come down with some sort of disease. As far as how long to wait before you can add a tang to the tank... My sailfin has been in my tank from day 2(and I mean only 2 days of having water in the tank)!!! Yes, I know, this is horrible to place a tang in a 20(even more so in a tank that isnt cycled!!!). But this was back in the day with my crappy LFS advice. Anyways, I've had two tangs this way and they both lived through the cycle. I'm just saying this to mention how hardy they are... DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT place tangs in an uncycled tank(unless your interested in keeping dead saltwater fish). I would say if you waited 2-3 months your tank would be fine for a tang. If I were going to name the "hardier" tangs, I would have to say the yellow, kole, and the pacific sailfin.

 

[nyy fan]

I realize that 75G and up is what everyone says, but I also know there are members of this BB that have Tangs in a 37G or less.
Is there anyone out there that is having success with a Tang in a smaller-sized tank?

 

[jla9508]

I have Blue Hippo in a 55 gal. It is going back to the lfs this week. I agree with everyone else that says 75 gal or larger. Tangs need lot of room. With out the needed room they will get stressed. More than likely with a Tang when they get stressed they get ick. Mine had ick but luckly it was the only fish in the tank so I could treat it. If I had it to do over again I would have never bought the tang, they need a larger tank.

 

[scott270]

what kind for a 75

 

[stacy]

Alot of people get the tangs when they are very small 1-2" then plan on upgrading to a larger tank later. I to have some freinds that keep a blue hippo in a 37 and it seems to be doing O.K. I've even though about doing that, but I just don't think that would be good for the fish. One person on this BB even said they would get one keep it a year or so then trade it in for another. Remember its your tank, and your choice. If you do get one try to find one that is very small, and plan on upgrading your tank later. Also stay away from the tangs that get extremely large.

 

[richard rendos]

Tangs like room to swim around, but I kept a small yellow in a 29 for a year and a half before I got a bigger tank to put him in. He is now in a 54 gallon and doing great. Water quality and proper nutrition are the keys to keeping a healthy tang I think. He has been in the 54 gallon for alomost two years now.

 

[y2says]

1) I would wait a couple of months before putting a tang in your tank, just to be on the safe side. I would actually put them last if you can, since most or territorial and agressive to newcomers.
2) I would stay with the yellow, kole, scopas, or sailfin. My sailfin went through everything and is still alive and healthy right now. Make sure you vary their diets and feed them greens.
3) I agree with the rest as far as having a larger tank for a tang. If you get a small one, it will do ok for awhile. If you plan on upgrading then I say go for it. Just keep an eye out on it.

 

[nyy fan]

What I am looking for Anthem is opinions. Obviously I got yours...thanks. As for Y2SAYS, he/she gave me answers to the ?s...no more, no less = nice work.
The reason I want people to post about the subject is that I have seen others lose fish (mostly Tangs) in less than a week. So if there are people out there who have grown a healthy fish in a small tank, only to later either upgrade or turn it into a good LFS...I want those stories too.

 

[fshhub]

ok, let's try this approach
all of you who would like to have a tang please read,
i agree with most here, tangs need larger tanks, they do NOT grow to fith the tank at all, but to size(yes it is generally a litttle smaller than in the wild, but still large), AND the tank size reccomendation is not b/c the size of the fish wiht tangs, but mostly due to the fact that thye are aggressive swimmers and need lots of swim area(4 ft or more, prefer more, and 75 gallons plus is best yet)
now, lets go on to add that tangs are highly succeptible to ick, which is often caused partly due to stress in the tank, and i know for a fact(myself being a living creature) that i need to have room to move about, or i get stressed as well, and if i were kept in a room not much longer than i am(or will be) then i would definitely be VERY stressed(for life), not saying having a small tank is a guarentee for ick, but it does sensibly create the possiblity of added potential
now, don't get me wrong, tangs are one of the coolest fish you could have, but they should have more room than most of us can offer, i am jsut saying to buy sensibly
hearty, i like the koles tang and convict tangs
and as for time, a cycled tank, IMO is plenty, we added our koles after the tank was done cycling(maybe 3 or 4 weeks) but not much more
HTH

 

[jim672]

I had a hippo and a sailfin in my 45. Big mistake. Although I bought them both small, they grew very rapidly. Both were 3-4" within a year and both died of ick....along with my other fish.