Quote:
Originally Posted by
tangs rule http:///forum/thread/386050/so-far-so-good-6-tangs-2-angles-and-some-friends/20#post_3394461
For 2, in a 125, if you plan that to be their home for the next 15+ years and not go above 180 size - I'd say:
Acanthurus japonicus or A. nigricans (the powder brown or whitecheek tang) Both these species are not gonna get bigger than 6-7" in the home tank, they are pretty calm towards other tangs - and they are not bigtime swimmers needing lots of room, like the achilles, which swims CONSTANTLY - even at night. Your really borderline for A. achilles, for the 125 size tank. Even though the achilles only grows to the same size as the other 2, he is a constant swimmer, and you would have to stack your liverock in the center of the tank, leaving room in the front/back/sides - so the achilles can swim "laps" in the tank- which he will - constantly. My big DT is 8'x3'x3' and my rock is all center placement, so the achilles can have about a 20 foot lap, and he wears it out!! lol
A. pyroferus (chocolate tang) is one of the most underated of the acanthurus line IMO. They start out almost solid bright yellow - but morph with age into a very pretty yellow&brown/blue as adults and are pretty docile. The other most underated Acanthurus is the orange shoulder - but they get pretty big, and I know you already mentioned him.
A. leucosternon (powder blue) is also kinda borderline for a 125, but I kept one in my same size tank for 4 years till he moved into the 475, and it worked. (but he really needed bigger tank - I had planned a 200-300g upgrade earlier in life, but it took longer than planned... If you choose this species - he'll be the 2nd and LAST tang u add (and the last large fish to add too). PB's can be very agressive towards other tangs, and depending on the one you get - he may not ever allow another tang in the tank.
The Kole tang is a good choice too, along with the favorite hippo tang - you could do either. As far as the Zebrasoma species - the sailfin is out cause they get huge, the yellow and scopas tangs are very very agressive - so proceed with caution with either - and the pruple tang might work. I've one, and he's just sweet, very calm and never agressive - but he's an exception. Purple tangs can be kinda mean.
Others to cross off the list are the Naso sp. cause they get huge (Naso lituratus being the smallest - reaching 12" in the home tank - your borderline on tank size). And the clown and sohal tangs casue they get big too and both are about THE most territorial and mean tangs out there.
The trick to pairing tangs varies on your selection. I'd need more info on a specific pair on what would work best. So look at the experience list of the tangs I listed above, and look at the ones i didn't mention and pick a pair and i'll try to get more info on how to pair them up. There's another 12 or so species I didn't list - and some of them may work, so pick some pairs and let's start there.
Thanks Tangs Rule!!! This is a great help. I (my wife. lol) would like to think that I won't be upgrading tank size anytime soon. So, I would plan the fish I put in the tank based on that. I will do a lot more research today and try to come up with a pair and see what you think. Again, super big help!!!
