Talking Tangs

killer whale

killer whale

Member
Anyone out there love tangs? Of course you do fascinating creatures with diverse personalities, beautiful to behold, extremely intelligent and capable of forming unique relationships with their owners. I recently lost a Purple Tang that I had since 97'. I want to replace it with a Clown tang and would appreciate any feedback. Very knowledgeable when it comes to tangs, but smart enough to realize how little I know. Had sucess with six other types, I heard the Clown tang is the hardest. Why are they so hard? What are their specific needs?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by killer whale
http:///forum/post/3245318
Anyone out there love tangs? Of course you do fascinating creatures with diverse personalities, beautiful to behold, extremely intelligent and capable of forming unique relationships with their owners. I recently lost a Purple Tang that I had since 97'. I want to replace it with a Clown tang and would appreciate any feedback. Very knowledgeable when it comes to tangs, but smart enough to realize how little I know. Had sucess with six other types, I heard the Clown tang is the hardest. Why are they so hard? What are their specific needs?
Sorry for your loss. Keeping a Purple Tang for that long is an accomplishment.
From my understanding of Clown Tangs, they're difficult to keep because of the large amount of swimming room they need. They also need extremely clean water and some sites claim that the O2 level of the water is an issue as well

I've always steered clear of one because of the shear size of the tank they need and their aggression.
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3245320
Sorry for your loss. Keeping a Purple Tang for that long is an accomplishment.
From my understanding of Clown Tangs, they're difficult to keep because of the large amount of swimming room they need. They also need extremely clean water and some sites claim that the O2 level of the water is an issue as well

I've always steered clear of one because of the shear size of the tank they need and their aggression.
Thanks for the compliment, it makes me feel better. The water quality issue could probably be addressed by an R.O. unit. I dont think room is an issue the125g is six feet in length.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Actually i believe Henry has a gift for making Tangs walk, I think Meowzer has a talking tang now that I come to think of it. Oh sorry I misunderstood the title of your thread
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
i have kept tangs for a long time.i also just lost my purple to a bacteria infection that kept coming back .had him for 8 or 9 yrs.the clown tang is very aggressive and i wouldnt get one if you plan to keep other tangs.
if you know what you are doing with a tank meaning water tests and good filter set ups i dont think the water quality will be an issue.funny my fish supplier just emailed me his list of available fish for this week.someone traded him a 8 1/2 inch hippo and a 8 inch unicorn.he will sell them to me for $200.
what a steal.he is keeping them in qt with copper till next week for me .they came from a guy that had them for 3 yrs in a 125 gallon.his loss my gain.the supplier said they are healthy and fat.i love me some big fish.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Clown tangs are hard to keep because of bad collection practices. In the wild they inhabit extremely rocky/turbulent water (where the high O2 myth comes from). There's really no way for a diver to collect them, so they cyanide them. There are reasons a Clown tang is $39.99 and a Sohal tang (nearly identical fish, but from the Red Sea were they use modern technics) is $150+.
I think a 125gal is only going to be a short temporary home for a Clown tang, pending one lives. While a 6-foot tank might seem big, it's definitely not near enough for a medium Clown tang.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by killer whale
http:///forum/post/3245339
Thanks for the compliment, it makes me feel better. The water quality issue could probably be addressed by an R.O. unit. I dont think room is an issue the125g is six feet in length.
I would not put a Clown Tang in that! Way too small, these tangs are aggressive and in my opinion and many others, Clown Tangs need AT LEAST 150G.
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3245609
I would not put a Clown Tang in that! Way too small, these tangs are aggressive and in my opinion and many others, Clown Tangs need AT LEAST 150G.
I run a 70g sump so surface space shouldnt be an issue, But swimming space certainly will be an issue I will consider further. Thanks for the replies. p.s. my tangs talk great when no one is listning.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by killer whale
http:///forum/post/3245645
I run a 70g sump so surface space shouldnt be an issue, But swimming space certainly will be an issue I will consider further. Thanks for the replies. p.s. my tangs talk great when no one is listning.
The swimming space of a 125, even if you have a 6' 125 is really more what I'm referring to than actual water volume. I mean, I have a 155 with a Naso in it and he makes it look small.
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3245774
The swimming space of a 125, even if you have a 6' 125 is really more what I'm referring to than actual water volume. I mean, I have a 155 with a Naso in it and he makes it look small.
I understand, NASO tangs are awesome. My brother has a blonde with streamers, he told me the same thing. (not enough room) Any thoughts on the Unicorn Tang? Open to suggestions. Already own Yellow,Blue hippo and Kole.- 125g need to replace my Purple tang. Tank mates X3 Mandarin, 1- Red Hawkfish 1-Sebae Clownfish, 1-lawnmower blenny, 6-Peppermint shrimp, Coral baded shrimp (Sump)
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by killer whale
http:///forum/post/3245797
I understand, NASO tangs are awesome. My brother has a blonde with streamers, he told me the same thing. (not enough room) Any thoughts on the Unicorn Tang? Open to suggestions. Already own Yellow,Blue hippo and Kole.- 125g need to replace my Purple tang. Tank mates X3 Mandarin, 1- Red Hawkfish 1-Sebae Clownfish, 1-lawnmower blenny, 6-Peppermint shrimp, Coral baded shrimp (Sump)
That's what I have, Blonde Naso with streamers, I love him, but know that eventually he'll have to go. We're waiting for a house to be done being built and we're upgrading significantly when we move so we may still be able to keep him.
The Unicorn gets really big too. I don't know how much help with tangs for your tank I'm going to be, considering that I'm really against putting larger tangs in anything smaller than a 155. What about a Tomini or possibly a Powder Blue, Powder Brown, something from the Acanthurus family?
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3245886
That's what I have, Blonde Naso with streamers, I love him, but know that eventually he'll have to go. We're waiting for a house to be done being built and we're upgrading significantly when we move so we may still be able to keep him.
The Unicorn gets really big too. I don't know how much help with tangs for your tank I'm going to be, considering that I'm really against putting larger tangs in anything smaller than a 155. What about a Tomini or possibly a Powder Blue, Powder Brown, something from the Acanthurus family?
The powder brown scares me, I've heard they've been known to pick at soft corals. The powder blue is something I've overlooked. How did I forget about them? Thanks for the help going to do my homework. Theres no rush.
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
I added a powder blue to my 125 and I LOVE him/her. I have it in with a lavender tang, flagfin angel, long nose butterfly, 2 anthias, 2 firefish, ocellaris clown, and half black dwarf angel. If you get one, ask to see it eat, quarantine it, and get it fat and happy before you add it to your DT....they have an ick reputation for a reason!!! If you get one that is healthy and eating....you should be fine (other than aggression issues at first...you may want to move some rock around if possible to eliminate established territories of your other tangs).
I have all of my fish trained to eat food out of the turkey baster that I use to put it into the tank. They see it the first time when I get water through the egg crate to thaw out the frozen food....then, when it comes back, they know that it has food in it and they nip at it until I squirt it into the tank....it is a blast to watch!
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by browniebuck
http:///forum/post/3245906
I added a powder blue to my 125 and I LOVE him/her. I have it in with a lavender tang, flagfin angel, long nose butterfly, 2 anthias, 2 firefish, ocellaris clown, and half black dwarf angel. If you get one, ask to see it eat, quarantine it, and get it fat and happy before you add it to your DT....they have an ick reputation for a reason!!! If you get one that is healthy and eating....you should be fine (other than aggression issues at first...you may want to move some rock around if possible to eliminate established territories of your other tangs).
I have all of my fish trained to eat food out of the turkey baster that I use to put it into the tank. They see it the first time when I get water through the egg crate to thaw out the frozen food....then, when it comes back, they know that it has food in it and they nip at it until I squirt it into the tank....it is a blast to watch!
Thanks for the feedback. Your from Canton. That makes us neighbors. My other tangs in separate aquariums. Shouldn't have problems with aggression. My tangs are always king of their tanks. p.s. always quarantine.
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
got mine from Aquatic Technology, somewhere between a half hour and an hour from you (depending on where in Cleveland you live). We have no real good LFS around Canton....we always wind up going to the Cleveland area (Salty Critter, RMS Aquaculture, Aquatic Tech., and a couple others) when we are in the mood for some real "fishing". We have found a place in Akron, Two Turtles, that is pretty solid as well.
 
killer whale

killer whale

Member
Originally Posted by browniebuck
http:///forum/post/3246563
got mine from Aquatic Technology, somewhere between a half hour and an hour from you (depending on where in Cleveland you live). We have no real good LFS around Canton....we always wind up going to the Cleveland area (Salty Critter, RMS Aquaculture, Aquatic Tech., and a couple others) when we are in the mood for some real "fishing". We have found a place in Akron, Two Turtles, that is pretty solid as well.
Wow its a small world, Iknow all those spots. I live fifteen minutes away from RMS. Wont buy livestock from them any more, skeptical I think they,ve stopped Quareeteen. You might be alright shopping out of theyre display tanks, they are idependent from the main system and always seem healthy. Salty Critters is a goodchoice also check out Pets General Store in Lakewood Ohio. I like the mandarin great fish the way they hop around from spot to spot. Mine seems to study me. I'm Nemo this is Dori Bruce!!!!
 
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