tang question

[fishfreek]

I really like yellow and regal tangs! My problem is hat i only have a 45g tank with about 35 pounds or live rock. I know it is not recomended that a tang go in this size tank, but is it possable to add avery small one and after it out grows the tank return him to the LFS? My LFS carries regals about the size of a quater or so, will these grow real fast? Also, they occasionally carry yellows about 2" long. I was thinking about the ick factor and was wondering if i were to Q-tank it for four weeks and medicate for ick during this time will it stay ick free? I ask this because i finally got my main tank to be ick free and don't want to screw that up again. Any suggestions?

 

[gobylover]

Well first,I would say ok to a small tang as long as you plan to get a bigger tank soon.They do grow fairly fast and need a lot of room to swim around.As far as the ick goes,you should always quarantine new fish if you have one.But you don't want to treat the fish if it is not sick.The reason you quarantine is to observe the fish for any diseases.If it does break out with ick,or you learn of a parasite,then you can treat.If it looks and acts ok after about 2 weeks,then you should be safe putting it temporaraly in your 45.HTH

 

[fishgirl]

I really like yellow and regal tangs too!
IME: I have had a 3" Yellow Tang in a 30 gallon fish-only for two years now. He has not grown too much but I know he will so I'm moving him soon to the new 75 gallon semi-reef I'm setting up. When I first got him I put him in a QT for three weeks. He got ick as predicted but I treated him, he got better, I put him in the main tank, and he's never been sick again!
IMO: A 45 gallon would be fine for a small and healthy regal or yellow tang so long as you give him plenty of greens, don't put very many other fish in there, and upgrade or take him back when he gets too big (which he will in 1-2 years). Good luck! Tangs can be tough, but they're more than worth it!

 

[fishgirl]

Gobylover you must type faster than me! Yes, I agree don't treat unless the fish is sick. As far as ick, I like isolation, hyposalinity, garlic, and/or cleaner shrimps better than chemicals to more naturally and effectivly boost your fish's immune system. Many swear by CopperSafe but I don't feel very comfortable with it even just in a hospital tank - I've gotten only partial results but this is only my experience.

 

[fishfreek]

I agree with everyone. Thanks for the quick replies. I too have, and still use the cleaner shrimp/garlic methods and have had pretty good results so far. When i said i would treat the Q-tank i meant that when parasites were visable (and they more than likely will be) that treatment would start than.
Fishgirl, have you ever had a regal? Did you have any other fish in you 30gal with your tang? I currently have a pair of common clownfish and a blue damsel. Does this sound like this still might work?
thanks,

 

[jimi]

Is there any other fish in the tank? I too agree you could add a small one of your choice. I personally would qt it for a few days then use hyposalinity anyway. I read an article that says there is evidence found on tangs that appears to be ich coexisting with the fish and not multiplying until times of stress.

 

[salttrigger]

I got a regal tang,tomato clown,orange-spotted goby and a redlip blenny in a 60 gal tank and they are doing fine.

 

[fishfreek]

jimi, i do have a pair of false percs in the tank along with a blue damsel.
As far as the hyposalinity goes, should i start the Q-tank salinity at 1.020 or so and do gradual water changes daily to get the sg to 1.009? Is it possable to use a standard box type hydrometer to do this?
Thanks,

 

[aquarius]

I'm in a similar situation...I have a 40 gallon f/o with 2 (3) stripe damsels in it right now. I'm planning buy a new fish within the next week or so and I was looking in to Regal/Hippo Tangs. My dad has a 70 gallon and he has had quite a few hippo's in there and it has sparked my interest too. For the most part they are very good fish, and he has kept them for many years at a time. He would buy them at about the size of a quater and they would get to about 5 inches in length. They're usually fairly peaceful but the only downfall is they need good conditions. He kept them in pairs and I think thats what I'm gonna do too. Although the fish may qrow quite large in other tanks, it will only grow to the size of your tank. So I would try it just as long as your tank is in good shape and you maintain good water conditions/feedings.

 

[amphiprion]

Although the fish may qrow quite large in other tanks, it will only grow to the size of your tank.
Aquarius,
Could you please point me to where you read this?

 

[aquarius]

Its simple cuz say for instance you have a yellow tang in a 40 gallon and a yellow tang in a 150 gallon, the one in the 150 is obviously going to get bigger than the one in the 40 because the tank is bigger with less stress factors that may influence growth.

 

[jimi]

Fishfreek you should start you qt with a sp of 1.023 let the new fish adjust for two days then drop the sp over three days to 1.009. Regular hydrometer may not be acurrate enough unless you can get yours compared to a refractometer to see if it is true.

 

[seatank]

i say go for it i have a naso in a 45 gallon
that is about 5 inches long had him there for about 7 months got him at about 2 inches.
now that he is growing i can not wait till my 180 gallon is cycled. also have a 75 gallon aggressive tank when my 180 is cycled i will be useing my 45 as a qt tank.

 

[amphiprion]

Its simple cuz say for instance you have a yellow tang in a 40 gallon and a yellow tang in a 150 gallon, the one in the 150 is obviously going to get bigger than the one in the 40 because the tank is bigger with less stress factors that may influence growth.

Well, this is exactly the point I am trying to make. Why would you put a tang in a 40 gallon tank that you know will stress the fish, stunt it's growth? This is obviously not good for the long term health of the fish. IMO that's why so many people on this board have experienced ich in their tanks..inappropriate fish in inappropriate size tanks. As responsible hobbiests, I don't think we should be promoting this.

 

[aquarius]

True, true. You are right. I wouldn't recommend keeping the fish in the tank for an extended period of time, even more so if it has a tendency to become a large fish. In my case, my dad has a 70 gallon and my uncle has a 150 gallon so at the first sign of stress, I have two larger aquariums to put the hippo in. Sorry about the post, my bad.