tangs in 55 gallons? which type if any

[clownrico]

rudedog40 wrote
If you spend more money, a purple tang would be happy in a 55. I believe they don't get any bigger than 6", unlike a Blue Hippo that can grow up to 14". I have a blue hippo in my 55. I'm like the others who keep them until it gets too big for the tank. I don't get emotionally attached to my fish. You can pretty much tell when a fish gets uncomfortable in its environment - erratic swimming, heavy breathing, change in color, etc. When that happens to my blue hippo, I'll take him to my LFS and use him for trade bait.
first i want to to reply to you rudedog40, next journeyman1, rudeboy, im glad to hear your opinion, that is what this site is designed for, i def agree with you, you kno i never thought of gettin a purple tang!! how cool is that, i havent checked ur profile out, i wanna see pics, and all that good stuff.. i love my fish but dont agree anyone who believes a tang cant be happy in a 55gallon.
journeyman1 i think ur a complete rude person, i jus wana say that before u lock anyones thread u need to leave, if you cant handle reading peoples experiences with tangs then dont read them. i thinks its very funny how you say, "you want to lock it, to avoid a riot, i think you wanted to start one. trouble maker, and i wouldnt trust a word you write.!

 

[patandlace]

I wouldn't put any tang in a 55. Purple tangs don't get quite as big as blue hippo's but they still get bigger than 6" and require a lot of open swimming room. If you wait untill the fish is changing color, breathing heavily and swimming erraticly you've waited way too long and the fish's health and life are in jeoperdy. Not a good practice or responsible reef keeping IMO.

 

[nathanrudy9]

i definately agree i have 2 bh tangs in my 55 and they are very happy. they are 1 in. and 3in. and get along quite well...they seem so happy so is my daughter.

 

[nathanrudy9]

im thinking about adding a 2 in powder blue tang in my 55 as well..i belive as long as thyre very small they are ok...i do plan on upgrading to a 180-260 in the next 12-18 months. Just waiting on the house to be renovated.

 

[rcreations]

A lot of people have very strong opinions on this. But I think as long as you're responsible and move the fish to a bigger tank when it gets too big, it should be ok in a 55 gal. For what is worth, if you read Natural Reef Aquariums by John Tullock, he mentions you can have a yellow tang in a 55gal tank, IF you move it to a bigger tank when it grows too big.

 

[nathanrudy9]

thats prob abetter idea to get a tiny yellow tang instead of the powder blue...besides i can use a nice vibrant yellow fish.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by ClownRico
rudedog40 wrote
If you spend more money, a purple tang would be happy in a 55. I believe they don't get any bigger than 6", unlike a Blue Hippo that can grow up to 14". I have a blue hippo in my 55. I'm like the others who keep them until it gets too big for the tank. I don't get emotionally attached to my fish. You can pretty much tell when a fish gets uncomfortable in its environment - erratic swimming, heavy breathing, change in color, etc. When that happens to my blue hippo, I'll take him to my LFS and use him for trade bait.
first i want to to reply to you rudedog40, next journeyman1, rudeboy, im glad to hear your opinion, that is what this site is designed for, i def agree with you, you kno i never thought of gettin a purple tang!! how cool is that, i havent checked ur profile out, i wanna see pics, and all that good stuff.. i love my fish but dont agree anyone who believes a tang cant be happy in a 55gallon.
journeyman1 i think ur a complete rude person, i jus wana say that before u lock anyones thread u need to leave, if you cant handle reading peoples experiences with tangs then dont read them. i thinks its very funny how you say, "you want to lock it, to avoid a riot, i think you wanted to start one. trouble maker, and i wouldnt trust a word you write.!
1journeyman is one of the nicest and most knowledgeable people on this board. Just because you dont like his answers doesnt mean he isnt correct. Once you see a tang struggling to live in a 55 you will understand. I've been there when I first started out. I had a hippo and a yellow in a 55 as 2 of my first fish about 5 years ago. They quickly outgrew the tank (within a year) and I was forced to trade them in before they grew sickly. Most of us here try to get fish that we can keep for life, not with the intention of getting rid of them when they get too big.

 

[sexyshrimp101]

I think a lot of people who talk about getting a tang while it is small and upgrading are missing the point. From all of the research I have done on here, as well as other places, no matter how big the tang is, they still need the 6' of swimming room because they are such active swimmers. So even if the tang is 2" long, it still needs the 6' because it will swim just as much as an adult. At least this is what I have widely read.

 

[al mc]

Very little is gained by expressing opinions about someone personally on any
on line forum. Reasonable people can disagree or have different opinions about SWF. Sharing those opinions can be beneficial. Sharing opinions about a person or your perception of their character has little benefit whether you are a member, visitor or moderator.

 

[rudedog40]

Originally Posted by sexyshrimp101
I think a lot of people who talk about getting a tang while it is small and upgrading are missing the point. From all of the research I have done on here, as well as other places, no matter how big the tang is, they still need the 6' of swimming room because they are such active swimmers. So even if the tang is 2" long, it still needs the 6' because it will swim just as much as an adult. At least this is what I have widely read.

Where do you get this 6 foot rule? Like you said, tangs are open water swimmers. Do you honestly think 2 extra feet makes a big difference to them? The extra 2 feet just gives them another 2 seconds of room before they have to turn around again. My blue hippo seems perfectly happy right now. He plays "follow the leader" with my Coral Beauty, schools with my chromis, and tries nudging up to my puffer (who doesn't want to have anything to do with him). I watch my tank quite often, and the hippo pretty much swims the same pattern as my other fish. He doesn't go darting back and forth across my tank. If the other fish are hovering in a corner, he hovers with them. If they are swimming between the rocks, he follows along. Have you ever tried putting a tang in your tank? If not, don't criticize the people who do just because they don't follow the same beliefs and philosophies of the 'Tang Police' who patrol this forum.

 

[nathanrudy9]

theres nothing wrong with trading in fish after a year or two its nice to watch them grow... 55 gal is fine...for small tangs. some ppl are just too smart for themselves...plan on getting a yellow tang today 1 in. it will be my 3rd tang in my 55 when they outgrow it they will be put into a tank more suitable for thyre needs...
p.s. you dont have to stick up for the journeyman he wont ban you from the forum...everone can post thier opinions...

 

[jonthefishguy]

Originally Posted by rudedog40
Do you honestly think 2 extra feet makes a big difference to them?
Two extra feet matters to every fish.

 

[nathanrudy9]

ofcourse its prob better to keep tangs in larger tanks.. but its not gonna kill them in a 55 gal.. u guys are too strict for the regualr hobbyist...if u guys wana keep them in the best possible conditions thats one thing but clearify yourselves and dont say you CANT keep tangs in a 55 gal. if they are small tangs they will be fine...i had a blonde naso tang 8 in. in the 55 gal for 3 months then traded him in to the lfs. he was fine. the 3 small tangs in the 55 will be fine for at least 18 months.

 

[clownrico]

yea very little is gained by closing someones thread!, i love coming to this website to listen, to read, to open my mind up, and if theres going to be ppl like journeyman1 who cant handle ppls opinion then whats the point of respecting them. i ask questions because i want to hear what people have done, it seems ppl on here want to make decisions, for other people.. i have the last decision. we all love our fish, thats the point people are missing, noones saying can i put a tang in a 10gallon, come on. a 55gallon is a great home for a small tang, and i think they will def thrive there. haha nathan your too funny! people must be affraid of him, btw dragon, he never gave his opinion, he jus locked my thread, and thats not cool. thats not someone ill trust givingme advice. really though, i still think no tank is big enough, for any fish, even little chromis, as cute as they are they need open ocean to swimm, so tangs are jus the same, we cant make a ocean, we can though keep them happy, and let them experience our homes, then move em to a larger tanks, and so on thats sounds like a great life to me, if ur going to be in a tank.

 

[sexyshrimp101]

I agree that no one but yourself has a final say, and like you said, it is just my opinion

. People can take it or leave it, and most everybody is here to help and learn along the way. But that is what everyone comes to this forum for though is for advice and to learn, and also to admire beautiful tanks and fish.

 

[sexyshrimp101]

Originally Posted by jonthefishguy
Two extra feet matters to every fish.
Whole heartedly agreed

 

[rcreations]

Wouldn't tangs be even happier in the ocean where they have LOTS of room to swim? I'm not trying to be a {EDIT LANGUAGE}, just stating that if we want what is absolutely best for tangs, we should leave them in the ocean. Heck, I'm sure every fish would be happier in the ocean.
Again, I have no interest in being a {EDIT LANGUAGE} I have no interest in getting a tang either. But I think some people are too hard on others who are just trying to enjoy the hobby and do the best they can with what they have.

 

[renogaw]

certain tangs should be left in the ocean, but as responsible aquarist (SP?) we should give all the animals the best home outside the ocean that we can.
if that means a 6' long tank, it means a 6' long tank.

 

[nathanrudy9]

well some poeple already have a 55 setup and that the best they can do for now...a 1in. bh tang in the ocean will prob not survive very long i dont know the stats..but im sure most of them dont live very long pct. wise...so any fish you get out of the ocean and put him in a home aquarium prob has a better survival rate than in the open sea...just my opinion...

 

[renogaw]

are you serious?
do you think there are no baby fish in the ocean?
that's why they school and hide in the rock... do you think there are no fish smaller than 1" out there that aren't blue hippos?