The most hardy tang? Least hardy?

[farnorth]

I know this is a difficult question to ask and there are a bunch of opinions, but not to talk about tank size,QT, acclimation, etc. I was hoping in general to get everyones opinion on the tangs they feel are the most hardy and the least hardy and maybe why/experience with them. I would like to get another tang, but am trying to find one that is hardy. I have had two powder blues, a regal and one powder brown (Acanthurus japonicus) within the past 5 years. This is what I have gathered roughly in order from reading and the little experience with tangs I have had (I may be way off). I am also hoping others can use this info as well. Please anyone make your own list, my list of course does not include all tangs.
Most Hardy to Least Hardy
1.Yellow
2.Kole
3.Sailfin
4.Mimic
5.Convict
6.Naso
7.Chevron
8.Purple
9.Powder Brown (Acanthurus japonicus)
10.Blue Hippo
11.Sohal
12.Clown
13.Powder Blue
14.Gold Rim (Acanthurus nigricans)
15.Achilles

 

[flpriest]

Hi Farnorth

Well, here is my barely informed, inexperienced opinion. I've only had 3 tangs. A Yello Tang, Purple Tang, and a Blue Hippo. (Not all at the same time, yello and blue together, then the blue and purple together, now, just my Blue Hippo) My Yellow Tang died during my bought with ICH

, which my Blue hippo survived through

. Then I got the Purple after I had the ICH cleared up. But for some reason I could never get him to well. It was almost as if he were blind, and couldn't find the food, and he starved.

So I guess my opinion on hardiness with these three would be in that order.
1. Blue Hippo
2. Yellow Tang
3. Purple Tang.

 

[azfishgal]

OH, I'm glad you asked this question as I am very curious about this myself. I personally want a hippo tang, but I've been reading tangs seem to be susceptible to ich, so I'm waiting to see what the experts say. ***)

 

[sepulatian]

I would actually move the purple a little lower on the list. It is not a question of ease. Some need lots of mature live rock, some need a large tank, some just need an established tank. ALL are scaleless and get ich very easiliy. Always QT your new arivals.

 

[cwgibson]

in my personal experience i would have to put the vlamingi at the top of the list.

 

[catawaba]

My hippo was given to me at 1" !!!! TINY!
I put him in the QT for a month and then to the DT.
He is now 5" and fat. No ich.
I think most tangs are fairly hardy--get a GOOD look at them at the LFS and then acclimate correctly into a QT. Then move to DT after a few weeks. Tangs are on a bell curve IMO....Only some are 'fragile'---the Achilles, the powders, and maybe the purple.....By nature, all tangs demand high water quality, movement, and grazing (i.e. Lots of rockwork/algae diet)
My personal idea is that the net caught, fat, and happy tangs are hardy tangs as long as the hobbyist assumes the responsibility of good husbandry.
Yellow, Kole (although can be one of the 'shyest' tangs, the Red Sea Dej. Sailfin, and the Hippo are all at the top of my list.

 

[azfishgal]

You got a 1" Hippo and now it's 5"????!!!!

That's what I want to do, but I've been told it's not good to get them small. But you sure did it. I also know I will wait until my tank is well established because the Hippo is my favorite fish and I want to do good by him. Do you have any pics of your Hippo!!! :happyfish

 

[1journeyman]

Farnorth, have you had 3 tangs die in 5 years? If so there seems to be another issue at play.

 

[cwgibson]

Originally Posted by Catawaba
My hippo was given to me at 1" !!!! TINY!
I put him in the QT for a month and then to the DT.
He is now 5" and fat. No ich.
I think most tangs are fairly hardy--get a GOOD look at them at the LFS and then acclimate correctly into a QT. Then move to DT after a few weeks. Tangs are on a bell curve IMO....Only some are 'fragile'---the Achilles, the powders, and maybe the purple.....By nature, all tangs demand high water quality, movement, and grazing (i.e. Lots of rockwork/algae diet)
My personal idea is that the net caught, fat, and happy tangs are hardy tangs as long as the hobbyist assumes the responsibility of good husbandry.
Yellow, Kole (although can be one of the 'shyest' tangs, the Red Sea Dej. Sailfin, and the Hippo are all at the top of my list.
doesnt this make you feel proud! i hate to challenge you but mine was only about the size of a half dollar when i got her and she is in the 4-5 in range. azfishgal you are right it is usually not a good idea to get them this small i had another that didnt make it at this size.

 

[catawaba]

I consider myself VERY lucky....
Like I said, she was given to me----VERY tiny. I would have NEVER purchased one so small....and discourage my LFS from offering them so small....but she was like the 'runt of a litter' and they didn't think she'd make it. I said that I would give her a good home if they were gonna just turn their back on her.
I'm out of town until tomorrow, but will then post a photo of "Ellen"

 

[seannmelly]

I don't get if your list is of your opinion of the hardest to least hardiest or if you are asking of the ones you listed which are the hardiest. So I'll list IMO the hardiest to least hardiest. (keep in mind this depends on the individual fish and tank size and all the other things that come into play while keeping a tang). And keep in mind this is my personal experience w/ these tangs.
Some of the hardiest tangs come from the Zebromosa(sp) species I.E. Yellow, Purple, Sailfin and Red Sea (Des) Sailfin
Just as hardy are the Naso. Hawaiin or Red Sea Blonde Naso
And the Sohal tang.
Next is the Paracanthurs sp. Blue hippo Tang
Then you can group the: Convict, Clown, Powder blue, powder brown, achilles, Gold rim all together. The most hardiest in my experience is the powder blue, brown, and convict. the least is definately the achilles.
I have no had any experience w/ the Chevron, have never even seen one in person so I can't help you there.
Hope this gives you some perspective.
Melly

 

[bill109]

wierd i always thought tht the blue was a hard tang to keep alive since i lways see em with ick,, but the lfs never have good water
it said above tht it isnt a good iidea to buy them small? i know the survvila rate depaned on their size but is there a specific reason why it isnt a good i dea to buy one small? the lfs always have them / i see them from a little over in inch?(are those ones tht hard ones) to about 5-7 inche.!
i must say what a nice fish :cheer:

 

[seannmelly]

Originally Posted by bill109
wierd i always thought tht the blue was a hard tang to keep alive since i lways see em with ick,, but the lfs never have good water
it said above tht it isnt a good iidea to buy them small? i know the survvila rate depaned on their size but is there a specific reason why it isnt a good i dea to buy one small? the lfs always have them / i see them from a little over in inch?(are those ones tht hard ones) to about 5-7 inche.!
i must say what a nice fish :cheer:
In my opinion I would not by a Blue tang smaller then 3-4". As long as one at least 3" eats well and is healthy when you acquire them, I honestly believe they will be just fine as long as they aren't being harassed 24/7 by other fish. Smaller ones will eat, but in a larger tank they get lost among the Chaos and are more subseptable(sp) to disease. It really depends on the specimen itself. As long as it is healthy and eating like a horse with the right tankmates it should be fine.
Melly*

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by seannmelly
In my opinion I would not by a Blue tang smaller then 3-4". As long as one at least 3" eats well and is healthy when you acquire them, I honestly believe they will be just fine as long as they aren't being harassed 24/7 by other fish. Smaller ones will eat, but in a larger tank they get lost among the Chaos and are more subseptable(sp) to disease. It really depends on the specimen itself. As long as it is healthy and eating like a horse with the right tankmates it should be fine.
Melly*
thank you for the response
would it have a roblem if it was say 2-3 inches and was the biggest/one of the biggest fish in the tank?

 

[seannmelly]

Originally Posted by bill109
thank you for the response
would it have a roblem if it was say 2-3 inches and was the biggest/one of the biggest fish in the tank?
As long as he is the only tang and you are feeding him properly then he should be fine.
Melly

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by seannmelly
As long as he is the only tang and you are feeding him properly then he should be fine.
Melly
i think he should be fine with other tangs if he is the same size s the others
or introduced at the same time

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by cwgibson
doesnt this make you feel proud! i hate to challenge you but mine was only about the size of a half dollar when i got her and she is in the 4-5 in range. azfishgal you are right it is usually not a good idea to get them this small i had another that didnt make it at this size.
That's what I was thinking. I will look for a 3" one when I go shopping (a ways away though).
Can't wait to see a pic of Ellen! :jumping:

 

[cwgibson]

here is the one i got,like i said she was about the size of a half dollar when i first got her.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by cwgibson
in my personal experience i would have to put the vlamingi at the top of the list.
as easy?

 

[jon321]

The problem with tiny fish is that they are easily damaged during shipping, and suffer from starvation much quicker than larger fish. The couple days they are shipped and acclimated can be enough to put them over the edge. The 3-4" range should be considered the 'ideal' size, not saying that smaller or larger are impossible by any means though. Even the most delicate tangs are most adaptable at around 3-4".
Jon