2 tangs in a 90?

[Reefaine8]

I am putting together my stocking list for a 90 with 30 gallon sump. I would like to have a yellow tang and white tail bristletooth tang as the only fish. Is this feasible?

 

[rsain]

What length is the tank?

This is a hotly discussed topic - and a search will reveal many opinions. But tangs need space to swim. Lots of it.

- -ryan

 

[Reefaine8]

It is only 48 inches sadly.

 

[Cheje]

I wouldn't just because it would look empty.

 

[rsain]

Over the years I have always heard 72" minimum for most tangs. I have kept them in smaller tanks and then gave/sold them as they grew - but always felt bad. I am not an expert on tang keeping - just relaying what I think is a responsible consensus.

Please correct me if I'm wrong - or someone chime in with what types of tangs the OP could keep.

- ryan

ps. I agree with Chev

 

[e048]

Go for it

 

[Reefaine8]

Ok sounds like the responsible thing to do is keep looking. Appreciate everyones input.

 

[davocean]

I would not add more than one and I'd keep to the smallest of them which would be bristletooth, which is what's in my 120g now

 

[Reefaine8]

Ok on a side note since I am new to this. What about dispar anthias? Are they really as hard as people say to keep?

 

[davocean]

Dispars are not too terribly difficult to keep, difficult to get healthy shipped maybe a little.
All anthia can be problematic in that area and should be QT'd
All anthia should be fed at least 2-3 times daily as well, that can be an issue for some people.

 

[jsnrho82]

A yellow tang would be OK if your rock work provides it with caves and channels which it can dart into and out of. There is no hard and fast rule, just give the fish an interesting place into explore and you can do it in a 90. A 20gallon would be a different story.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I agree that giving fish room is a good thing.

However, a bought 2 rather small, young tangs (sailfin & scopas) which I put in my 25g frag tank over a year ago. Today they eat well, are quite healthy, and have grown some. I may soon need to move them to my 65g shallow reef. But I've seen no ill effects of having them in even a small 25g tank with no live rock, just a raised egg crate rack (1.5" off the bottom of the tank) and coral frags.

I don't see this as a huge issue.

 

[toothybugs]

Were it me I would pick 1 and go with that until you can get a 5-6 foot tank. I wanted to do the same thing in a 75 (wife really wanted a yellow tang) and it was not going to end well.

 

[BrianD]

If you don't see an issue with putting two tangs in a 25 gallon tank, there is little anyone can say. I can only suggest to newer aquarists that they do their research and attempt to provide the best environment they can.

 

[chimmike]

Guys, that 72" minimum thing is just bunk.

a 90g is a 90g no matter how you stretch it. 90g volume remains the same, and is not a lot of swimming room. 100" long 90g tank still isn't enough VOLUME/AREA for the fish to swim!

 

[rsain]

IME - my tangs liked to stretch their fins so to speak - think Nürburgring; but eschewed the Laguna Seca type courses.

I also agree with your point about volume. One really should consider both. Imagine a 36" but really deep 100g (not enough room either).

- ryan

 

[Jade5051]

Do it.

 

[billdogg]

I have a Bristletooth (Tomini) in my 120 on the reccomnedation of my trusted LFS. It seems to be just fine, but I would not put more than one in there due to probably aggression issues.

 

[lacosta28]

I agree that giving fish room is a good thing.

However, a bought 2 rather small, young tangs (sailfin & scopas) which I put in my 25g frag tank over a year ago. Today they eat well, are quite healthy, and have grown some. I may soon need to move them to my 65g shallow reef. But I've seen no ill effects of having them in even a small 25g tank with no live rock, just a raised egg crate rack (1.5" off the bottom of the tank) and coral frags.

I don't see this as a huge issue.

I can put a great dane in a fenced off area about the size of a closet. I can feed him and make sure he has water. He will eat and show no signs of ill effects like your tangs but that still does not make it ethical or right or mean he is happy.

Thousands of people are locked away in jail cells for 23 hours a day and by all measures are appear to be in good health. Based off this it must be ok to force anyone to live in the same conditions. I wonder if given the choice what they would choose? Awe who cares about the well being of any life form as long as I am happy and get what I want.

This is a touchy subject and people will do what they want regardless. I personally respect all living thing and put their well being before my own wants. I consider what their environment would be like in the wild and make decisions based off that. People used to chain up their dogs or leave them in small cages but society has determined that is not in the best interest of the animal. Perhaps one day they will take the life of marine fish as serious as cats and dogs.

 

[Sk8r]

You're talking about one fish that can reach 10" ---measure that out on your tank wall. Do it twice. And they're both armed with tail spikes. Mmm.