Anyone with a group of convict tangs in a large tank?

Dmorty217

Dmorty217

Saltwater Addict
I have read thru previous threads on this and get mixed results. Last time anyone asked this I could find was back in 2010. Obviously adding them together and a odd number is recommended but has anyone done this successfully long term? I was thinking a group of 9 possibly but wanted to hear others experiences. I have been on the hunt for a Polyzona but that's almost laughable at this point since they don't seem to really collect them.
 
If my memory is correct there was an article years back by Richard Harker on his large tank build which included a description of a group of convicts-probably in Aquarium Fish.
Myles
 
Aquaph8 (Brett) started the thread and there were links to Recty's build but from what I gather he only tried 4 and they slowly withered away and died he thinks from internal parasites. Thought this would be jumped all over with people sharing experiences but I guess I'm way off on that. 30$ tangs that shoal together I guess aren't very popular...
 
I think the biggest issue is getting a group that large. As I'm sure your aware convicts don't have the best track record in the beginning and you'd have to either find a very good source or buy an absolutely huge group to begin with.

this is coming from experience this side of the Atlantic where only Fuji specimens are even worth trying (don't get Hawaiian very often).
 
I tried 3 in my 11' tank. Sadly, same thing, they all perished slowly. Never really took to prepared foods. Only grazed. They along with my Black were the only tangs in the tank at the time
 
Thanks for the replys. If I did it I would buy them all from LiveAquaria in case I did get convicts that were skinny and less than optimal health to begin with. My LFS has one right now and it's just sad skinny looking and only grazing on glass and egg crate. I haven't ever had a convict before but it certainly seems that they are delicate at best and most come in skinny/malnourished. Feeling like my little bubble just got burst...
 
Dmorty217 said:
Aquaph8 (Brett) started the thread and there were links to Recty's build but from what I gather he only tried 4 and they slowly withered away and died he thinks from internal parasites. Thought this would be jumped all over with people sharing experiences but I guess I'm way off on that. 30$ tangs that shoal together I guess aren't very popular...
Click to expand...

I remember that :). That's as far as I ever got, never really tried it. Seems like someone commented and said they did it an claimed the group was a terror during feeding time.
 
aquaph8 said:
I remember that :). That's as far as I ever got, never really tried it. Seems like someone commented and said they did it an claimed the group was a terror during feeding time.
Click to expand...

Seems as though this thread will die here tonight with the responses i have got...:headwalls::thumbdown
 
I kept a single convict quite a few years ago and I really enjoyed him. Lost him in a heater failure. I am currently upgrading to a 250 gallon and have considered many times trying to add a school of them. Let me know if you do try, would be curious of your results.
 
sethd12 said:
I kept a single convict quite a few years ago and I really enjoyed him. Lost him in a heater failure. I am currently upgrading to a 250 gallon and have considered many times trying to add a school of them. Let me know if you do try, would be curious of your results.
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I will, first thing that has to happen is finding a supplier with healthy ones. The more I think about it I don't think I have ever seen a convict tang that wasn't large or XL size that wasn't so skinny I would see it's spine and had a pinched stomach to boot
 
I thought I remember reading something about someone on here with a large tank with 3 of them and they constantly faught eachother but I'm not really sure...
 
I'm curious to see what LA might have. Their specimens always seem to be the healthiest. I just read their write up on the convict and sounds like they have possibly experienced adding a school to a larger tank. I also just realized they get to 8". Wow, I must have had a juvenile years ago as he was probably 4" or so. The smalls they say they currently have are 2" or so. A school of 7 or so of them would look great!
 
The more I research this the more clear it becomes why no one has a group of them... Either they fight one another, they slowly die, they never really eat, they arrive in bad health, or they terrorize tankmates. Sounded like a good idea...
 
sethd12 said:
I'm curious to see what LA might have. Their specimens always seem to be the healthiest. I just read their write up on the convict and sounds like they have possibly experienced adding a school to a larger tank. I also just realized they get to 8". Wow, I must have had a juvenile years ago as he was probably 4" or so. The smalls they say they currently have are 2" or so. A school of 7 or so of them would look great!
Click to expand...

This is the ONLY way I would attempt it. I still have a few months to make up my mind while our house is being built but I must say I'm not feeling any better about it. Actually worse now that others have shared their experiences and knowledge
 
That would be the only way I would ever try it. Keep me updated what you decide. With your new tank a school of any tangs would look incredible.
 
Dmorty217 said:
Thanks for the replys. If I did it I would buy them all from LiveAquaria in case I did get convicts that were skinny and less than optimal health to begin with. My LFS has one right now and it's just sad skinny looking and only grazing on glass and egg crate. I haven't ever had a convict before but it certainly seems that they are delicate at best and most come in skinny/malnourished. Feeling like my little bubble just got burst...
Click to expand...

I really like convicts (polyzona commiseration) but hadn't actually kept one until quite recently. Got to tell you, it's been a battle. Sourced from LA, and it came in very skinny. I gave it my typical over the top QT, including prazipro twice and many daily feedings. Moved it to my 'grow out' 90 gallon FOWLR. It eats with enthusiasm, and cleared the tank of GHA in about two weeks. But it's still skinny; maybe not as skinny, but you can still see the spine.

Don't know what others experience has been, or whether mine is an aberration, but it is an awesome GHA eater. Best tang I have ever owned for that. Hasn't gotten the hang of nori, unfortunately.
 
I have a Fuji convict and it was difficult to get going as it wouldn't really feed for a couple of weeks. I treated for parasites before QT with lots of live rock and just observed. It started taking nori then began to take everything a week or so later. With it being a single fish I think it made things easier but I'd want to get a group straight into a large tank with abundant live rock to provide enough to keep them going if they weren't feeding. Mine did apparently eat at the wholesalers and I trust the lfs on that but was only picking at food when I got it (spitting it out really).

There are two shops that have these in their displays a few hours from me and one have a trio who are enormous and make the bulk of a sparsely populated tank, and the other has a group of five minimum and they are in with a gold rim, black, purple and a few others and there appears no aggression at all.

Hadyn on this thread http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?217024-Phoenix-from-the-ashes&highlight=phoenix had a group for a while and has plenty of experience. Might be a good chap to ask (think he had 5 and grew them up).
 
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