Best size for a tang

[MellowReefer]

I'm looking for my first tang and I think I'll order it from LiveAquaria. Probably will be either a Tomini or Two Spot Bristletooth. What's the best size to try to get? Are the smallest ones just as hardy? Do the larger ones have more difficulty adapting to captivity? BTW it will be going into a 30gal long QT for 6 weeks.

 

[pktech]

I like the look of the 2 spot myself. I guess the question is what size tank are you putting it in after QT? Kole tangs are nice too.

 

[MellowReefer]

I have a 125 gallon (6 ft long). I have narrowed down to two types of tangs, and just want to know what everyone’s experience is buying different sizes of tangs.

For example, here are the sizes they list for Tomini tang:

Approximate Purchase Size:
Tiny: 3/4" to 1-1/4"
Small: 1-1/4" to 2-1/4"
Medium: 2-1/4" to 3-1/4"
Large: 3-1/4" to 5"

Which size would you most want to get? I have heard before that it’s better to get small (younger) fish because they will adapt to captivity better. Just wondering if this is true of tangs or if they are okay if you buy them larger. I have a foxface that I purchased on the larger size (about 4 inches) and he seems to be a little stressed, swimming against the glass, so I wish I had gotten a smaller one.

 

[Dmorty217]

I have 3 tangs in my 125g a orange shoulder, Tommi, and a Desjaradini sailfin all of which were purchased tiny to small. Currently setting up a 220g for them and will be adding a small Achilles only because I have never seen a tiny one for sale anywhere

 

[MellowReefer]

Wow, that Desjaradini in your picture is so beautiful - is that yours? Wish I could upgrade to a bigger tank to get one of those, but I'd need a bigger house first, lol

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I prefer to purchase all of my fish around 1.5 - 3.25". I am patient and can wait until they grow. Some prefer larger fish so the size is there from the outset. I personally prefer to avoid very large fish as I think they may have more difficulty adapting to captive life, but that really depends on the individual fish.

 

[benjc]

I'd stay away from the tiny ones; it is easier to keep a fish if it starts out fat to begin with.

 

[bobkill]

I say small to med-

 

[reefer91]

2" is my nice spot.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Best size for a tang is FAT

 

[MellowReefer]

Well, I just ordered a two spot bristletooth (aka blue eye tang) in the small size from Blue Zoo Aquatics. I requested that it not be more than 3". I have never seen this fish in any LFS so I decided to try my luck with shipping.

 

[triggreef]

I got an order from bluezoo a couple days ago, very healthy fish. They will have all my business for online purchases now. Everything was well packed, no DOA's from them despite the cold weather. and they also supply you with a sample of what they are already feeding. All my bluezoo fish ate within hours of being transported, including 2 beautiful melanurus wrasses, a naso tang, a blue hippo, a yellow wrasse, and a pigmy angel. And I got a free algae blenny.

package from reefs2go very next day. was supposed to come on the same day. 3 DOA's. and the order was half the size.

 

[MellowReefer]

This is my first order with them. My only online fish purchase before this was from LiveAquaria and it only lived a few weeks. It was a very small wrasse that looked weak when I got it. But I’ve been very happy with all the corals and inverts I’ve gotten from them. Blue Zoo seems to have better prices (on fish at least, didn’t look at their coral) and the same shipping charge but lower threshold to get free shipping.

So afraid to open the box and find a dead fish, what a bummer that would be. But lately I am tired of calling all the LFS, trying to find the fish I want…it is so much easier to buy online.