Caribbean Blue Tang

[Umbriel]

Can anybody tell me about the Caribbean Blue Tang (acanthurus coeruleus)? I've seen the name thrown around the forum lately and I want to know more about it. Is it a peaceful or aggressive tang? Can anybody share experiences or pictures about it?

And before the Tang Police come on me, I don't have a tank and therefore I don't plan on buying one anytime soon. I just have a curiosity because from the pictures I've seen, it's beautiful as a juvenile and as an adult!

Thank you!

 

[JamesJR]

They can be quite aggressive as they mature and this can be quite problematic depending on your tank mate choices. If you want to keep other tangs and angels as they mature you will definitely need a large tank.

 

[djze]

just like jamesjr said they can be very agressive i have a juvenile for about 7 months now and he sure holds his own with the other fish i am very happy with mine they are very beautiful fish this is a bad iphone pic of mine

 

[Umbriel]

JamesJR and djze, thanks for your input (and pics--beautiful!). So they really are an aggressive tang? Huh...then why does LiveAquaria list it as "peaceful"?

So, would you say that the species is more suited for an aggressive tank rather than a peaceful/community tank, assuming that there was plenty of room for the tang?

Again, I don't have a tank, so this is all very hypothetical. I'm just curious because I haven't heard much talk about this fish.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

I actually contacted LiveAquaria about why they had them posted as "Peaceful"

I have not one of these in my tanks, but my Uncle did and it killed every fish in the tank, except for a midas blenny and mandarin, which it obviously did not see as a threat.

I wanted one really bad, but there are other tangs that are less agressive that can be kept easier than this one.

However, like I said, I havent kept one, so he might have had a rogue fish. But, I did do research before I got my tangs and saw that other people say they're very aggressive as well. It sucks, because its one of my favorite tangs!

 

[djze]

mine is not aggressive towards the other fish and i have a wide variety it's aggression is only towards my yellow tang witch is about the same size but then again the yellow was introduced 2 weeks after the blue but there aggression towards each other is really not that bad i would compare his aggression the same as the yellow tang

 

[rgentry123]

i had one that grew from a juvie about the size of 1/2 dollar. it was aggressive even as a juvenile but since it was so small couldnt really do a lot of damage. i had purchased it in decmeber and by june it was probably 5" and an absolute terror. bullied 2 wrasses into jumping, potters leopard and a radiant(yes, my tank was covered with 1/2 bird netting but still got out) and then turned extremely aggressive towards my regal angel. i was planning to get rid of him after the first wrasse jumped but he was extremely hard to catch. i tried a trap and for weeks he wouldnt go near it and finally after starving him for 4 days he went after some nori. These fish swim a LOT and are extremely aggressive eaters. actually they are just all around aggressive. unless you have a very large tank(based on the way i saw mine swim probably an 8 footer, 6 bare minimum) and other aggressive fish i wouldnt recomend one.

 

[Umbriel]

Everyone, thanks for your opinions and experiences--gives me a better understanding of the fish. I'll have to give it some thought in the very distant future.

Truespeed--If you hear back from LiveAquaria, let me know! Bluezooaquatics lists it as "peaceful", too, and I think they should label the fish correctly.

 

[TruespeedEM1]

Everyone, thanks for your opinions and experiences--gives me a better understanding of the fish. I'll have to give it some thought in the very distant future.

Truespeed--If you hear back from LiveAquaria, let me know! Bluezooaquatics lists it as "peaceful", too, and I think they should label the fish correctly.

They replied back with a pretty generic way of putting things. True, but generic.

They pretty much answered my email as "every fish may have a different personality and while this fish is a peaceful fish, there can be some that can be aggressive, just like with any species of fish"

I just left it alone; i would label it semi-aggressive/aggressive, just from the things I've read!