Clown Surgeon... what did I get myself into...
- Thread starter zmach95
- Start date
paulmartin
Member
they are definately not the easiest fish to keep and from what i've read getting them to feed if the first hurdle. Best to do some research and chat to a few owners.
good luck.
good luck.
reefs4lifee
New member
IMO they're not the greatest of tangs, very finicky eaters and once you get them to eat they will appear to be ok for a while and then just die for no apparent reason. I would suggest selling it and investing in a different tang, possibly a blonde naso. Clown tangs are also known to be very aggressive so you'd be saving yourself in the long run
Wolverine
Premium Member
They often don't eat well, and many of them, even when they seem to be eating fine, waste away. I haven't seen a consistent pattern for why they do well in some tanks and not others. There's something in their diet that we don't know about.
As mentioned above, a 125g is not really big enough for a clown tang.
They are often quite belligerent, and, in a tank that size, will likely kill everything else.
As mentioned above, a 125g is not really big enough for a clown tang.
They are often quite belligerent, and, in a tank that size, will likely kill everything else.
zmach95
New member
I have other aggressive fish in my tank- dogface puff, Picasso trig, maroon clown and foxface so I'm not too worried about my other fish since I have plenty of hiding spots and I read some min.tank sizes is 125 then other places 250 so I guess I'm looking for other peoples PERSONAL experiences with them
Wolverine
Premium Member
125g would almost be OK if it's the only tank (but it would still be too small for a full grown one). At most places, those minimum tank sizes are with the assumption that there won't be anything in there with them. Keep in mind that most stores will have their "minimum size" at the low end, because they don't want to overly restrict their buyer pool.
I've seen them kill larger, more aggressive fish than what you have in there (such as full grown clown triggers and queen triggers). I don't think you realize how belligerent they can get, and how deadly their spine is. They can literally tear other fish to shreds. Having one with that many fish in a tank that size exponentially increases your chances of that happening.
zmach95
New member
Alright, thanks for the advice. I'm meeting up with a buddy to sell him some live rock and i know he has a 500 gallon tank so I'll try. Thanks for the help, do you have any suggestion for a fish that isn't a mess and compliments for the fish I previously mentioned?
For a 4ft tank your limited to a Tommi Tang or a Kole tang. Both beautiful fish in my opinion and both are great algae eaters. Someone either here or another reef site has had a tommi along side a scribbled rabbit fish and they do fine so im sure it would do well with your fox face.
If you have a 5ft tank you should stretch it to a Yellow or Purple Tang, I dont think there are 6ft 125G tanks so i wont push you towards the hippo/white cheek or naso tangs...but if you had to have one *cough* white cheek will suit your tastes since you liked that achilles.
If you have a 5ft tank you should stretch it to a Yellow or Purple Tang, I dont think there are 6ft 125G tanks so i wont push you towards the hippo/white cheek or naso tangs...but if you had to have one *cough* white cheek will suit your tastes since you liked that achilles.
zmach95
New member
My tank is 6 feet long, but a white cheek is a good fish?
phk36
Member
I had a clown tang in a 180 for four or five years. The person I got him from had him for five. He told me he was crazy , when I first got him his colors would get real dark when he was mad. He only did this for a few months than for some reason he was very calm and never gave any fish trouble. I had him in with a hippo purple and angels. I guess its the luck of the draw. When I lost him I went and picked up a juvi and sadly lost him quickly. I know many say you need a large tank for fish like this but I can tell you if you buy a juvi and it gets to big you can sell it . I like to buy fish from members that have had them this way you know what they eat and they have been in some ones tank so they are used to it. Mine came from I think a 225 I got him from calireef and it was one if not my and many people that came in to my house favoriate fishb
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zmach95
New member
You obviously had luck with one but were either bad eaters? How'd you get them to eat
phk36
Member
The guy I got the fish from ,now this is the one that was five years old. This guy made a mix of nori , flake, squid,mysis and other things with selcon on wax paper froze it and cut it up in small blocks when he was ready to feed. I just put nori mysis flakes pellets he would eat them all. I buy good foods mix them all up and feed . The second one did not get past qt but did eat mysis but not with gusto. I know of one other guy who had a nice fat one danorth look him up he may be able to help
zmach95
New member
My clown just died so I'm not faced with the problem. He was good looking too, I wish he would've pulled through but hopefully it saved future problems. Do you know of any tangs that will compliment a humu humu trigger, dogface, foxface and maroon clown? And obviously would be happy in a 125 gallon tank- besides for a yellow tang. I appreciate your help and in contrast to most other posts, your optimism. Thanks
I've had mine for over 4 years now, easy fish to keep. Doesn't harass anything now, but would spar with a garibaldi damsel. My 6.5" PBT is boss over the clown. The clown is roughly 8.5-9" with the streamers. Here is a recent shot with a newer 9.5" clown trigger, that is how I am basing my other fish lengths from.
cheveron tangs are nice and colorful as sub adults but then get bland. although they are peaceful.
of course it could survive in a 180, but that doesnt mean it should.
imagine if you were stuck in a room that was 30 or 40x your size and could never leave. sure youd survive granted given food and water and every once in a while someone cleaned your fecies. probably wouldnt be too chipper for long.
Thats not a personal "you" just a generic. Ive learned this from experience when i had 9 tangs in a 200. Ick ended up breaking out after about a year and before i could even begin to get it under control every last fish ended up dying. Lesson learned on my part.
of course it could survive in a 180, but that doesnt mean it should.
imagine if you were stuck in a room that was 30 or 40x your size and could never leave. sure youd survive granted given food and water and every once in a while someone cleaned your fecies. probably wouldnt be too chipper for long.
Thats not a personal "you" just a generic. Ive learned this from experience when i had 9 tangs in a 200. Ick ended up breaking out after about a year and before i could even begin to get it under control every last fish ended up dying. Lesson learned on my part.
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