SMOOTHIE
Premium Member
+1
Clown Tang and tank size
- Thread starter kaiserkid
- Start date
+1
Thanks, I really like the color patterns of the fish and they get better as the fish grows. That's why I put up with it's aggression and attitude. :lmao:
I was curious about these fish as well. Found a thread with some nice pictures of a clown tank that has been in a tank for a year. Near 9":
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1688121
Here are some of the fish pictures from the thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1688121
Here are some of the fish pictures from the thread:
i was just about to say that i had to learn that the hard way.
Chris Witort
New member
I see a blue lined trigger in there, that is one mean fish!
Sardaukar
Premium Member
Beautiful tank and fish and all that, but in case your curious, here is a video that Danorth posted of his tank http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpsUTcLzouk See that blur that zooms by every 15 seconds? That's the clown dang doing non stop laps around the tank. The first thing that comes to my mind when I see that is a tiger restlessly pacing in a cage too small for it. Danorth has obviously provided a tank thats much larger than the average clown tang is going to find, and in that sense hes lucky, but I'm more and more coming to the belief that clown tangs should just be left in the ocean. Compare the non stop, fairly rapid swimming of the clown tang to slow puttering and hovering of the equally large angels and triggers and you will see what I mean.
I've seen 3 large (8"+) clown tangs in reef tanks, none shorter than 8 feet long, and they all looked restless, spending their time doing lap after lap around the tank. They were alive, healthy, eating, all that but something about it just seemed wrong. There is certainly a tank size that a full adult clown tang would be comfortable in, but I think its closer to 'backyard swimming pool' than it is to the average large tank. There are so many beautiful and engaging fish to pick from and almost EVERY one is going to be more comfortable in a huge tank than a clown tank IMO - even Sohal tangs seem to be less restlessly active and aggressive than clowns.
I've seen 3 large (8"+) clown tangs in reef tanks, none shorter than 8 feet long, and they all looked restless, spending their time doing lap after lap around the tank. They were alive, healthy, eating, all that but something about it just seemed wrong. There is certainly a tank size that a full adult clown tang would be comfortable in, but I think its closer to 'backyard swimming pool' than it is to the average large tank. There are so many beautiful and engaging fish to pick from and almost EVERY one is going to be more comfortable in a huge tank than a clown tank IMO - even Sohal tangs seem to be less restlessly active and aggressive than clowns.
Glindac
New member
I rescued mine from a LFS that had him in a cubed off 10 gal tank. Had him for a couple months like that, he wouldn't eat and was wafer thin. Took him about a month to come out and eat once I got him. I really did not expect him to live. I have him in a 225 tank and he gets along fine with every one. Have had him about a year now. I would love for him to have a bigger tank because he swims constantly (more so than the other fish). He seems happy and is about 7" now. They are beautiful fish and a personality all their own. Hope that helps some?
Wolverine
Premium Member
Glad yours is doing well. I wanted to comment on this really quickly. In general, I'm opposed to the idea of "rescuing" animals from the stores. From your side, you're being helpful to that individual fish. From the store's side, they're seeing that there's a "market" for that fish, so they'll usually turn around and bring in another within the next few months (how soon depends on how much they spent on the first one and how long they had it, but they'll do it eventually. When you look at the collection-to-store survival rates, it ends up being a bad thing overall for the species (this is true with any animal, not just fish).
nanoreefer1000
Active member
I saw the one at CA acad. of sciences was pacing against the glass, this is like a 10-15ft panel of glass at least.
Clown Tang
Clown Tang
I saw this thread and had to pipe in...if you have the ideal environment with strong flow and plenty of hiding places they can be kept sucessfully in any reasonable sized tank. I have a 9 year old 38 gallon reef tank (established) and have had my clown tang for 4 years. Happy fat and healthy, around 3.5 inches long. I say if you have the right system with algae to graze your tang will be happy and healthy.
Clown Tang
I saw this thread and had to pipe in...if you have the ideal environment with strong flow and plenty of hiding places they can be kept sucessfully in any reasonable sized tank. I have a 9 year old 38 gallon reef tank (established) and have had my clown tang for 4 years. Happy fat and healthy, around 3.5 inches long. I say if you have the right system with algae to graze your tang will be happy and healthy.
DopeCantWin
Active member
+1. I watched a 3-4" one attack anything that came near it in a 2000 gallon tank. I would highly suggest against putting one into any tank at all. The following video, although a Sohal, should explain why
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niokKvKin6I
CenterConsole
New member
What about circle tanks? I'd think the shape of a tank plays more of a part than volume.
Fishareawesome
New member
Howdy All, new to the forum but been "in the hobby" for 30 plus years. Just starting back up my 180 gal as a project with my 10 year old daughter (WHO WILL LIKELY READ THIS so play nice!) and as the highlight of the tank we have been considering...yep, the infamous Clown Tang...
It will be many, many months if not longer before we would add Mr. Acanthurus lineatus since time and money will dictate speed and this as would likely be the last fish in a sparsely stocked FOWLR tank. I've been on the fence about attempting the challenge but I will say one thing I have noticed about this fish:
You can put it in a 10,000 gallon aquarium and it will still zoom around "like a caged tiger." It's easy to anthropomorphize these magnificent animals, especially with the huge personalities they carry. I think of the clown tang more like the crazy spider money's :bounce1: at the zoo than a caged tiger :angryfire:, pacing off anxiety.
I offer this recent experience to share: If you get a chance, and are ever in the Chattanooga area, the TN Aquarium is a beautiful facility. In the top "œPetting Pool" is one 8"-9" Clown Tang and a couple dozen or so other tangs (yellows, hippos, vlamingi's, etc), Epaulette Sharks, BonnetHeads, and several types of rays. The Clown races around his one rock area (maybe 3' X 3' tops) nonstop regardless of how much space it has.
So just because the Clown Tang is hyperactive doesn't necessarily mean he's not happy with the amount of space he has. Obviously you need to account for the fact that this fish needs space to swim, but it doesn't take a swimming pool to accomplish that.
Just an observation.
It will be many, many months if not longer before we would add Mr. Acanthurus lineatus since time and money will dictate speed and this as would likely be the last fish in a sparsely stocked FOWLR tank. I've been on the fence about attempting the challenge but I will say one thing I have noticed about this fish:
You can put it in a 10,000 gallon aquarium and it will still zoom around "like a caged tiger." It's easy to anthropomorphize these magnificent animals, especially with the huge personalities they carry. I think of the clown tang more like the crazy spider money's :bounce1: at the zoo than a caged tiger :angryfire:, pacing off anxiety.
I offer this recent experience to share: If you get a chance, and are ever in the Chattanooga area, the TN Aquarium is a beautiful facility. In the top "œPetting Pool" is one 8"-9" Clown Tang and a couple dozen or so other tangs (yellows, hippos, vlamingi's, etc), Epaulette Sharks, BonnetHeads, and several types of rays. The Clown races around his one rock area (maybe 3' X 3' tops) nonstop regardless of how much space it has.
So just because the Clown Tang is hyperactive doesn't necessarily mean he's not happy with the amount of space he has. Obviously you need to account for the fact that this fish needs space to swim, but it doesn't take a swimming pool to accomplish that.
Just an observation.
DopeCantWin
Active member
I would love to see a Clown tang video in their natural habitat.
