clown tang, sohal tang

Frankysreef

Active member
Opinions?

I have a 225 gal reef tank, and am thinking of a new addition... The only tang I have in it right now is a yellow tang and he was added yesterday.

I had a huge hippo, but he died after about 5 yrs... :( Just got old...raised him from the size of a quarter.

Also thinking purple tang
and hippo...

Current inhabitants
4 lyretail anthias
1 scribbled rabbit
1 majestic angel
1 longnose butterfly
1 royal gramma
1 yellow tang
1 maroon clown
1 clarkii clown
 
I have a Sohal in a 8' 240gal with a purple and sailfin tang, I would definitely get him smaller then the yellow. Sohals grow big very fast, mine is almost 10" and I got him at 3.5" a little more then a year ago. Also I have heard of other people here saying they have had their Blue tangs live for over 10 years.
 
Sohals tangs just get aggressive and want to rule the tank when they reach their adult size. Some people have had good luck with them but some people say they are mean and pick on their other fish.
 
I would skip both and just get the Hippo and Purple..
Both Sohals and Clowns get mean, MEAN!! I have heard stories of Sohals killing off all the other fish in the tank..

If you really want one of the two...the Sohals are much hardier..Just remember it may terrorize the others
 
I might do just hippo and purple... I kinda miss "munchie" that was my old hippo's name... I also have heard of hippo's living 10 yrs... But this is probably more the exception to the rule.

Would they live up to 10 yrs in the wild? maybe some will, maybe some wont ( including natural predation )

I have also heard that mature mahi mahi might live up to 5 yrs... Nasty world under the sea...

F
 
i to would stay away from a shoal. But if you were able to take him out easily you could take the chance. They are beautiful
 
I have always wanted both for years and years but there are too many horror stories.
 
Aren´t you considering a Ctenochaetus ?
For algae and detrit control they play an importante role in the reef tanks being complementary to the YT (and other Zebrassoma).

BTW there are reports of surgeons living 20+ years in aquariums
 
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I know but you see a problem in mixing a rabbitfish and a ctenochaetus (bristle-tooth)?

As regards the age issue, I wouldn´t say its a norm. Depends on a lot of factors. Difficult to say

But there are some good records in some aquariums (mainly public). In the Nice Aquarium (France) I read they´re keeping a a pair of false perculas for over 30 years,a majestic angel of 36 and several surgeons have already reached 20 - 25.
 
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